6 Summer Party Ideas—From Solstice Suppers to Al Fresco Movie Nights

Summer dinner parties have a certain kind of magic. The seasonal ingredients can’t be beat, you can eat dinner outside, and the time of year gives a laid-back, casual vibe. It’s the perfect time to invite your friends over—so, if you’re looking for summer party ideas, you’ve come to the right place.

As someone who doesn’t exactly love the summer season (hear me out: the DC humidity is stifling), I am looking forward to summer dinner parties. Choosing a theme for your gatherings is one way to add a little more fun to your hosting, and I personally think it makes planning a bit easier too. To help get you started, here are 6 summer party ideas that you and your friends are sure to remember long after summer’s over.

Image above by Michelle Nash.

Tomato-Girl Summer Party

At the top of our summer party ideas list? Tomatoes! Making the tomato the star of your summer party is not only delicious, but beautiful too. Create a tomato-forward menu with summer spaghetti and tomato salad and decorate your table with a mix of heirlooms and tomatoes on the vine. You could even ask your guests to wear red! August is when tomato season peaks, and the beauty of this in-season fruit (yes, fruit) is that the recipes are simple. You don’t have to do much for a tomato to really shine.

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.tasty-roundups-legacy-content-container .tasty-roundups-legacy-item-number,.tasty-roundups-legacy .tasty-roundups-legacy-item.tasty-roundups-legacy-item-align-right .tasty-roundups-legacy-content-container .tasty-roundups-legacy-item-number{left:0;margin:0;top:-36px}} Hummus Toast with Tomatoes, Feta, & Za'atar

Hummus Toast with Tomatoes, Feta, & Za'atar

Toast with Tomatoes, Feta, and Za’atar

Romanticize your toast.

Watermelon Tomato Caprese Salad

Harry Styles-approved.

Tomato Salad

Six simple but stunning ingredients.

creamy tomato pasta with miso and roasted tomatoes

Simple Tomato Pasta

Highly addictive.

Summer Spaghetti with Tomatoes, Burrata, & Basil

Summer perfection on a plate.

Summer Happy Hour

An at-home happy hour is always a good idea, but a summer-themed one has to take the cake!

Choose a fun signature cocktail and serve simple food that your guests can eat with their hands. Happy hour is the ultimate kick-back-and-relax kind of gathering, so dips, boards, and toasts are great for guests to graze on. Technically, I’m not sure if happy hour has dessert—but if it were up to me, I’d always have a little something sweet! Who wouldn’t love to dig into a strawberry cake with mascarpone cream?

grapefruit vodka cocktail, salty dog, greyhound recipe, casa zuma recycled glass tumblers

Salty Dog Cocktail

Shake things up.

Spicy Mezcal Paloma

It’s worth a shot.

Limoncello Spritz

Crisp, citrusy, and so refreshing.

The Perfect Dip for All of Your Summer Crudités

The ultimate grazing board.

Ricotta and Plum Bruschetta

Tomatoes, step aside.

Summer Cheese Board

Picture perfect—get your cameras ready!

Strawberry Cake With Mascarpone Creme

Simple and delicious.

Backyard Movie Night

Gathering friends for dinner, then settling in for an outdoor movie night once the sun sets is pure summer magic. Fire up the grill and enjoy grilled chicken thighs or shrimp skewers. Set up a projector, cozy up your space with pillows and blankets, then flip on a movie just in time for dessert. Pass around cups of fruit and meringue and enjoy your film under the stars. You could even center your menu and decor around the film!

15-Minute Grilled Chicken Thighs

Say goodbye to dry chicken.

Loaded Sweet Potato Fries

Eyes on the fries.

Cauliflower Nachos

Vegan and veggie-loaded.

Simple Potato Salad with Smoked Chili Aioli

Fast. Easy. Delicious.

Shrimp Skewers

Easy, breezy, colorful.

Summer Fruit Salad With Meringue

The ultimate dinner party dessert.

how to keep a conversation going - friends dinner party

Summer Solstice Dinner Party

Our summer party ideas wouldn’t be complete without a sit-down dinner. The summer solstice is on June 20th this year—imagine gathering with friends and chatting over a table with flowers and candles. Everyone sips on a Lillet spritz and the menu is a love letter to the season—watermelon salad, blackened salmon and gorgeous strawberries and cream pavlova for dessert. If you believe summer is worth celebrating, then a summer solstice dinner party would be the perfect excuse to throw a gathering!

The Lillet Spritz Is Here to Level Up Your Happy Hour

Aperol, who?

Blackened Salmon With Tropical Pico

A go-to summer meal!

Farmers Market Steak Salad

Crisp veggies, garlicky steak, and an addictive shallot vinaigrette to tie it together.

Spicy Watermelon Feta Salad

It pairs with literally everything.

strawberries cream pavlova summer dessert recipe

Strawberries and Cream Pavlova

More than a recipe—it’s a whole summer vibe.

Pizza Night

Whether you have a fancy pizza oven or not, a summer pizza party just hits differently! Homemade pizza is a fun way to interact with your guests as well—allow them to pick their toppings and personalize it themselves. Have plenty of ingredients and dough on hand for a fun, creative evening. Camille is a pro at homemade pizza and there are tons of pizza recipes on the site—here are a few of our favorites!

Peach, Pesto, and Balsamic Pizza

In pizza, we crust.

Caramelized Onion and Prosciutto Pizza

Prepare to drool over this flavor combo.

Sausage Burrata Pizza

Simply the best.

homemade fall pizza with sweet potatoes, apple, bacon and fried sage

Bacon, Apple, & Sweet Potato Pizza

It’s the crispy sage that does it for me.

Taco Night

If you give me a spicy marg, a few tacos, and time with the girls—I am unstoppable. Summer and tacos just go together so well, don’t you think? Make it easy on yourself and pick 2-3 tacos to serve and batch the margaritas in a big pitcher. Also, having a big bowl of homemade guac is an instant crowd-pleaser.

Spicy Margarita

Two words: Tajín rim.

Guacamole

Keep it simple.

Chimichurri Fish Tacos

Always in the mood for beach vibes.

Lime-y Chicken Tacos with Jicama, Avocado, & Mint

These might be my last meal.

Carne Asada Tacos

Fire it up.

Shrimp Tacos

Hands down, these are the best shrimp tacos of your life.

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Originally posted on: https://camillestyles.com/entertaining/summer-party-ideas/

6 Summer Party Ideas—From Solstice Suppers to Al Fresco Movie Nights

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