| If you have a pool, chances are you have lots of pool | | | | Costumes |
| party ideas already, because people love hanging out | | | | Well.... if you are swimming, major costumes are not |
| at your place whether you are having a planned party | | | | recommended! Swim suits are the pool party costume |
| or not. Planning a party around the pool is always an | | | | of the day! |
| instant hit. The pool is an attraction and can be either | | | | Favors |
| used or simply as a backdrop to a more refined party. | | | | Favors for a pool party could be sun screen (or zinc |
| For example, a "wine and cheese" patio party is very | | | | oxide!), beach balls, flip flops, sunglasses, snorkel and |
| nice, with dim outdoor lighting accentuated by the pool | | | | mask, or a beach towel. |
| lighting. On the other end of the spectrum is the down | | | | Food |
| and rowdy pool party, where everyone's splashing and | | | | Since everyone will be swimming, you want to keep |
| having a great time. That's the kind this article focuses | | | | the food lighter. Salads and snack foods will be best. If |
| on. | | | | the food will be outside, avoid anything with dairy or |
| Where | | | | mayo. Here are a couple of "cool" ideas: jello, popcicles, |
| You can have a pool party wherever the pool is! If you | | | | finger sandwiches, fruit smoothies, fresh veggies, |
| have one in your backyard, great! If not, a community | | | | watermelon, hot dogs.... You get the idea - really easy! |
| or public pool can be used. Sometimes, community and | | | | Cake |
| public pools will even allow you to rent them out for | | | | Here are a few pool party ideas for cakes: A sheet |
| parties, but if they don't, you'll just have to share the | | | | cake with a pool in blue icing and little outdoor loungers |
| pool with whoever else is there. | | | | or figures lying on icing beach towels. Or a round cake |
| Invitations | | | | decorated to look like a fristbee, a beach ball, or an |
| Shindigz has a cute pool party invitation that looks like | | | | inner tube (maybe even a bundt cake!). A cake |
| a flip flop. You can also write the details on an inflated | | | | decorated to look like a beach towel or a flip flop. |
| beach ball and then deflate it to mail or give to the | | | | Games/Entertainment |
| invitee. Use phrases like "Make a Splash With Us!" and | | | | Ok, is there anyone on earth who has never played |
| be sure to explicitly say to bring or wear a swimsuit. | | | | Marco Polo? It's a little like a water-based hide and |
| Decorations | | | | seek. One person keeps their eyes closed and calls |
| Pool party decorations should be wildly colorful. Lots of | | | | out "Marco" and then everyone else calls out Polo, and |
| primary colors - balloons can be tied to the pool fence | | | | the person with their eyes closed tries to find and tag |
| (or around the yard), streamers can be put on the | | | | anyone calling out Polo. That person then becomes "it" |
| patio or even in the kitchen. Beach balls could be | | | | and calls out Marco. You can also toss play gold coins |
| tossed around. The pool should have plenty of | | | | and dive for them (if the water is deep enough) or |
| floatable toys, rafts, noodles, etc. in it. Be sure to put | | | | have swim races. Last but not least, just plain playing |
| out all of your lawn chairs and lounges and give them | | | | and splashing is always a hit! |
| a festive look by putting colorful towels over them. | | | | You can also have activities out of the pool like |
| Other fun things - use a beach shovel (clean!) to scoop | | | | dancing, the limbo, "hot" potato (with a water filled |
| ice for drinks and use (clean!) pails or frisbees to serve | | | | balloon), water gun fights, and other similar games. |
| fruits and veggies. Use tiki torches or paper lanterns | | | | A pool party is such a blast! When you have yours, |
| for light (if your party is at night). | | | | get wet, get wild, and above all, have fun! |