Published On: 27 October 2021Categories: Blog7.8 min read

Who needs muddy fields, long lines for the toilets and overpriced food when you can just do it all at home? These festival themed party ideas are perfect for people who love the idea of it but are not up for camping! It makes for a really fun event and is not something people often think of doing at home. It is also much easiest to get everyone together in a mutual setting like your own back garden. Venturing further out normally ends up in losing each other and spending most of your time looking for a phone signal!

While it may not be quite the same experience, planning your own event with festival themed party ideas is the next best thing. So whether you are looking for an alternative or are simply missing the summer festivities, get your wellies out and pop some music on! Let’s see what you could do to host a really fun and easy at-home festival. 

DIY wristbands or lanyards

We know that lanyards are a bit Coachella, but who doesn’t love a quirky invitation? Even if you’re just having a few friends around it can be fun to make a big deal of the event before it even starts. Drop the traditional card invites and opt for some personalised lanyards with your made-up festival name on the front. You can even have VIP passes for music requests or extra drinks!

This doesn’t have to be expensive. You can invest in some simple, coloured straps and design the card that clips on them at home. Whether you hand-draw them or design them on a computer, it allows you to personalise them as you want. You can even make each person’s a little different. If you don’t like that idea, then traditional wristbands are a great alternative. 

There are tonnes of easy to make bracelet kits out there that could work. They might be aimed at children but anyone will have fun making them! It is something you could even do together on the day as an activity. Or if you want to go the extra mile – send out whatever you produce in the post to each person a week or so before the big day. This will make it feel real and get everybody excited for what is to come.

The tunes!

Probably one of, if not the most important factor is going to be the music. It is the whole reason people choose to go to these events and even prioritise days to see their favourite artists. Now, it is unlikely that you are going to be able to get live music from the top 10 charted bands – so you will have to improvise. Firstly, it might be considerate to invite the neighbours or at least give them some warning prior to the party because it is going to be loud! Every festival comes with huge speakers and having to shout at the top of your lungs to talk to anyone. 

If you don’t fancy inviting them to join you – drop them a note or text just to let them know what is going on. If you have a sound system at home – perfect! You can move the speakers around to get the best sound and even crank up the tunes in your garden. Otherwise, get friends to bring Bluetooth speakers and portable systems like Alexa or Google Home that are easy to connect to. This way, anyone can be in control and you will all get a chance to experience your favourite artists at home!

Luckily, streaming platforms are widely available now and you can hook them up to almost anything. But another fun thing you could invest in is the good old fashioned karaoke machines! If you’re going to be singing your hearts out – you want everyone to be able to join in. People can pick their favourite songs and curate their own playlist for the night. It will be almost as good as the real deal.

Lighting and decorations

Any event like this tends to mean you go big or go home. So why not splash out on some new decorations. You could buy some flags and bunting to string up, or hand streamers and balloons from anywhere and everywhere. Even if you are working on a budget, you don’t have to buy! Make them yourself and personalise them to ensure they fit your scheme perfectly. Fairy lights can provide a really nice atmosphere too and are cheap to get hold of. Coloured bulbs and different shaped lights will set the tone of the party.

One of our favourite festival themed party ideas is going all out on the true experience. What is the one thing that always makes the news at these events? Tents. Albeit it is normally the amount that gets left behind, but it is a big thing at every event. People make a point of getting there early to get the best pitch and be closest to the stage or the food. You can take inspiration from this and get friends or family to bring their own little tents to pitch up and camp out in overnight. 

You might not want to suggest this in the winter months, but when it is warm enough – people can get the feel of being in the great outdoors! Even make a point of first come first served. Those who show up on time get the best place for their tent or get free rein in the fridge for midnight snacks. It is small details like this that will complete the night and get everybody in the right mood. Imagine Reading Fest but on a smaller scale – that is what we can be aiming for!

Dress code

You have to make sure everyone comes festival ready. So think about sending out a dress code on the invites that include all the staple gear. Wellington boots never go amiss, along with face paints and stylish headpieces. They are all things you expect to see when you attend a real event, so this one shouldn’t be any different! If you are expecting rain – you might even want to suggest a proper British poncho to complete the look. Paired with your DIY wristbands and lanyards, everyone will be feeling the part. 

Festival themed party ideas

The great thing is, even if you are expecting a bit of rubbish weather, don’t let it put you off. There is rarely a time where our summers don’t include some drizzle. It is part of the fun and your guests are sure to become prepared for every eventuality! But don’t forget – this is an at-home event, so if it gets too much, just move the fun indoors and continue the party from there. It is a luxury you wouldn’t normally get so don’t be disheartened if you have to use it. 

Party food

As an event catering company in Surrey – we would love to think that every party be filled with professionally crafted meals and bespoke menus. However, that is not what this is about! If you want to handle this side of things yourself, you could jump right in with a traditional barbeque and lay on a feast this way. It would be in keeping with what you’d expect and always goes down well – especially in the summer months. 

If you are looking to host a more extensive party with lots of people, you could consider outsourcing your catering to a company like ours! We have done carnivals and 21st birthdays as well as corporate events – so anything goes! We know you want to be able to enjoy the experience too, so this may take some of the stress away and offer you more time to be a guest at your own party. 

Of course, we can’t forget about the booze. Hosting a cocktail hour or setting up an at-home bar would allow for some personalised drinks. Alternatively, you could follow true festival protocol and get all of your guests to bring their own! Just don’t forget the soft options for those who don’t drink (or shouldn’t!)

Festival themed party ideas for your next event

Many consider it a right of passage as you go through a party phase. However, you can have just as great a time at home with these ideas and activities. You don’t need to spend a fortune on parties and making them a little bit unique like this will make it a night to remember. You can personalise it as much as you want and get people involved along the way. Just remember – it is all about letting your hair down and having fun. (Whatever the weather!)

Our dedicated Vanilla Bean team have been in the industry for over 30 years, so we’ve certainly seen our fair share of event trends! We can seamlessly incorporate personalised trends and themes into your event, wowing your guests with our innovation and creativity! To find out more about us and what we do, please visit our website by clicking here, or get in touch to discuss your upcoming event.