An ice cream party is a great way to connect with family and friends. It can be a simple gathering where ice cream is the center of attention. An ice cream party is a great summer party that can be enjoyed by adults and children alike. There are lots of great ice cream party ideas that make planning really easy.
Little kids love an ice cream-themed birthday party and adults are sure to enjoy a neighborhood ice cream social. Here are some great ice cream party ideas for adults and kids. An ice cream party can be as simple or as grand as you would like. Some of our favorite ice cream parties are just a quick run with cousins to an ice cream shop. It’s an easy and great way to make memories and sticky fingers.
Here are the 12 best ice cream party ideas to help you put extra scoops of fun into your next party.
HOW TO PLAN THE BEST ICE CREAM PARTY
1. PLANNING YOUR PARTY
Every good party starts with a plan. Here are a few details to get you started and organized.
1. Decide on a date for your ice cream party. Did you know that July 17th is National Ice Cream Day? What a perfectly happy day to gather family and friends, eat a sweet treat, and enjoy each other’s company.
2. Next decide on your invitations. Try to get them to your party guests two weeks in advance. Remember schedules fill up fast and you want to give everyone a heads-up, so they will be able to attend.
3. Decided on the menu. What type of ice cream will you have? Which toppings would you like to have available?
4. Purchase any and all serving dishes and paper products. Don’t forget ice cream scoops!
5. Get creative as you decided on which fun games and crafts you would like to have for your guests. Decide on your decorations too. Make time for any of the DIY ice cream party decorations you have decided on.
6. If you would like to give party favors, get those bought or made.
7. Purchase your toppings and ice cream from your local grocery store. Make sure you have enough freezer space.
Check out all these ideas to get the creative juices flowing as you plan and prepare for a fun and creative ice cream party! So many great ice cream party ideas for adults and kids.
2. BEST ICE CREAM PARTY INVITATIONS
Choosing an invitation is a lot of fun. You could DIY an ice cream cone invitation with sheets of card stock and glue. The shapes are simple and easy to create.
I often opt for using a free online template like Canva. Canva has invitations that are simple and cute. It doesn’t take long to fill in the information for your party on the template.
Greetings Island also has ice cream invitation templates. They are easy to use and free to download. They have lots of space for all the essential information, so your guests can be informed and know just what to expect.
After downloading your invitation, you can save on ink and get them printed on photo paper from a local photo center for a high-quality invitation. We use Walgreens. Remember to save your online template file as a jpg for printing. Don’t forget to look for a discount code when ordering online.
If you are thinking about emailing your invitations you could use Evite. They have ice cream party invitations that are easy to customize. Once you have typed in your information you can create an email list and email them right from the website. They keep track of how many people RSVP which is helpful.
If you would like to save time and money you could opt for texting your invitations. I prefer this method, though less traditional it helps speed up delivery. By texting your invitations, you will know each person has received their invitation. This makes it easy for people to RSVP with a quick text back after receiving the text invitation.
3. BEST PARTY DECORATIONS
I would recommend hosting your ice cream party outside. The fresh smells of summer and the lush green grass serve as a great backdrop and minimal decorations are needed.
Decorations can be a hang-up for some who are trying to decide whether to host a party or not. Don’t fret if you don’t have time for the perfect balloon garland. You can play up your party with lots of décors or keep it simple. Use your strengths and do what feels most comfortable for you.
Amazon has a great selection of ice cream party decorations. When I don’t have enough time for much, I grab a cute plastic tablecloth for the dessert table with matching ice cream bowls, spoons, and napkins. I love the pastel colors, and it’s great that they all match.
Check Prices for The Ice Cream Tablecloth Here!
If you chose to do a toppings bar it would be a great idea to put the toppings in matching bowls to add to the aesthetic of the party. These white small bowls will make the colorful toppings pop for a perfect ice cream sundae bar.
Check Prices for the White Serving Bowls Here!
Big ice cream balloons are festive. They are sure to make a big statement. Simply blow them up and tape or tie them near your serving table, or the entrance to the party.
Check Prices for Big Ice Cream Ballon Here!
Don’t forget a drink dispenser and cups. I consider them a decoration, there are so many cute drink dispenser styles. Water is a must when serving ice cream.
Check for Prices for Drink Dispenser Here!
Tip: Select a drink dispenser that is easy to use, so children are able to use it.
Balloon Party Decorations
Balloons are a cheap and easy way to add to your decorations. You can play off of traditional ice cream flavors like mint and chocolate chip or strawberry shortcake and choose balloons that match those colors. Tie the balloons to the chairs, or around the serving area.
I love these DIY ice cream cone balloons. They are simple to make. Tape a cardstock-rolled piece of paper to the bottom of a balloon to create the perfect ice cream cone decoration. They are adorable and would be a great addition to any ice cream social. For other fun balloon decoration ideas check out our other post.
Other Decoration Ideas
If you are going for a more elegant look, I think these ice cream cone flowers are the perfect centerpiece. Aren’t they beautiful?!
The look is simple, grab a few extra waffle cones, and place flowers inside the cone. Then place the cone inside a clear glass cup, for a beautiful fresh centerpiece. You could put sprinkles in the bottom of the glass for another pop of color.
A menu board doubles as decoration and information for your guests. If you have lots of topping options it can be helpful for your guests to have an idea of what flavor combos might taste best together.
4. BEST ICE CREAM PARTY GAMES
You scream, I scream, we all scream for ice cream! Let the games begin with a twist on the classic of pinning the tail on the donkey – pin the cherry on top of the ice cream. This game never seems to get old.
One at a time blindfold each child and, spin them around a few times. Give them a cherry with tape on the back and point them toward a poster board with an ice cream cone colored on it. Whoever places the cherry closest to the top wins. This simple classic game is always a hit.
My kids love treasure hunts. Why not send them on an ice cream toppings treasure hunt? Hide the bagged toppings and give the children the first clue. Let the clues lead to different areas of the backyard until at last, they have found the treasure or toppings. They will be excited and ready to add their treasure to their ice cream with the toppings piled high!
Here are some fun riddle clues to get you started.
Mailbox- I bring good news but also hold junk. I am creaky and squeaky and close with a clunk.
Doorbell- When friends come by with news to tell, let them in when you hear the bell.
Car- You’ve done great so far; you’ll find your next clue in the car.
Table- I have four legs but don’t have feet. You use me when it’s time to eat.
Outdoor Party Games
For the adults grab your favorite outdoor games for some friendly competition. It’s always fun to play these relaxed games, while you catch up with each other.
One of our favorites is Kubb. It is a Swedish lawn game that’s been around since the Vikings. It can be played in teams, up to 6 people on a team, and the teams don’t need to be even numbered.
Game time can vary from 5 minutes to an hour. Kubb is a blast to play. It’s not difficult to learn and has a chess-like feel.
Check for Prices for the Kubb Game Here!
Kan Jam is also a favorite, originally called Garbage Can Frisbee this game is easy to learn and set up. It feels similar to horseshoes. The object is to be the first to 21 points.
You earn points by deflecting, slamming, or jamming the frisbee into your goal or Kan. If you haven’t played check, it out. It’s a great game.
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Don’t forget the classic Corn Hole. This game continues to be a backyard staple and is always a great time. It is effortless to learn and fun to team up and see who has the best aim.
If you want to ramp up the competition, make a quick bracket, so you can really see who the champion of the party is.
Check Prices for Corn Hole Here!
5. BEST ICE CREAM PARTY FAVORS
Everyone loves coming home from a party with a souvenir to remember the good time they had. Having party favors for your guests is never required and often not expected, but it can add to the fun. I love to keep it simple.
Pop Its are all the rage these days. They are so fun to play with and these cute key chain Pop Its would be a hit for a party favor for an ice cream party-themed birthday. Even adults find these little fidget toys amusing.
