How to Welcome Summer with a Summer Solstice Themed Party

Summer Solstice: The Ultimate Celebration of Summer

Summer Solstice welcomes many people’s favourite season: summer. It marks the longest day of the year, or when the sun shines the longest. In the norther hemisphere, this occurs on June 20^th or 21^st. In 2024, Summer Solstice is on June 20^th. Celebrating this holiday is an ancient tradition across many cultures worldwide, past and present. One of the most popular ways to culminate this celebration is with a late evening bonfire so if you have access to an outdoor party space with a safe bonfire space, it’s the perfect venue for a Summer Solstice themed party! But whether you celebrate indoors or out, there are fun ways to mark this memorable occasion. Let’s explore some Summer Solstice party ideas so you are ready to salute summer!

A group of people hang out together on Ocean Beach, San Francisco at a campfire while the sun sets over the ocean's horizon. Having a fire is a preferred activity at a Summer Solstice themed party — Photo by Kimson Doan

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means I may earn commission if you click through the link and finalize a qualifying purchase. This does not affect the price in any way.

How to Throw a Summer Solstice Themed Party

1. Create a Sunny Scene (Whether Inside or Outside)

Summer Solstice is all about the warmth and longevity of the sun, so a great way to decorate your space for a Summer Solstice themed party is to cover it in sun-themed décor and plenty of yellow. If you own any yellow throw blankets or pillows, display these across your space on furniture or other areas to create vast swaths of sunshiny yellow.

Flowers and lush foliage are likewise fitting decorations that symbolize nature’s bounty. Pick (or buy) plenty of fresh flowers, and if you have access to ivy, string ivy garlands along your mantel or above doorways. Flower garlands are a classic feature of summer solstice celebrations, so pick plenty of wildflowers and string together your own garlands.

A young woman wearing a yellow dress and white flower garland sits in a field of yellow flowers and holds a bunch in her hand — Photo by Clark Cruz

Check out these decorations for more Summer Solstice party ideas to create a happy, sunny vibe:

2. Prepare Summer Solstice-Inspired Food and Beverages

Close-up top down photo of juicy orange slices, a perfect snack for a Summer Solstice themed party — Photo by Daniel Dan

Taste the start of summer with summery salads and other seasonal fare. Go to your local farmer’s market to stock up on fresh, seasonal produce and other foods you can share. Or buy any round, yellow-hued produce with a nod to the sun: oranges, sliced yellow summer squash, lemons, star fruit (especially fitting!), pineapple rings, or mangos, to name some. Your part of the world may have even more great options – check out what’s available from farmers near you!

Here are some tasty, refreshing recipes for your Summer Solstice themed party menu:

Summer salad
Summer panzanella
Fruit and cheese board
Baked plantain chips and guacamole
Grain-free berry crisp
Summer Solstice honeycomb cake (recipe here)
Hibiscus lemonade (can be alcoholic or non)
Summer Solstice sunset or its cousin, the Summer Solstice sipper

3. Kick Off Summer with the Perfect Playlist

Stonehenge at sunset, against a blue sky with vivid pink clouds and yellow sunlight, the ultimate monument for a Summer Solstice themed party — Photo by John Nail

Plan some good tunes to commemorate the start of summer! There are many traditional northern European-inspired songs about the Summer Solstice (traditionally called Litha) such as this Midsummer music (beautiful instrumental music) or this Summer Solstice playlist.

You could also play any summer playlist that you love, whether it’s a hip-hop mix, folk music, reggae jams, or any other tunes that just feel like summer to your bones. Everybody has their ‘summer songs’ that take them back to carefree summer days. Take some time to sit down and curate a fabulous playlist that you and your friends will love.

4. Add Evocative Scents

Close-up photo of a yellow sunflower facing a blue sky with white clouds — Photo by Tim Cooper

Especially if your Summer Solstice themed party will be indoors, entice your guests with pleasant summer scents. If your fresh flowers aren’t aromatic enough, burning scented candles is a great way to fill your space with an enticing aroma. Beeswax candles are perfect for a Summer Solstice party because they are yellow like the sun and emit a light and lovely honey scent. Or, for a stronger scent, try one of these scented candles:

5. Plan Summer Solstice Activities

Black silhouette of three women dancing with hands waving in the air against a vivid yellow and orange sunset sky. Dancing is a fun and fitting activity at a Summer Solstice themed party — Photo by Levi Guzman

Dancing is one of the best ways to celebrate the Summer Solstice. If you have music and willing friends, invite everyone to let loose and dance! At the same time, if you or another guest has any skill that would be fun to share at a party (musician, dancer, flamed hula-hooper, etc.), your Summer Solstice party is a perfect opportunity to invite them to shine.

As mentioned above, a bonfire is a traditional way to celebrate the Summer Solstice. Any sort of open flame fire is, understandably, restricted to outdoor party spaces where they’re safe and legal, so this isn’t always a feasible option depending on where you live. If a bonfire (or even a small fire pit) isn’t an option, you can still (safely) light lots of candles, whether indoors or out, to create an enchanting midsummer ambiance. Or string up fairy lights for a firefly-inspired glow!

A tall and blazing teepee-shaped bonfire provides plenty of light and warmth at dusk in Straßlach-Dingharting, DE — Photo by Colin Lloyd

6. Establish Guest Participation

Guest participation is optional and depends on how you’d like your guests to participate or contribute to your Summer Solstice party. Maybe you encourage everyone to wear lots of white and yellow to celebrate the sun’s light. Or maybe you invite guests to bring a summery dish to share, potluck-style. Maybe you invite them to BYOB. Whatever type of participation you set, just make sure you communicate it clearly when you first invite people.

Checklist of Items You Need

These are the things you need for your Summer Solstice party:

Sun-inspired decorations
Plenty of fresh flowers, and flower garlands
Summery refreshments
Summer Solstice party playlist and speakers
Scented and/or beeswax candles or fairy lights
Bonfire wood, kindling and matches (if fire is an option)

Preparation Checklist for Your Summer Solstice Themed Party

A man draws a picture of a smiling sun in the sand — Photo by Kindel Media

1. First, confirm that people can come on any chosen date:

Choose party date/time, and preferably alternative date(s) as well. Of course, it’s preferable to host on the actual solstice. That’s the whole point, after all! But people are busy, so if that day doesn’t work out for any given reason (it falls on a Thursday in 2024, which may limit how late guests can stay for a bonfire or other fun night celebrations), hosting the prior weekend is also reasonable. Or, when the solstice falls on a Thursday as in 2024, you could host the following Friday or Saturday.
Choose guest list and establish minimum number of guests you’d like (to make it worth your effort)
Six weeks out, confirm guests’ interest in the party and availability on chosen party date(s)
If your preferred minimum number of guests confirm interest and availability, have them secure calendar date for your awesome solstice party!

2. Then, proceed with the fun planning:

Schedule time on your calendar for each step of party prep as listed below (securing and/or making food/drinks, etc.)
Create invitations with all the details and send them out 4 weeks before the party
Order any party supplies and decorations 3 weeks out (so they arrive in time to prepare and set up)
Shop for any party supplies/decorations you don’t order online, as well as non-perishable food/drinks
In your planned time slots, acquire perishable food/drinks early enough in advance to prepare in time
In your planned time slots, set up decorations (including fresh flowers/foliage)
In your planned time slots, prepare food/drinks (depending on how long things keep)
In your planned time slots (as close to the party day as possible), pick wildflowers and create wildflower garlands

3. Day of Party (in your amply planned time slot):

Prepare any foods/drinks that are too fresh to do any earlier
Set up any quick/easy last-minute supplies and decorations (if not up already)
Prepare ambience (music, candles)
Get dressed in your favourite summery party outfit
Once everything’s ready, meditate or do any preferred self-care to get in a good head space if you aren’t already. You want to be a relaxed, energized, and happy host for your Summer Solstice themed party – both for yourself and for your guests, who will pick up on your sunny vibe and automatically be cheerier as well!

Black silhouette of person holding arms outstretched in front of setting sun — Photo by Tomas Villamil

Summer Solstice is a day to celebrate the light and everything the sun provides, whether directly or indirectly. Cherish the time with friends and have fun celebrating into the lightest night!