15 Awesome Outdoor Graduation Party Ideas

Graduation parties are perfect for hosting outside. The weather is nice, the backyard can accommodate more guests (especially the grad’s friends) and it’s free…haha!

No, seriously, an outside party has a certain charm and feel. It’s summer and the backyard is very welcoming and a great way to entertain.

Need more help? Visit the Ultimate Graduation Party Guide: Everything You Need!

Whether you need games, decor, or something else for your outdoor party, you are in luck! I have found 15 of the best outdoor graduation party ideas that will really make your grad’s party extra special.

These ideas were made with the outdoors in mind, but some of them could be brought inside if it rains or you want to use them for an indoor party.

P.S. Looking for grad gift ideas? Check out The Best Graduation Gifts To Give.

Here are 15 Awesome outdoor graduation party ideas!

Awesome outside grad party ideas include outdoor games, grad party decor, photo booth and centerpieces are shown in these outside party ideas!

This post contains affiliate links. Read my full disclosure.

optin graduation party checklist image to receive the free pdf download.

1. Outdoor Party String Lighting

Purchase a few sets of these outdoor party string lights to turn your backyard into the perfect spot to host an outdoor graduation party. The warm glow of lights strung in the tree, along fences, or hung on deck structures/poles turn an outdoor area into a magical space for a celebration.

Backyard party lighting strung in the trees above tables

photo source

2. Graduation Party Tablecloths 

Graduation party table covers can make your grad party look festive. They come in many school colors with grad caps all over the side panels. Decorate for your child’s graduation party with these cool grad party tablecloths!

graduation party tablecloths in different colors with graduation caps over solid colors

3. Graduation Table Centerpieces

These mason jar centerpieces filled with simple summer flowers are perfect for an outdoor graduation party. They have an effortless look yet celebrate the occasion with the graduation year tied with jute string.

Make your own with these supplies:

Mason Jars  |  2024 Year Comes In Several Colors  |  Jute Twine 

 graduation decor and centerpiece attached to a clear vase or mason jar filled with flowers

4. Outdoor Graduation Party Dessert Table

This outdoor graduation party dessert table is magical using bright colors, paper garlands and pretty cake plates to display the desserts. Consider adding large confetti-filled balloons and paper spheres to accent the table. Place the table near a rustic fence, brick side of the house or hang interesting fabric to create the perfect backdrop.

Supplies to create your own: 

Graduation Party Decoration in Your School Colors

Cake Stands

Paper Garlands

Chalkboard Food Signs

This outdoor graduation party dessert table is magical using bright colors, paper garlands and pretty cake plates to display the desserts. Consider adding large confetti balloons and paper spheres to accent the table.

Photo Source

5. Backyard Drink Station

What I love about this outdoor party drink station is you can place it anywhere in the yard. Purchase a few wooden crates and several galvanized drink buckets and stack them in an interesting way. The crates are a perfect place to place the glassware, straws and extra drink supplies.

What you may need:

Large Beverage Buckets

Beverage Drink Stands

Beverage Drink Dispensers 

Wooden Crates 

Backyard party drink station using wood crates and galvanized drink buckets

Photo Source

6. Graduation Cap Straws and Water Bottle Labels.

Don’t forget to accessorize the drink station with decorative grad cap drink straws and graduation water bottle labels.

Graduation party drink straws make a festive display on any drink station! A fun way to celebrate the graduate!

7. Inflatable Serving Bar

This inflatable serving bar sitting in the grass filled with drinks is an easy way to serve up a variety of drinks for an outdoor grad party. What a fun way for kids to gather and hang out enjoying a cold soda or water while chatting with friends. I love the idea of placing it on a blanket with pillows around for comfortable seating!

Rectangular inflatable bar sitting in the grass filled with drinks

8. Graduation Party Balloon Garlands

Balloon garlands are all the rage at parties these days. DIY balloon garlands are perfect as photo booth backdrops, cascading down the stairs or around a dessert table. The grads will love to Instagramming an amazing balloon garland!

Balloon Garland Kits come in many color options and sizes. Let your imagination go wild!

Green photo booth back drop with gold and white balloon garland. Congrats Grad silver balloon is attached to the backdrop.

9. Number Balloons

The graduates are always proud of the year they graduated from school. These large number balloons will be a big hit for photos with friends and family. Plus they make a big splash as part of the graduation party decorations! They come in many colors to compliment your other grad party decor!

Photo Source

10. Outdoor Party Bug Spray Basket

This outdoor party bug spray basket is awesome! Let the guests help themselves to bug repellant as the sun begins to set. They don’t need to bother you and will enjoy the party into the evening.

Stock up on bug spray here or make a chemical-free spray here.

Find a small wicker basket here.

This outdoor party bug spray basket attache to a garden hook is a must for summer evening entertaining.

Photo Sand and Sisal

11. Outdoor Graduation Signs and Banners

Outdoor graduation signs and banners are perfect decorations for your outdoor graduation party! What a fun way to celebrate at a high school graduation party! Hang the graduation banners on the front porch, a fence or railings on the deck. So many to choose from!

Large graduation banner with balloons hanging on a fence.

12. Giant Lawn Games For Parties

Ideas for large yard party games


12. Mini Chalkboard Label Signs

These mini chalkboard signs are perfect for any celebration. Easy to write on and erase time and again as food signs, placecards or table numbers.

These mini chalkboard signs are perfect for any celebration. Easy to write on and erase time and again as food signs, placecards or table numbers.

13. Pop-Up Tent Canopy 

A pop-up tent canopy is essential for any backyard party. They are great rain or shine protecting the food tables or guests from too much sunlight or rain. Most fold up compactly for storage. Plus they are great to take to kids sporting events, the beach or craft shows.

A pop-up tent canopy is essential for any backyard party. They are great rain or shine protecting the food tables or guests from too much sunlight or rain. Most fold up compactly for storage. Plus they are great to take to kids sporting events, the beach or craft shows.

14. Graduation Party Desserts

With most graduation parties being more of a theme party, these clever graduation party desserts will make an awesome dessert table display! These graduation dessert toppers might be perfect on your grad party desserts!

Create a spectacular graduation party dessert table by adding a few of these 30 Graduation Party Dessert Ideas | OHMY-CREATIVE.COM

15. FUN GRADUATION PARTY PRINTABLES

These graduation party printable decorations are fun to use. Create the ultimate graduation party using these graduation party printables to decorate the party! Includes a grad banner, signs, table centerpieces, candy bar signs and more!

A collage of graduation party printable decorations in several school color combinations.

One so guests can use the same hashtag on Instagram, one to use for the photo booth and the other is a sign you can place on tables etc.

Graduation Party Signs for Instagram and photo booth sign

 

Start your graduation party planning off right with this

You might also like these grad party ideas:

Ultimate Graduation Party Guide: Everything you need!

A colorful print banner with Graduation Party Guide text to plan the perfect graduation party!

 

creative 1
Susan B

Susan B

Hi, I’m Susan! Thanks for stopping by Oh My! Creative. I like to have fun, make fun things…you know, create stuff! I love DIY, decorating and design and like any girl…shopping and lunch!
Susan B
Susan B

Latest posts by Susan B (see all)

Similar Posts

3 Comments

  1. Absolutely stunning work. It was such a fun day with so many beautiful details. You captured them perfectly!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.