Outdoor Party Ideas for Kids — Activities, Decorations and Party Bags

An outdoor party is one of the best ways to celebrate a birthday when the weather plays along. Children get space to run, games are easier to organise, and clean-up is simpler when the mess is on grass rather than carpet. Whether you have a large garden or a small patio, here is how to plan an outdoor party that actually works.

Garden Party Decorations That Handle the Weather

The trick with outdoor decorations is choosing materials that cope with wind and a bit of damp. Foil banners and paper lanterns look great indoors but fall apart at the first gust.

Bunting

Fabric bunting is the single best outdoor decoration — it is reusable, handles wind, and looks good strung between trees, fences or posts. Our rainbow tie dye fabric bunting and boho paisley birthday bunting are both 3 metres, plastic-free and machine washable — you will get years of use from them. For a budget option, eco star rainbow paper bunting is plastic-free and still handles a light breeze.

Streamers and Balloons

Paper streamers add instant colour. A rainbow party streamer pack gives you 70 metres of colour to twist between branches or drape across a food table. Tie blue cloud balloons to fence posts or chair backs — they suit the outdoor sky theme perfectly and are plastic-free natural latex.

For the birthday child, floral party crowns double as a decoration and an activity — hand them out as children arrive.

Browse our full outdoor party collection for everything in one place.

Setting Up Your Outdoor Party Table

Keep the food table simple and wind-proof. Lay a cloth weighted at the corners (bulldog clips on a trestle table work brilliantly), then set out:

• Paper plates and cups — our eco star cups are plastic-free with a fun rainbow design. Pair with rainbow paper napkins to tie the colour scheme together.
• Hot dog trays — cardboard hot dog trays are perfect for outdoor food. Sausages, wraps, and breadsticks all sit neatly and children can carry them around without dropping everything.
• Finger food over plated food — sandwiches cut small, fruit skewers, crisps in bowls, and popcorn in paper bags all work better outdoors than anything requiring cutlery.

Outdoor Party Activities and Games

The best outdoor party games need minimal equipment and maximum running around. Here are ideas that work for most age groups.

High-Energy Games

1. Treasure hunt — hide clues around the garden leading to a final prize. Works for ages 4 and up. For older children, make the clues harder or add riddles.
2. Obstacle course — use garden furniture, hula hoops, buckets, and blankets to build a course. Time each child and award a prize for the fastest.
3. Egg and spoon race — classic and always popular. Use hard-boiled eggs for younger children and plastic ones for the competitive older group.
4. Musical statues — all you need is a speaker. Works brilliantly on grass where falling over does not hurt.
5. Water balloon relay — ideal for warm days. Messy, chaotic, and universally loved.

Calmer Activities

Not every child wants to sprint for two hours. Set up a quieter zone with:

• Sun printing — our sun print paper kit lets children place leaves and objects on photosensitive paper, leave it in sunlight, and rinse to reveal a print. A genuine STEM activity that works perfectly outdoors.
• Nature scavenger hunt — print a list of things to find in the garden (a red leaf, a smooth stone, something that smells nice, a feather). Simple, free, and keeps children exploring.
• Craft station — set up a table with ReCycleMe mini craft kits and colouring pencils. Children dip in and out between games.

Outdoor Party Bags — What to Put In Them

Outdoor party bags work best when the fillers match the theme — things children can use outside or take home to enjoy in the garden.

• Flower seed packets — children plant them at home and watch them grow. Plastic-free, eco-friendly, and genuinely useful.
• Garden fairies pencil tube — 12 mini pencils in a portable tube. Great for drawing and colouring outdoors.
• Sun print paper — give each child a sheet to take home as a party bag extra.
• Mini craft kits — eco-friendly, STEM-certified, and give children something to do after the party.

For more ideas, read our eco party bag filler guide or browse the full party bag fillers collection. If you want to go completely plastic-free, our eco-friendly party bags page has everything in one place.

Planning for Rain — The Backup Plan

This is the UK, so a rain plan is not optional — it is essential. Here are your options:

• Gazebo or pop-up canopy — covers the food table and gives children shelter without moving everything indoors. A 3m×3m gazebo is enough for a party of 10 to 15.
• Indoor pivot — identify which room you would use and have it roughly clear. If rain starts, move the food inside and switch to indoor games (musical statues works anywhere, treasure hunts adapt easily).
• Check the forecast the night before — make the call early. Starting outdoors and moving mid-party is far more stressful than committing to indoors from the start.

Fabric bunting handles drizzle but should come down in heavy rain. Paper streamers are less forgiving — put them up on the day and accept they are single-use.

Outdoor Party Ideas by Age

Ages 2 to 4

Keep the space small and ideally fenced. A sandpit, bubble machine, paddling pool (weather permitting), and a simple treasure hunt with obvious hiding spots. Avoid relay races — they do not understand the rules yet and it ends in tears.

Ages 5 to 7

The sweet spot for outdoor parties. Treasure hunts, obstacle courses, musical statues, craft stations, and free play all work. This age group will happily run between activities without much direction.

Ages 8 to 10

Structured games with a competitive edge — timed obstacle courses, team-based treasure hunts, rounders, or capture the flag. This age group needs a clear activity or they drift to screens. Set up a craft station with sun print paper as a cool-down between active games.

Not sure what suits your child's age group? Our party bag fillers by age guide helps match prizes and fillers to the right age.

Outdoor Party Checklist

1. Decorations — fabric bunting, paper streamers, balloons tied to weights
2. Tableware — paper plates, cups, napkins, hot dog trays
3. Food — finger food, no cutlery needed, avoid chocolate in warm weather
4. Activities — 2 to 3 high-energy games plus a craft or calm zone
5. Party bags — seeds, pencils, craft kits, sun print paper
6. Music — portable speaker for musical statues and background
7. Rain plan — gazebo, indoor room cleared, forecast checked
8. Sun protection — remind parents about sun cream and hats on warm days
9. First aid — plasters and antiseptic wipes for inevitable grazes

Need supplies quickly? If you are local to Bath, our click and collect service lets you order online and pick up the same day — flexible on times including evenings and weekends.

Eco-Friendly Outdoor Party Tips

Outdoor parties lend themselves naturally to an eco-friendly approach. Skip the plastic tablecloths and use a fabric one you already own. Choose plastic-free tableware and decorations — paper plates, compostable cups, and fabric bunting that gets reused every year. Fill party bags with seeds, paper crafts, and wooden toys instead of plastic tat that breaks on the way home.

Read our non-plastic party bag ideas guide for a full breakdown of plastic-free alternatives.

Happy planning — browse our full outdoor party range for decorations, tableware, and party bag fillers that work in the garden.