Corporate Summer Party Ideas That Work at Home or in a Rented Space

The worst corporate summer party I attended was a PowerPoint slideshow of the year’s accomplishments followed by a speech from the CEO, all held in a conference room in July. The employees sat through forty minutes of slides while the sun shone outside. A corporate summer party should be about the people, not the presentations. If the party starts with a PowerPoint, it is not a party.

Corporate summer party ideas are celebration concepts for a workplace event held during the summer, ranging from outdoor BBQs to boat parties to activity days. The best corporate summer parties are outdoor, interactive, and fun. The worst are indoor, passive, and feel like a work event.

The short answer: go outside, serve good food, and pick one interactive activity. A BBQ, a picnic, a boat party, or an activity day. The birthday party decoration kit works for decorations. The BAD CHOICES party game works for a team game.

Outdoor Corporate Summer Party Ideas

The Backyard BBQ

Grilled food, cold drinks, and a backyard or a park. The food is the theme. The activity is the eating. The flaw: weather. Have an indoor backup.

The Picnic Party

A picnic at a park. The food is sandwiches, fruit, and cold drinks. The venue is the outdoors. The activity is the socializing.

The Boat Party

A boat rental for a party on the water. The venue is the experience. The flaw: boat rentals are expensive ($500 to $2000). Only for a large group.

The Activity Day

An outdoor activity day: a hiking trip, a golf outing, or a sports day. The activity is the outdoors. The food is a picnic lunch.

The Brewery Tour

Visit two or three local breweries. The activity is the beer. The food is whatever the breweries serve.

Indoor Corporate Summer Party Ideas (For Hot Days)

The Restaurant Dinner

A dinner at a restaurant. The restaurant cooks, serves, and cleans. The host is a guest.

The Game Night

Board games, card games, and snacks. The BAD CHOICES party game works for a team game. The flaw: the humor is edgy.

The Movie Event

A movie related to the company or the industry. The activity is the movie. The flaw: it is passive.

What to Avoid

Avoid the PowerPoint slideshow. It is not entertainment. Avoid the CEO speech. It is not entertainment. Avoid the conference room in July. Go outside. Avoid the awards ceremony that lasts longer than fifteen minutes.

The Verdict

A corporate summer party works when it is outdoor, interactive, and fun. A BBQ, a picnic, a boat party, an activity day, or a brewery tour. The most common mistake is starting the party with a PowerPoint and a speech in a conference room. Go outside. Serve good food. Skip the presentation.

FAQ

What is a good corporate summer party idea? A backyard BBQ, a picnic, a boat party, an activity day (hiking, golf), or a brewery tour. Go outside and serve good food.

How do I plan a corporate summer party? Go outside, serve good food, and pick one interactive activity. Skip the PowerPoint and the speech. The party is about the people, not the presentations.

How much does a corporate summer party cost? $10 to $30 per person for a BBQ or a picnic. $30 to $60 per person for a restaurant dinner. $50 to $200 per person for a boat party. $20 to $50 per person for a brewery tour.

What should I avoid for a corporate summer party? PowerPoint slideshows, CEO speeches, conference rooms in July, and awards ceremonies longer than fifteen minutes. Go outside. Serve good food.

How many people should I invite to a corporate summer party? The whole company. If the company is large (50+), book a venue that can seat the group. If the company is small (10 to 30), a backyard or a restaurant works.

Should I hire entertainment for a corporate summer party? For a large group (50+), a DJ or a band. For a small group (10 to 30), a game or a playlist. The BAD CHOICES party game works for a team game.

How long should a corporate summer party last? Three to four hours. A BBQ is about three hours. A boat party is about four hours. End the party while people are still having fun.

References

• The Bash, “Corporate Party Ideas,” thebash.com
• Team Building, “Corporate Event Ideas,” teambuilding.com
• SignUpGenius, “Office Party Ideas,” signupgenius.com