Fun Summer Solstice Party Ideas and Activities for Kids
The Summer Solstice is the longest day of the year, marking the official start of summer. It’s a time to celebrate the sun, enjoy nature, and spend quality time with loved ones. For kids, the solstice offers a perfect opportunity to gather friends and family for a fun and vibrant celebration. Whether you’re hosting a small backyard gathering or a larger outdoor bash, there are plenty of creative ideas and activities that can make your Summer Solstice party unforgettable. Here’s a guide to help you plan the perfect kids’ celebration!
Solstice-Themed Invitations
Start by setting the mood with creative, sun-inspired invitations. You can make your own by using bright yellow, orange, and gold cardstock to create sunburst shapes. Add whimsical touches like rays of sunshine or cute illustrations of beach balls, sunglasses, and flowers. If you’re tech-savvy, you can design digital invitations with a playful sun and summer elements, and send them out via email or social media.
Summer Solstice Crafts
Kids love crafting, and what better way to celebrate the sun than by creating DIY sun-themed art? Here are some fun ideas:
Sun Catchers
Using transparent plastic sheets, kids can paint or decorate sun catchers with bright colors and glitter. These can be hung by windows to catch the light during the party.
Flower Crowns
Make a flower crown station with faux flowers, ribbons, and elastic bands. Kids can weave their own crowns to wear, embracing the earthy spirit of the solstice.
Sun Prints
Use sun-sensitive paper to create prints with leaves, flowers, or other natural objects. When exposed to sunlight, the paper will create beautiful, nature-inspired designs.
These crafts can be set up as stations where children can rotate through, providing entertainment and a keepsake from the day.
Solar-Themed Snacks
Food is a big part of any party, and a Summer Solstice celebration calls for sun-inspired treats. Here are some snack ideas that will add a burst of sunshine to your event:
Sunshine Cupcakes
Bake cupcakes with bright yellow icing, and top them with candy suns or a sprinkle of edible gold glitter to mimic rays of sunlight.
Sun Fruit Salad
A colorful fruit salad with orange slices, yellow pineapple, and red strawberries can mimic the sun’s bright rays. You can even arrange the fruits into a sun shape on the platter.
Lemonade Stand
A traditional summer favorite, serve refreshing lemonade (or different flavored lemonades) at a sun-themed stand. For an added twist, have kids decorate their own cups with fun designs using permanent markers.
Outdoor Games and Activities
The Summer Solstice is all about enjoying the outdoors, so it’s the perfect time to organize games and activities that keep kids active. Here are some ideas:
Sun Relay Races
Set up a relay race where kids have to complete challenges in the sun, such as running to a certain point, balancing an object on their head, or hopping on one foot.
Water Balloon Fight
On a hot summer day, there’s nothing better than a water balloon fight. Set up water balloon stations around your yard for kids to take turns soaking each other.
Bubble Stations
Everyone loves bubbles! Set up a few bubble machines or stations where kids can create giant bubbles with wands or make their own bubble solutions. You can even challenge the kids to create the largest or most colorful bubbles.
Sundial Crafting
Teach kids about the history of the Summer Solstice by making their own simple sundials. You can use a paper plate, a straw (as the stick), and markers to decorate it. The sundials can be placed in the sun to tell time, just like the ancient Egyptians or Greeks did.
Nature Walk and Scavenger Hunt
A nature walk is a wonderful way to get kids outdoors and engaged with their environment. You can combine this with a scavenger hunt to make it even more exciting. Create a list of items related to the solstice and the natural world—such as sunflowers, specific leaves, rocks, or bugs—and have kids search for them. To make it more challenging, add clues that lead them from one item to the next.
You could also host a “solstice treasure hunt” where children follow a series of clues related to the sun and nature. Each clue could lead to a small gift or treat, keeping the kids entertained and actively moving throughout the event.
Sunset Picnic
As the day transitions into night, gather the kids for a sunset picnic. Lay out blankets, pillows, and soft lights (think lanterns or fairy lights) to create a cozy and magical atmosphere. This is a great time to serve dinner, snacks, and drinks, and let the kids unwind after all the fun activities. You could have a storytelling session or even share fun facts about the solstice, like why it happens and how ancient cultures celebrated it.
If you want to add a bit of magic to the experience, consider having a “wish lantern” moment, where each child writes down a wish for the summer on a biodegradable paper lantern. When the sun sets, release the lanterns into the air (or keep it simple with glow sticks and sparklers if you’re sticking to the backyard).
Solstice Dance Party
What’s a party without music? Set up a dance floor and play some upbeat summer tunes. Encourage the kids to dance freely in the sun or evening light. You can also teach them fun solstice-themed dances like the “sunshine shuffle” or make it a game where they freeze every time the music stops, in the classic game of freeze dance.
To add to the experience, you can organize a glow-in-the-dark dance party by handing out glow sticks, body paint, or LED wristbands for the kids to wear. The glowing lights will look especially magical as the sun begins to set.
DIY Tie-Dye T-shirts
Tie-dying is a classic summer activity that never goes out of style. Provide plain white t-shirts and a variety of fabric dyes in sunny colors—yellow, orange, red, and pink—and let the kids create their own colorful designs. Not only does this make for a fun activity, but it also gives kids a wearable memento of the day. Be sure to provide aprons or old shirts to protect their clothes, and have some rubber bands on hand for creating patterns.
Solstice Storytime
Wrap up the celebration with a Solstice-themed storytime. Read stories about the sun, summer adventures, or mythical creatures that are connected to the sun. You could choose books that explore cultures that have special traditions around the Summer Solstice, such as those from Scandinavian or Native American traditions. Let the kids sit in a circle under the twilight sky while you share the stories.
Solar-Powered Science Experiments
If you want to add a learning component to the day, try some fun solar-powered science experiments. You can teach the kids about solar energy by showing them how solar-powered gadgets work. Set up small solar-powered toys or vehicles that they can experiment with, or make simple solar ovens using pizza boxes and aluminum foil to show how the sun’s heat can cook food.
Conclusion
The Summer Solstice is an opportunity to connect with nature, embrace the longest day of the year, and have fun with family and friends. With these ideas and activities, you can create a memorable celebration for kids, packed with fun, learning, and creativity. Whether it’s crafting sun-themed art, playing outdoor games, or dancing under the sun, there’s no shortage of exciting ways to celebrate the start of summer. So gather the kids, let the sun shine down, and enjoy the magic of the Summer Solstice.