When the evenings get longer, summer party planning begins in earnest. It might be a marquee in the garden, the annual office summer social, a festival in a field or a pool party with a beach club feel. The range of entertainment available can feel overwhelming, so it helps to break the evening into stages. Think about the music, the welcome, something guests can take home, something to get people talking and a big moment to finish. Get those five right and the rest tends to follow.
Key takeaways
- Choose music by demographic, formality and venue logistics, and always ask about wet weather plans.
- A standout welcome act gives guests an instant talking point and photo.
- Keepsakes such as caricatures or silhouettes give guests a souvenir of the day.
- Interactive entertainment helps shy guests and non-drinkers feel included.
Start with the music
Music shapes the mood of the whole event, and there are plenty of questions to answer. DJ, band or live singer? How big a sound system? What happens if it rains? Will the act live up to its showreel?
A good booker will ask about your guests, how formal the event is, any theme such as a beach club or festival, where the power supply is and how many people are coming. They should then show you live footage of singers, bands, roaming musicians, saxophonists or DJs, so you know exactly what you will get and what equipment and space they need.
For daytime garden parties, acoustic roaming bands are a lovely choice because they move with the crowd and need little setup. For evenings, a DJ with a live saxophonist or percussionist adds energy without the footprint of a full band.
Tip from our team: Check the power supply before booking any amplified act. Outdoor sites often need a generator.
Plan a welcome people remember
The first few minutes set the tone. Something a little unexpected at the entrance gives guests a reason to stop, smile and start chatting.
Champagne service can take many forms: an aerialist pouring from above, a performer in a giant martini glass, an LED strolling table, a champagne dress or a mermaid. Human topiary, costumed hosts and stilt walkers make great photo opportunities. Living statues, still or roaming, help set a theme, and comedy paparazzi greet guests like celebrities while taking their photos.
Give guests something to take home
A photographer or videographer is the obvious choice, but there are more personal options. A caricaturist, drawing by hand or digitally, can give guests a copy to keep. A live illustrator can capture the scene as it unfolds. Photo booths and silhouette artists also give everyone a souvenir.
Add something interactive
Hosts often assume guests will be happy just chatting. For the host, the time flies because they know everyone. For guests who are shy, know few people or are not drinking, an activity or performer gives them an easy way in.
Good options include close-up magic and mind reading, fortune telling, a photo booth, workshops such as cocktail making, dance classes, crafts or circus skills, and face and body art like glitter, braids, henna or temporary tattoos.
- Close-up magic or mind reading
- Fortune teller
- Photo booth or styled photo spot
- Cocktail, dance, craft or circus skills workshops
- Face paint, glitter, braids or henna
Finish with a showstopper
Keep the energy rising towards a finale so guests stay engaged. Depending on the mood, you might choose a high-energy circus act, a speed painter, an LED robot, beach-club dancers with lasers, a saxophonist or percussionist playing over the DJ, a fire show, or a choreographed dance routine to open the dancefloor.
Share your vision with your booker in as much detail as possible. The more they understand about your guests and venue, the better their recommendation for a finale that fits your budget.
Summer party checklist
- Confirm a wet weather plan with every outdoor act
- Check power, cover and space for each performer
- Think about shade and water for performers on hot days
- Time fire and LED acts for after sunset so they have most impact
- Agree arrival times so setup is finished before guests arrive
Acts and themes in this article
Giant Martini Glass Show
A performer, a giant glass and a lot of glamour
Champagne Walkers
Strolling LED champagne tables that serve as they walk
Aerial Performers
Hoop, silks and freestanding aerial rigs
Mermaids
Mermaid performers for a showpiece welcome
Enchanted Garden
Floral living statues, garden aerial and blooming champagne glasses for a romantic, natural look.
Frequently asked questions
What entertainment works best at a garden party?
Roaming acoustic musicians, living statues, stilt walkers, caricaturists and champagne walkers all suit garden settings because they move among guests and need little setup.
When should fire or LED acts perform at a summer event?
After dusk if possible. In midsummer that can be quite late, so plan your schedule around sunset to get the full effect.
Do I need entertainment if guests just want to catch up?
A little goes a long way. Even one interactive or roaming act gives quieter guests a talking point and helps people mix.
Planning a summer party?
Tell us your venue, guest numbers and the mood you are after, and we will suggest acts from welcome to finale.
Written by James Ashworth, Events writer.
