Ah, the joyous occasion of graduation! It’s a time to reflect on years of hard work, bask in the glory of accomplishments, and celebrate the bright future ahead. And what better way to commemorate this milestone than by throwing a park graduation party in the great outdoors? With the perfect park setting, you can create an unforgettable event that combines nature’s beauty with a festive atmosphere.
In this article, we’ll cover:
- 5 Tips for Finding the Perfect Park Graduation Party Venue
- 10 Genius Decorating Ideas For A Park Shelter
- Entertaining Ideas for Park Graduation Party Activities
- Park Graduation Party Menu Ideas
- How to Keep the Park Graduation Party Fun Going After Hours
Before you go: check out 10 must-haves for an epic graduation celebration and download your free graduation party planning to-do list!
Park Graduation Party Ideas for Finding the Perfect Pavilion
When it comes to hosting a park graduation party, choosing the right venue is crucial. Here are ideas to consider for selecting the perfect park pavilion!
1. Find a scenic setting for your park graduation party.
Afterall, if you just wanted an outdoor party, you could have hosted in your backyard. A graduation party at the park should provide you with that great outdoors vibe and scenic views.
2. Confirm there is space for your park graduation party activities.
Make sure you have ample space surrounding your lodge or pavilion to set up outdoor lawn games and activities. Scope out the area before you book to make sure the space will work for your needs. Bonus, if there is a fire pit nearby!
3. Get more space than you think you need in case of bad weather.
There’s nothing worse than a rained out park graduation party without enough shelter to accommodate everyone. Make sure that the pavilion or lodge that you select is plenty big enough to accommodate your guest list and then some. That way, if you have to take the party “indoors,” all of the fun festivities you’ve planned can carry on rain or shine.
4. Make sure you’ve got enough parking nearby.
Another important aspect to confirm is that there is a parking lot close to your pavilion or lodge. For one, you don’t want your guests having to traipse through the woods to get to the party, but then again, neither do you! Not when you’ll have armfuls of décor and party supplies to unload.
5. Consider guest and catering needs for your park graduation party.
A park pavilion offers you more of a no frills DIY event setting, whereas a lodge usually comes with some perks like full flushing bathrooms, kitchen or prep areas, AC and heat, etc. Consider your guest and catering needs when booking a space, making sure that there are adequate facilities to accommodate.
🗓️ Park lodges and pavilions tend to fill up quickly during the summer months, so if you’re considering a park for your graduation party celebration, definitely plan ahead. Try to book at least 3-4 months out.
OK, you feel good about selecting the perfect venue for your park graduation party? Great. Now, let’s get into decorating tips and how you can transform your basic park pavilion into a fabulous graduation party celebration space.
How to Decorate a Pavilion for a Graduation Party (10 Creative Ideas!)
Now, let’s dive into some creative graduation party decorating ideas specifically designed for park settings. Ultimately, you’ll want to focus on three aspects: the entrance, the tables, and hanging elements.
Here are 10 budget-friendly decorating ideas for your park pavilion.
#1 Dress Up Your Park Pavilion Columns with Fabric Panels
OK, most shelters have been around for years and years, so they are bound to show some wear and tear from the elements. (Or, from teenagers that are compelled to leave their mark on the world and carve their name anywhere they can). To hide any unsightly graffiti, dress up the pillars of your park pavilion with fabric!
Here’s how to achieve this look!
Purchase bulk lightweight fabric (cheesecloth, organza, or chiffon) in your desired color scheme and cut into panels (~ 3’ W x 10’ should fit most standard pavilons – but I recommend measuring!) Use a staple gun to secure it to the roof of the shelter and then drape it and tie it with ribbon around the pillars.
#2 Wrap Park Pavilion Posts in Balloons
Another great option, that’s better for a more casual park graduation party is balloon columns. You can either dress up the entrance of your park pavilion, or go all out and cover them all with balloon columns (just know, that will get a little pricey for those working with a tight budget).
#3 Cover Your Park Pavilion In Lights!
This pavilion decoration idea is perfect for an evening park graduation party. To create a stunning ethereal atmosphere, use lights to decorate your park pavilion. You can wrap the columns and also string lights along the eaves. When the sun sets, you’ll have the most magical park setting for your celebration.
PRO TIP: For this idea, you’ll want to ensure you’ve got an appropriate power source nearby. If not, you’ll need to buy or rent a generator to power your lights.
#4 Fabric Ceiling Panels
We already talked about using fabric for draping the columns of your park shelter, but if you really want to make a statement and up your aesthetic game, fabric can be used overhead as well.
PRO TIP: This requires much more pre-planning as you’ll want to ensure you get the lengths of your panels long enough depending on the aesthetic you’re going for.
For example, draping from the center of the pavilion, down to the floor will require a measurement of half the width of the pavilion ceiling and the full length of the column (plus some!) to get the right length.
In this case, a site inspection is definitely recommended. Don’t forget your measuring tape!
#5 DIY Bunting Banner Pavilion Decor
Bunting banners are an easy DIY decoration you can create in your graduate’s favorite colors, or their school colors. And they make for a fun whimsical vibe that perfectly complements a more casual park graduation party vibe.
PRO TIP: Create these DIY bunting banners using a variety of fabrics or colorful paper, and use cord in your color choice. Hot glue your bunting shapes to your cord, spacing evenly as you go, and tack along the eaves of the park shelter.
#6 Hanging Lanterns
This park pavilion decorating idea allows you to easily incorporate your graduation party color scheme. Just purchase several hanging lanterns in various sizes and colors that match your desired color scheme and pre-string along cord that you can tack along the eaves of your park shelter.
#7 DIY Fringe Banners
These DIY fringe banners are super easy and affordable decorations for your park graduation party. I created these black and white gingham print fringe banners using dollar store tablecloths for my sister in law’s park bridal shower and tacked them along the eaves of the park pavilion.
#8 Gingham Print Decorations
You’re already at the park, why not lean into that theme and go all in with a Picnic in the Park theme. Use gingham print tablecloths for your picnic tables, wildflower centerpieces in mason jars and picnic baskets for your card and gift table.
#9 Balloon Centerpieces
Not up for all that hanging and tacking business? No problem! Create graduation party centerpieces that make a statement using clusters of balloons in your graduate’s favorite colors, or school colors. Because the balloons have good height, you won’t need any extra hanging elements to fill the space.
#10 Plastic Tablecloth Backdrop
To incorporate your graduation party theme, or your graduate’s school colors, you can easily dress up a park pavilion by hanging a back-drop. Use plastic dollar store tablecloths in alternating colors and tack along the inside of one end of the shelter to create a colorful backdrop, like in this example.
So, there you have it. I hope you’re inspired with tons of ideas for how you can transform your basic park shelter or pavilion into an incredible graduation party venue. Next up, graduation party activity ideas!
Fun Outdoor Activity Ideas for Your Park Graduation Party
Graduation parties are an intersection of all of the grad’s family and friend groups, so a key to making it a fun celebration for all is to consider group activities where guests can interact and mingle (without it feeling too forced).
To keep your guests entertained and engaged, incorporate fun outdoor activities that are perfect for a park graduation party. Here are just a few ideas to consider!
- Set up lawn games such as cornhole, bocce ball, or giant Jenga, encouraging some friendly competition amongst the grad’s family and friends. And, if you’re super crafty, all of these can be easily DIYed.
- Consider creating a DIY photo booth with props and a rustic backdrop, allowing guests to capture playful and memorable moments. Explore these easy DIY graduation party backdrops for inspiration!
These interactive elements will add an extra layer of excitement to the celebration, ensuring everyone has a fantastic time.
Easy and Affordable Park Graduation Party Menu Ideas
Food is an integral part of any gathering, and a park graduation party is no exception. Here are ideas for planning an easy and affordable park graduation party menu your guests will love!
- Keep it simple yet satisfying with picnic-style fare like sandwiches, salads, and finger foods.
- Prep ahead and package items in individual cups or wraps. Not only does this keep germs and bugs away, but it’ll make transporation to the park and set-up a breeze!
- Plan a diverse menu that caters to different tastes and dietary preferences (i.e. make sure you’ve got vegetarian and gluten free options)
- Don’t forget refreshments. Fill a large bucket with ice and an assortment of waters and soft drinks for guests to pick from, or create a drink station with a few bulk batches of tea and lemonade.
- Last but not least, desert. What graduation party would be complete without something to sweeten the celebration? Consider a dessert bar with a variety of treats guests can choose from. A s’mores station, or s’mores favors, is also a fun idea to complement your park graduation party.
And, on that note… let’s talk about how to extend your party into the evening and keep the celebration going.
Evening Entertainment Ideas for a Park Graduation Party
Planning a park graduation party that extends into the evening hours? Here are some musts for keeping the celebration going!
- Decorate surrounding trees and pavilion with fairy lights, lanterns, and candles to illuminate the space and keep the party vibes going long into the night.
- Provide cozy blankets and cushions for guests to relax and enjoy the surroundings.
- Setup a bonfire area, where everyone can gather around, share stories, and make s’mores—a picture-perfect way to end your park graduation party celebration..
Ready to Plan Your Park Graduation Party?
A park graduation party is the perfect opportunity to celebrate your grad, keep stress-levels to a minimum, and embrace the summer season.
By taking advantage of the park scenery, integrating creative pavilion decorations, organizing fun outdoor activities, and curating an easy and affordable menu, your party will be one that your grad and your guests won’t soon forget.
So, embrace the outdoors, soak in the sunshine, and let the park be the canvas for your extraordinary graduation celebration.
Happy planning!
xoxo
Kelsey
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Thank you so much for all of your ideas! We incorporated some of them for our daughter’s graduation party and it really made an impact to the overall look!
That’s so great to hear, Linda! I’m so glad these ideas were helpful for you!