KATY MAGAZINE l AUGUST 2019
By Natalie Cook Clark
As summer winds down, take time to soak up some fun, stay cool, and build relationships and make memories. Organize activities for the local kids, or bring your neighborhood together with an awesome block or foam party. Most of these are BIG IDEAS and are best done with friends and neighbors to offset the cost. Others ideas barely cost anything. Take a look at these 8 great ways to end the summer with a bang!
1. Host a Foam Party
For kids foam parties, you'll need to section off a large grassy or soft area for the boundaries where they can slip around with low risk of injury. Get your favorite group of kids and parents together and split the cost of a foam machine rental, which makes it more fun than trying to do it yourself. While the kids play, blast some summer time surf music to make it extra memorable.
2. Create a Backyard Waterslide
Photo courtesy: Julz Hall
Kids of all ages love a slippery waterslide! Share the costs with the neighbors and let the fun begin! You can rent a fancy waterslide from a local company or make one yourself with a tarp and hose. Add a tube or raft to amp up the fun and enjoy the time in the sun.
2. Host an Outdoor Movie Night
Set up an old-fashioned drive-in theatre on your street. You can rent a projector system or make your own screen by hanging a sheet, white poster board, drop cloth, etc. over a garage door. Then, project a family movie.
Make the event even more fun by calling it a drive-in movie and encouraging kids to ride up on their bikes, scooters, and Power Wheels. Don't forget the popcorn and snacks for a once in a lifetime night to remember.
3. Set Up a Kids' Lemonade Stand
Have your kids pick a charity and organize a neighborhood lemonade stand. Help them plan it, make change, and deliver the proceeds to a charity.
Recently, several neighbors in Firethorne hosted a lemonade stand, and the kids raised over $300 for The Children's Heart Foundation. They made the donation in the name of Graeme's Superheroes. The group raised awareness and support to honor Graeme McDaniel, a Katy boy who died of heart disease. Photo courtesy: Stephanie McDaniel
4. Have a Snow-Themed Summer Party
Have a snowball-themed party, complete with snow cones and a dry snow ball fight! (Buy buckets of fake snowballs on Amazon or make your own.) Rent a snow cone machine with assorted flavors or stock up on snow balls and snow cones from Bahama Bucks.
You can also rent a no-alcohol margarita machine with your choice of flavors. Everyone will enjoy the frosty treats and the cold snow during the sizzling Texas summer!
6. Have a Water Balloon Fight
All you need is a little kiddie pool that you can fill with dozens of water balloons for a laugh fest (sometimes cry fest) like no other.
Save some water balloons for games such as partner tosses, target contests, or juggling competitions. The rest of the balloons can be dispersed for an end-of-the-party war (with rules like "Kids must stay on the grass").
Good news Katy parents! You can now make 100 balloons at one time with this Bunch of Balloons product available at Walmart and other stores. The cost is around $7 and it's the best summer product since the Slip 'n Slide.
7. Create a Sprinkler Obstacle Course
Photo courtesy: Karianne Cook
Get creative with a sprinkler obstacle course. Let your grass soak up the water while kids giggle away the last days of summer vacation. Take advantage of end-of-season sales by stocking up on some fun sprinklers. You can also make your own sprinkler fun with a pool noodle. Simply poke holes in the noodle and insert a garden hose. Add a couple of Slip 'n Slides for more fun.
8. Block Party
Photo courtesy: Stonelodge Community
Nothing brings neighbors together like a summer block party. Volunteer to contribute a table, sign-up for a potluck, or host games for the kids in the street.
When the sun sets break out some glow sticks and crank up the music for a neighborhood dance party perfect for closing out the summer.
Do you have a great idea for some neighborhood fun to say farewell to summer? Share your ideas in the comments below.