Easy party ideas
Short on time? Every idea in this collection is rated "Easy": a few hours of preparation at most, simple food and activities that almost run themselves. Some use a venue or a hired entertainer so you can relax; others are simple formats like a games night, a brunch or a picnic.
Each plan still includes a full timetable and shopping list, so there's nothing to work out yourself.
72 ideas
Anti-Valentine's party
A tongue-in-cheek party for singles with black balloons, break-up songs karaoke, a piñata and comfort food.
Backyard movie night
A projector, blankets, bean bags and a popcorn bar for an outdoor cinema under the stars.
Backyard Olympics
Teams represent countries in sack races, egg-and-spoon and silly relays, finishing on a medal podium.
Board game night
A games café at home with a menu of board games for every group size, snacks and a tournament leaderboard.
Bouncy castle party
A hired bouncy castle in the garden, with bounce games, a snack station and a picnic-blanket lunch.
Building brick challenge
Timed building challenges with plastic bricks, a team city build and a brick-themed cake.
Carols and hot chocolate night
Neighbours and friends gather outside for carol singing by lantern light and a hot chocolate bar.
Casino and game night
Play-money blackjack, poker and roulette tables, a dress code and prizes for the biggest winner.
Choo-choo train party
A wooden railway play zone, a cardboard train ride, ticket punching and a train cake with sweet cargo.
Christmas cookie swap
Each guest bakes a batch of one festive cookie and goes home with a tin full of everyone else's.
Christmas Eve family night
A Christmas Eve box for everyone, a buffet, family games, reindeer food and tracking Santa before bed.
Christmas pyjama party
Kids arrive in festive pyjamas for a hot chocolate bar, a Christmas film, a 'ticket to the North Pole' and a sleepover.
Co-ed baby shower BBQ
A relaxed barbecue for both parents-to-be and all their friends, with nappy pong, a dad-to-be challenge and baby bets.
Dance class party
A dance teacher leads a routine to a favourite song, finishing with a filmed performance for parents.
Day-after wedding brunch
A relaxed brunch the morning after the wedding, with a bacon roll station, coffee bar and the couple's favourite photos.
Dinosaur dig site
Bury plastic fossils in a sandpit and let young palaeontologists dig them up with brushes and goggles.
Easter bonnet parade
Kids decorate Easter bonnets and hats with flowers, chicks and eggs, then parade them for prizes.
Easter egg hunt
A garden egg hunt with clues, a golden egg, bunny footprints and baskets, finishing with hot cross buns.
Egg decorating party
Dye, paint, marble and glitter hard-boiled or wooden eggs, then display them on an Easter tree.
Family New Year's games night
A games tournament for all ages with a points board, snacks and a countdown at midnight (or earlier).
Farm animal party
A visiting petting farm brings lambs, rabbits and chicks, with a hay bale picnic and tractor games.
First birthday party
A relaxed first birthday with a smash cake, a milestone photo display and a sensory play corner.
Fondue night
A cosy evening of cheese fondue followed by chocolate fondue, with games until midnight.
Football party
A mini tournament with skills stations, a penalty shootout and a trophy presentation for every player.
Football tournament watch party
A watch party for a big international football match, with flags, a sweepstake, national dishes and a penalty game.
Galentine's brunch
A brunch for best friends with a waffle bar, a flower bouquet station, compliments jar and pink fizz.
Gender reveal picnic
Family and friends cast their votes, then a balloon box, a cake or a confetti popper reveals the surprise.
Gin tasting party
Taste four craft gins neat and with matched tonics and garnishes, then build a signature G&T.
Glow-in-the-dark party
Blacklights, neon face paint, glow stick games and a dance floor that lights up after dark.
Go-karting party
A booked race session at an indoor or outdoor karting track, with qualifying, a grand prix and a podium.
Graduation picnic
A celebratory picnic in the park after the ceremony, with a cap-toss photo, fizz and a grazing spread.
Grand prix race day party
Watch a motor race on the big screen with a chequered-flag theme, a race sweepstake and a sim-racing challenge.
Halloween bake-off
Families decorate spooky cupcakes, cookies and a graveyard cake in a timed bake-off with silly prizes.
Horror movie marathon
A spooky film night with a duvet den, a scary snack bar, a jump-scare bingo card and a costume vote.
Hot tub party
A hired hot tub in the garden with fairy lights, floating drinks holders, a playlist and a robe for every guest.
Housewarming open house
A drop-in afternoon to show off the new home, with a self-guided tour, a grazing table and a 'favourite local spots' map.
Ice cream sundae party
A sundae bar with five flavours, sauces and toppings, an ice cream eating race and a vintage ice cream parlour look.
Ice skating party
Book a session at an ice rink, with helmets, penguin skate aids for beginners and hot chocolate afterwards.
Jewellery making party
A bead bar for bracelets, charm necklaces and friendship bracelets, packaged in gift boxes to take home.
Karaoke night
A home karaoke stage with lights, duets, song-challenge cards and an awards show at the end.
Kids disco party
Disco lights, a dance-off, party games like musical statues and limbo, and a glow-stick finale.
Kids Halloween disco
A spooky disco with costume parade, monster freeze dance, a mummy wrap race and glow-stick finale.
Kids' Valentine's craft party
Kids make cards, heart garlands and treat boxes for friends and family, with heart-shaped snacks.
Laser tag party
Mobile laser tag in the garden or a park, with team missions, scoreboards and a debrief over pizza.
Magic show party
A magician performs, then children learn three tricks of their own and put on a show for the parents.
Monster mash for kids
Not-too-scary Halloween fun with a costume parade, a pumpkin hunt, monster crafts and a mummy wrap race.
Mum-to-be pamper party
A relaxing baby shower with a mobile therapist for hand and foot massages, a face mask bar and a nourishing lunch.
New Year's Day brunch
A relaxed late brunch to start the year: pancake stack, full breakfast, Bloody Mary bar and resolutions jar.
Noon Year's Eve for kids
A New Year's countdown at 12 noon so children can celebrate without staying up: balloon drop included.
Plant swap party
Guests bring cuttings and plants to swap, pot up new finds at a repotting bar and learn propagation tips.
Poker and steak night
A stag or birthday night with a steak dinner, a Texas Hold'em tournament with chips, and whisky.
Pony party
Real pony rides with a handler, horse grooming, a hobby horse race and a horseshoe hunt.
Pumpkin carving party
Friends and families carve and decorate pumpkins together, then light them up for a judged display.
Roller disco party
Book a rink or clear a hall for a retro roller disco with skate games, glow sticks and 80s tunes.
Silent disco
Wireless headphones with three DJ channels, so everyone dances to their own choice without disturbing the neighbours.
Sip and see
Friends and family meet the new baby over drinks and cake, with a welcome book and short visiting slots.
Slime making party
A slime lab where every guest makes fluffy, glitter and glow slime to take home in labelled pots.
Spa and sleepover night
Face masks, nail painting, a pamper station and a movie, followed by a pancake breakfast.
Storybook baby shower
Each guest brings a favourite children's book with a message inside, building the baby's first library.
Taco fiesta
A build-your-own taco bar, a piñata, papel picado bunting and fresh agua fresca.
Teddy bears' picnic
Toddlers bring their favourite teddy for a picnic, a teddy hunt, bear games and a bear-shaped cake.
Tennis and strawberries party
A summer tennis-themed garden party with the big final on screen, strawberries and cream and a mini tennis tournament.
Trampoline park party
A booked session at a trampoline park with dodgeball, foam pits and a party room for food afterwards.
Tween New Year's Eve sleepover
A sleepover with a hot dog dinner, a games tournament, a confetti countdown at midnight and pancakes for breakfast.
Ugly Christmas jumper party
Everyone wears their tackiest festive jumper for games, a jumper catwalk and a cosy Christmas buffet.
Uni send-off party
Send a student off to university with a 'survival kit' gift table, a recipe card book and a farewell barbecue.
Unicorn rainbow party
Glitter, rainbows and a unicorn horn craft, plus pin the horn and a rainbow cake reveal.
Water fight party
Water balloons, water blasters, a sprinkler obstacle course and a giant slip and slide on a hot summer day.
Whisky tasting night
Taste five whiskies from different regions with tasting notes, water droppers and food pairings.
White elephant gift swap
Everyone brings one wrapped gift; players unwrap or steal in turns for the funniest swap of the season.
Wine and cheese tasting
A guided tasting of four wines with matched cheeses, score cards and a blind-taste guessing game.
Yoga and brunch party
A private yoga class in the garden or a studio, followed by a healthy brunch spread and smoothie bar.