Send Out Summer With a Music Festival-Themed Party
Celebrate the best music festivals of the summer with this "good vibes" outdoor party.
As summer winds down, so does the back-to-back music festivals. But even if you didn’t get a chance to hit the road this summer and tackle a slew of music festivals, you can still recreate some of that same festival fun in your own backyard. Here are 15 of our favorite ideas for putting together the most over-the-top, rockin’, music festival party without ever leaving home.
Tie-Dye Sheets
©iStockphoto.com/Trista Weibell
If you’re looking for an inexpensive, easy decor solution and you have a lot of space to fill, try tie-dying some sheets. Again, I would hit up your local thrift store and buy some inexpensive white sheets, then once you get them back home, you can go as crazy as you want with the die. Once they're dyed, you can simply clip them to some string and hang them across your yard.
Make It: How to Ombre Dip-Dye
Boho Seating Area
©iStockphoto.com/cokacoka
If you think you might be short on seating space, create your own boho seating area on the ground. You could even create several seating areas, depending on the size of your group.
Hit up your local thrift store and find some pretty tablecloths or sheets to put down on the ground as a blanket. You can then add some bright pillows and make a big pile for people to relax on. If you don’t have any spare pillows, look for some at the thrift store and simply cover them with some extra fabric or some pretty scarves.
String Lights
Image courtesy Birch Lane
For an evening music festival-themed bash, nothing sets the mood better than some inexpensive string lights. Either string them all across your yard for a lovely, twinkle effect, or use them to highlight certain areas of your space by wrapping them around trees, tables or other items.
Fun Pool Floats
©iStockphoto.com/wundervisuals
If you have a pool, a great way to amp up the fun factor is with some large floaties. A unicorn is always a great choice, or throw in some fun food items (like donuts!). Even if your guests won’t be swimming, these floats look great and really add to the party vibe by simply floating in the pool.
More Inspo: These Are the Pool Floats You Need This Summer
Music + Playlists
©iStockphoto.com/m-gucci
You can either get creative and put together your own playlists, or simply use Pandora or Spotify if you don’t feel like playing DJ. You can go to both apps and start using search terms like “Coachella” or “Lollapalooza” and a variety of playlists and stations will come up. You can even Google the setlist from a former music festival (like the original Woodstock) and put together a playlist to completely recreate music from the event.
Coachella 2016 Playlist / Spotify
Lollapalooza 2016 Playlist / Spotify
Fun Drinks
Steve Underwood for Union Wine Co.
There are some great choices these days for pretty delish wine options available in either a can or a small portable cup. I’ve been loving Underwood's Wine in a Can. Champagne in a can is also a great choice (and you can pair both with some fun straws!).
Plus, Try These: Lower-Proof Cocktails Perfect for Day Drinking
Festival VIP Bracelets
©iStockphoto.com/Dean Mitchell
Offer up your guests colorful, VIP bracelets. If you really want to go all out, you can set up a “green room” for the VIPs (or perhaps just for the adults). Block off a special seating area in your yard and add a simple “VIPs ONLY” sign.
Product Pick: Inexpensive Rubber Bracelets / Oriental Trading
DIY Photo Booth
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Putting together a fun DIY photo booth is a great way to ensure that you capture all of the fun (and mischief!) on the day of your music festival party. While renting an actual photo booth can be super pricey, creating one at home can be easy and cheap!
Flower Crowns
©iStockphoto.com/ZoiaKostina
Inspired by women at one of the hottest festivals on the scene these days, Coachella, flower crowns are a must-have item at your bash. But don’t worry about the heat or spending lots of cash on fresh flowers, you can make paper flower crowns that are just as chic as the real thing.
Make It: How to Make a (Real) Flower Crown
Temporary Tattoos
©iStockphoto.com/wundervisuals
You could set up a little temporary tattoo station at your event. Simply buy some fun, colorful temporary tattoos before your event and leave them out for your guests in pretty containers, colorful glasses or on small trays.
Product Pick: Tattly Tattoos
Glow Sticks + Jewelry
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If you’re planning an evening party (or even if you think your bash might last into the night), make sure you’re prepared with glow sticks. You can go for the traditional sticks and hand them out to the crowd, or get some fun neon glow jewelry like bracelets and necklaces (the kids especially love this one!).
Succulent Party Favors
Set up a table by your back door and put out a bunch of tiny succulents for your guests to take home as party favors. You can find these plants at places like Home Depot or Lowe’s for just a couple of bucks each. You could even use the cacti as decoration for your party, then encourage your guests to grab one on the way out.
