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