Hey there! Team New Mom readers have been asking for a post about Summer First Birthday Theme Ideas!
So, I’ve been brainstorming ways to make this milestone truly special. Here are some fun June, July, and August first birthday themes that will make your little one’s day unforgettable.
Outdoor Summer 1st Birthday Party Themes
1. Beach First Birthday Party
I’m really excited about the idea of having a Beach Party right in your backyard. Picture the kids building sandcastles and splashing around in baby pools—it’s the perfect way to embrace the summer vibes.
You can decorate with beach umbrellas and seashell garlands to create a mini beach paradise.
For snacks, I’m thinking tropical fruit kabobs and a beach-themed cake with blue frosting and graham cracker “sand.”
And how cute would it be to send everyone home with sand buckets filled with beach toys and seashell necklaces?
Check out this DIY (!?!) cake from A Beautiful Mess. If you could pull this off it would be amazing!
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2. Garden Picnic
Another idea I love is a Garden Picnic theme. Since summer weather is usually lovely, you can spread out picnic blankets among blooming flowers and set up activities like bubble stations and a nature scavenger hunt.
Easy finger foods and a floral-themed cake will keep everyone happy, and guests can take home mini potted plants—a sweet reminder of our day in the garden.
3. Farmyard Fun
My little ones were always obsessed with animals, so a Farmyard Fun party would be a hit.
Decorate with hay bales and farm animal cutouts, and think about arranging a petting zoo or pony rides for some extra fun.
Snacks can be farm-fresh and kid-friendly, and a barnyard-themed cake will tie everything together perfectly.
Send your guests home with small stuffed farm animals or farm-themed books!
Check Out Our Ideas for a Holy Cow I’m One First Birthday Party!
4. Teddy Bear Picnic
Does your baby have a favorite teddy bear? A Teddy Bear Picnic theme seems like the sweetest idea.
Picture a cozy setup with teddy bear-themed decorations and a teddy bear parade.
Have storytime with bear-themed books and serve snacks like teddy bear-shaped sandwiches and honey graham crackers.
Of course, there will be a cake adorned with teddy bear decorations.
Guests can even take home small teddy bears or themed coloring books—it’ll be like your own little bear picnic in the park!
Or “Bear Stuffing” would be an adorable favor!
5. Summer Pool Vibes
Summer is the perfect time to throw a Pool Party!
Set up a kiddie pool or two, along with sprinklers and water toys to keep the little ones splashing and laughing.
Decorations can include inflatable palm trees and colorful beach balls to set the summer scene.
This high chair banner really sets the tone:
Refreshing snacks like watermelon slices and popsicles will keep everyone cool, and a pool-themed cake will be the icing on the cake (literally!).
Guests can take home fun pool toys and beach towels as party favors.
This lemon theme take on a pool party by Danielle Moss is gorgeous!
6. Luau Party
For a tropical twist, a Luau Party would be a blast.
Think Hawaiian leis, grass skirts, and tiki decorations to create a fun island vibe.
Have a mini pool and water play stations to keep the kids entertained.
Tropical snacks like pineapple skewers and a luau-themed cake will be a hit.
Guests can take home leis and mini ukuleles to keep the island spirit alive.
Sweet Summertime Theme
Why not go with a Sweet Summertime theme for the ultimate summer first birthday celebration? This theme captures all the joys of summer in one delightful party.
Decorations: Think bright and cheerful—sunshine yellow, sky blue, and grass green. Use picnic blankets, bunting, and lanterns to create a festive atmosphere. Set up a lemonade stand for a cute and refreshing touch.
Activities: Incorporate classic summer activities like a mini obstacle course, lawn games, and a watermelon seed-spitting contest (using black beans for safety!). Have a bubble station and maybe even a mini splash pad for some water fun.
Food: Serve classic summer treats like mini burgers, corn on the cob, and fruit skewers. For dessert, a cake decorated with summer icons like sunflowers, beach balls, or even ice cream cones would be perfect. Add a variety of ice cream and popsicles to keep everyone cool.
Party Favors: Send guests home with summer-themed goodies like sunglasses, beach balls, and mini bottles of sunscreen. A small pail filled with sand toys is also a great idea.
Indoor/Outdoor Summer First Birthday Ideas
These party ideas can done indoor or outdoor in case you live in a region where you just never know about the weather!
1. Rainbow Party
To bring some color indoors, a Rainbow Party sounds like a blast. Decorate with cheerful streamers and set up an art station where the kids can unleash their creativity.
Have washable paints ready and maybe even some smocks to keep the mess under control.
Rainbow-themed snacks and a layered rainbow cake will be a treat for everyone. Think about giving out rainbow-colored toys and stickers as party favors.
2. Animal Safari
For an indoor adventure, an Animal Safari party would be so much fun. Imagine your space transformed with jungle foliage and animal print balloons!
Have safari adventure with toy binoculars and a treasure hunt, and I’m planning jungle-themed snacks and a safari cake.
Guests can leave with mini animal figurines and safari hats as souvenirs of their wild expedition.
We love these Wild ONE First Birthday Party ideas!
3. Little Artist
If your little one loves to finger paint, a Little Artist party is a perfect fit.
We’ll set up a painting station with washable paints and plenty of artistic supplies. I might even provide smocks to keep everyone’s clothes paint-free.
Artistic snacks like colorful cupcakes and an art-themed cake will be a hit, and guests can take home mini art kits to continue their creative streak.
4. Storybook Theme
We’re big on storytelling, so a Storybook Theme party is right up our alley. I would decorate based on a favorite book and plan activities like storytime and themed crafts.
Snacks inspired by the book and a themed cake will add to the magic. Guests can take home small copies of the storybook or themed plush toys to cherish the memories.
The Big One: Surfing Party
If you want to catch the ultimate wave of fun, a Surfing Party is the way to go!
Decorations: Transform your space into a surfer’s paradise with surfboard cutouts, wave decorations, and tiki torches. Use bright colors like turquoise and coral to set the scene.
Activities: Set up a mini surfboard photo booth with props for adorable pictures. Create a “wave pool” with a slip-and-slide or a water play area. Organize a beach ball toss and a surfboard decorating station.
Food: Serve beach-inspired snacks like fish-shaped crackers, coconut water, and tropical fruit salads. For the cake, go with a surfboard or wave design to keep the theme alive.
Party Favors: Send guests home with mini surfboards, beach-themed toys, and sunglasses to keep the summer fun going.
Water Play Themes
1. Splash Party
To beat the summer heat, a Splash Party is a must.
Set up water activities like a splash pad and water balloon toss to keep everyone cool and entertained.
Decorate with water-themed decorations and serve refreshing snacks like fruit popsicles and a splash-themed cake.
And who wouldn’t love going home with water toys and bubbles to continue the fun?
2. Under the Sea
An Under the Sea party would be a fantastic way to explore underwater wonders indoors.
With blue and green decorations and water play stations featuring floating sea creatures, the kids will feel like they’re in an ocean adventure.
Ocean-themed snacks and an under-the-sea cake will be a hit, and guests can take home beach buckets filled with sea creature toys and bubbles.
🎂Download Our First Birthday Party Planner!
If the thought of juggling themes, guest lists, and a cake smash photo session has your head spinning, you’re not alone.
But here’s the thing: having a plan can save your sanity.
You need our first birthday party planning guide – complete with guest list trackers, timeline checklists, shopping lists, menu planner, and budget-friendly tips to keep you on track.
No matter what way you’re leaning, I hope these ideas inspire you to plan a celebration that’s as special and unique as your little one.
Whatever you choose, I’m sure it will be a day filled with love, laughter, and wonderful memories.
Happy planning, and happy birthday to your little one!
Products We Love for Your Summer First Birthday Party!
- BEACH BALL：Our cake top hats are made of high-quality glitter cardboard, which are pasted manually, not printed. The bamboo sticks used are food-grade, fixed on kraft cardboard, you don’t have to worry about damage.
- PERFECTION IS THE SIZE：Each beach-themed top hat measures approximately 7 x 2.5 inches. It will fit the 8 inch round perfectly! The beach ball is more than 2 inches in diameter and is printed on the card paper “instead of O”.
- EASY TO USE：The cupcake decoration is already assembled, you just need to open the package and insert your cake, decorating it becomes more interesting and attractive!
- BEACH BALL HIGH CHAIR BANNER – A Stylish And Glamorous Beach Ball High Chair Banner Can Add Energy And Fun To Your Child’s Summer 1st Birthday Party, Making Your Sunny Day Full Of Fun And Unforgettable Memories!
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- CAKE SMASH PARTY PHOTO PROPS – Vibrant Beach Ball First Birthday Ribbon Banner Is Designed To Match A Child’s High Chair And Will Make Your Child’s Seating Area The Focal Point Of The Party In An Impressive Way!
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- Package and Size: Includes 24 Pack surfing one cupcake toppers, these novel and cute cupcake picks will add more fun.The size is 1.9*4.3 / 2.1*3.9 / 2.3*4.2 / 2.2*3.8 / 2.0*5.0 / 2.0*3.6 inch ( including stick )
- Widely Application: These surfing cupcake toppers are so cute and perfect for surfing theme party, first birthday party, summer beach theme 1st birthday party, surfboard sport party, surf theme baby shower birthday party cupcake decorations. They will be good decoration and make your cupcake more attractive and interesting.You can also apply them for ice cream, fruits, cookies and other desserts.
- Premium Material: These surfing cupcake toppers are made of high quality 300 gram glitter thick card stock and 100% food grade sticks. they are very so safe to be suitable for cupcakes,cookies,cakes,fruits,cookies,ice cream and other desserts.
- ICE CREAM HIGH CHAIR BANNER : Introducing Our Brightly Colored Ice Cream 1st Birthday High Chair Banner, Which Will Give Your Little Princess’s Celebration A Wonderful Visual Treat And Charming Summer Vibe, And Bring Joy To Everyone In Attendance
- SUMMER 1ST BIRTHDAY PARTY DECORATIONS : This Charming Ice Cream Highchair Banner Is Easy To Use, You Just Need To Fasten It On Both Sides Where You Want To Decorate It, And It Will Create A Unique And Festive Atmosphere For Your Party Space
- SUITABLE OCCASIONS : With The Beautifully Designed Ice Cream One High Chair Banner, You Can Easily Decorate A Variety Of Occasions, Such As Birthday Parties, Afternoon Tea Events, Summer Parties, Friend Gatherings, Holiday Celebrations And More
- 【Surfing 1st birthday photo banners】The surfing photo banners are essential decorations for your baby 1st birthday party. Putting summer surfing garlands banners and baby photos together, your guests will love looking back on baby first year growing up best memories.
- 【2Pcs surfing party banners】You will get 2pcs surfing theme 1st birthday photo banners and 13pcs photo clips. Enough quantities to record your baby from newborn to 12 months good moments. Fun surfing theme elements to your gorgeous little baby’s birthday party！
- 【Summer surf first bday party decorations】Our surfing party photo banners come with pre-strung, no need to assemble. When you receive the product, you can hang them on the wall, window, door or the table directly. Premium material of the cardstock make sure you can still use it outdoor and not drop it easily.
- Splish Splash Pool Party 1st Birthday Decorations: The package includes 15 x latex balloons, 1 x “SPLISH SPLASH” foil balloon, 1 x “Happy 1st Birthday” cake topper and 24pcs cupcake toppers, 1 photo banner, plenty of decors here just aspire to giving you a one-stop party supplies experience.
- Wide Occasions: Perfect splish splash theme birthday party supplies for celebrating boy’s 1st birthday party, summer bash theme party, Hawaii tropical themed party, summer fruit party, beach theme party, indoor yard pool or outdoor pool party, etc.
- Self-designed Summer Pool 1st Birthday Photo Banner: The colorful printed patterns like flamingo, watermelon, ice cream, sunray, beach ball, all self-designed by our designer, full of summer and Hawaiian tropical style, aspiring to make your party gorgeous.
- Gorgeous banners: The high chair banner consists of hanging red, orange, yellow and green ribbons, the color combination is very beautiful and fresh. Especially the wave dots, waves, and blue stripe elements on the ribbon evoke a summer ocean beach, exactly fit with the summer party.
- Exquisite design: The banner is made of high quality fabric with “Fun to be One” printed on it. It would be the eye-catching accessory on your baby’s party. It can be reused again and again when handled and stored with care.
- Widely used: Designed in blue, this highchair banner is suitable for many themes of the birthday party, especially party themes related to summer, beach, and water. They can not only be used as party decorations and highchair and baby decorations but also be used as photo props.
- MAKE WAVES WITH THE BIG ONE PARTY! – Celebrate your little surfer’s first big milestone with a splash! This surf-themed 1st birthday decoration set brings a cool, breezy vibe with vibrant colors and playful designs. Whether you’re planning a laid-back beachy gathering or a wave-making celebration, this set creates the perfect fun-filled atmosphere. Let’s turn your little boy’s big day into an unforgettable adventure full of laughter, love, and sunshine!
- THE BIG ONE BIRTHDAY PARTY DECORATIONS INCLUDES – 83 × 12” latex balloons, 30 × 5” latex balloons, 8 × cupcake toppers, 1 × cake topper , 1 × monthly photo banner, 3 × balloon boxes, 1 × high chair banner, ribbon, 2 × ‘one’ cutout, balloon strip, 5 × foil balloons, 1 × backdrop, 1 × poster, 1 × crown, 3 × black balloon boxes, poster stand, glue dots
- HIGH-QUALITY & VERSATILE – Our surf-themed first birthday decoration set is made from durable materials for a long-lasting, vibrant display. Perfect for your little one’s big day, it’s also great for summer parties, beach events, or poolside gatherings. Easy to set up and suitable for any occasion, this kit will transform your space into a fun-filled celebration!