Looking for some fresh summer event ideas for your groups? Here are 10 creative ways to fill your calendar this season (+25 bonus ideas) — and how to use a Cheddar Up collection to make them happen.
What’s a Cheddar Up collection? We’re glad you asked! It’s a website that collects payments, forms and sign ups in one stop, then automatically tracks that information in a comprehensive reporting dashboard.
In short, Cheddar Up does all the organizing for group organizers and can make all of your summer event ideas a reality. Still have questions- don’t worry, we’ll walk you through how you can use Cheddar Up for your next summer bash.
Summer event ideas to celebrate fun holidays
Launch a pen pal program on National Pen Pal Day (June 1)
Start the summer by connecting people across the globe with a pen pal program. Set up a Cheddar Up collection to gather details like hobbies, languages spoken, and preferred communication methods. Share the page, and potential pen pals can fill out the information form. It’s a fantastic way to connect people and share cultures.
Show an outdoor movie for National Movie Night (June 10)
What’s better than a movie under the stars? Host an outdoor movie night and turn it into a fundraiser by selling snacks and special shout-outs. We love this example from one of our users, who sold “big screen shout-outs” and pizza orders.
Beat the heat with a reverse popsicle stand
Celebrate the first day of summer by delivering cool treats with a reverse popsicle stand. Organize a mobile cart to visit neighborhoods and let residents pre-order their favorite flavors and delivery times via a Cheddar Up page. It’s a delightful twist on the traditional stand and a great way to cool down the community.
Offer free classes for International Day of Yoga (June 21)
Encourage health and well-being in your community with free yoga classes in a serene park setting. Use Cheddar Up to handle registrations, schedule class times, and collect digital waivers. This event promotes physical fitness and mental peace during the relaxing summer months.
Organize an old-fashioned ice cream bar for National Ice Cream Month (July)
Host a nostalgic ice cream social where attendees can pre-select their ice cream choices through Cheddar Up. Include options for ice cream bar toppings and RSVPs to ensure you have enough treats for everyone. It’s a sweet way to enjoy the summer and bring people together over ice cream.
Plan a summer enrichment program for World Youth Skills Day (July 15)
Develop a one-day enrichment camp that teaches children various skills from arts to science. Cheddar Up can help with enrollment and payment processing, so you can focus on the class details. We love this user-created summer camp collection and this
Summer event ideas to bring the community together
Host a summer cookout
Gather the community for a classic summer cookout. Set up a Cheddar Up collection for attendees to contribute to the cost of food, drinks, or even rent communal spaces. You can also organize a sign-up for dishes, ensuring a great mix of foods and flavors.
Bonus idea:
If you’re in a location with a community pool, it can be fun to turn the cookout into a pool party! Grab some water toys and set up a few pool games for friendly competition.
Host a family, friends, or group reunion
Plan a heartfelt reunion and manage the details effortlessly with Cheddar Up. Use it to collect RSVPs, share updates, and compile everyone’s favorite memories or family recipes. This event is perfect for rekindling old connections and creating new memories.
Schedule a community-service day
Create a collection to manage different volunteer activities. This can range from helping at local shelters, beautifying parks, or organizing community gardens. Use Cheddar Up to manage the registration process and share details with volunteers on the information they need, including times, locations, and required materials.
Create a school-supply drive
Support local students by organizing a school-supply drive. List items on your collection page and let community members pay for specific supplies or make general donations. This method ensures that donations are organized and every student gets the supplies they need.
Looking for even more summer event ideas?
You didn’t think we’d only give you 10 ideas, did you?! Here are a few more of our favorite summer party ideas:
Summer event ideas for foodies
- Gourmet Picnic in the Park: Curate a selection of fine cheeses, wines, and artisanal breads for a sophisticated outdoor dining experience.
- Sushi Rolling Party: Host a sushi-making party where guests can learn how to roll their own sushi and then enjoy their creations.
- Farmers’ Market Tour and Cook-off: Organize a tour of a local farmers’ market followed by a cook-off challenge using the ingredients purchased.
- Craft Beer and Food Pairing Event: Arrange a tasting event featuring local craft beers paired with small plates designed to complement each brew. *For the 21 and up crowd*
- Dessert Swap Soiree: Invite guests to bring a homemade dessert to share, creating a sweet buffet of various cakes, cookies, and confections.
Summer event ideas for friendly competitions
- Beach Olympics: Set up a series of fun beach games like tug-of-war, beach volleyball, and a frisbee tournament.
- Trivia Night BBQ: Combine a barbecue with a themed trivia night, where teams compete in knowledge across various categories.
- Garden Game Night: Host a night featuring lawn games such as bocce ball, croquet, and horseshoes.
- Chili Cook-Off: Invite guests to bring their best chili for a cook-off, with prizes for the hottest, most creative, and best overall chili.
- Karaoke Contest: Set up a backyard karaoke stage and let guests battle it out for the title of Karaoke King or Queen.
Summer event ideas for outdoor-lovers
- Trail Mix and Hike Event: Organize a hiking adventure where before the hike, participants create their custom trail mixes from a variety of ingredients.
- Campfire Storytelling Night: Host an evening around a campfire where guests can share stories, roast marshmallows, and enjoy the night under the stars.
- River Rafting Day Trip: Plan a day trip for a river rafting adventure followed by a picnic by the river.
- Outdoor Survival Skills Workshop: Arrange for an expert to teach survival skills like building a fire, finding water, and basic first aid in a local park.
- Bird-Watching Breakfast: Organize a morning bird-watching event followed by a light breakfast in a scenic location known for bird sightings.
Summer event ideas for urban get-togethers
- Rooftop Dinner Party: Utilize a rooftop space for a chic dinner party featuring skyline views and a menu of urban-inspired dishes.
- Street Art Tour: Plan a walking tour of local street art and murals, ending with drinks at a nearby bar.
- Open Mic Poetry Night: Organize an open mic night at a local cafe where guests can perform poetry, music, or comedy.
- Historical Building Scavenger Hunt: Create a scavenger hunt that guides participants through the city’s historical landmarks.
- Film Screening at a City Park: Set up an outdoor movie night in a central city park, featuring a popular film or a selection of short indies.
Kid-friendly summer event ideas
- Superhero Costume Party: Host a party where kids can come dressed as their favorite superheroes and enjoy themed games and activities.
- Outdoor Arts and Crafts Festival: Set up various stations with different art projects like painting, clay modeling, and beadwork.
- Pirate Treasure Hunt: Organize a treasure hunt with clues leading to different spots around your yard or a local park.
- Science in the Park Day: Plan a day filled with fun, educational science experiments and activities outdoors.
- Mini Olympic Games: Create a mini-Olympic games with age-appropriate athletic events and fun challenges for kids.
Simplify your summer events with Cheddar Up
Planning an event can be a complex dance of details and logistics, but with Cheddar Up, it becomes a lot easier. Whether you’re organizing a small family gathering or a large-scale community event, Cheddar Up handles the heavy lifting. Here’s how Cheddar Up can simplify every event you plan.
Effortless Setup
For each event, setting up a Cheddar Up collection is quick and easy. You can create customizable forms, payment options, and sign-up sheets that make organizing any event straightforward.
All-in-One Management
From tracking RSVPs to collecting payments for food and activities, Cheddar Up keeps all your event details in one accessible place. Say goodbye to scattered spreadsheets and hello to streamlined success.
Real-Time Updates
Keep everyone in the loop with updates and reminders from Cheddar Up, ensuring your event goes off without a hitch.
Put your Summer Event Ideas into Action
Get started with Cheddar Up and let your event plan itself!
Create a Cheddar Up Account:
- Sign up at Cheddar Up
- Fill in your details such as name, email, and password, or sign up using an existing Google or Facebook account for quick access
Create Your Summer Event Collection:
- Click on “Create a Collection” to start setting up your event.
- Give your collection a name that reflects the event, like “Summer Cookout” or “Community Yoga Day.”
Customize Your Collection:
- Whether it’s tickets, merchandise, or food items, you can add these items to your collection. Include descriptions, prices, and quantities.
- Create custom forms or sign-ups to collect necessary information from attendees.
Share Your Collection:
- Share the link via email, QR code, or directly through Cheddar Up’s built-in invitation system.
- Send reminders and updates to ensure everyone is informed about the event.
Track and Manage Attendee Information:
- Use the dashboard to see who has signed up, what payments have been made, and who might need a nudge or reminder.
- Generate reports of the event’s payment and attendee details so you stay organized and prepared.
Love these summer event ideas?
Ready to turn these ideas into unforgettable summer experiences? Set up your own Cheddar Up collection today and make organizing your next event effortless and fun!
