Summer event planning in New York City... The name of the game is fun. Think live bands that get the crowd dancing to cocktail socials under the stars. Summer in the Big Apple offers the perfect backdrop for unforgettable entertainment. Imagine your events with corporate party photo booths with tropical props, activations that spark friendly competition, sunset cruises with a DJ, or even impressive fire dancers for that wow-factor finale.
Let’s dive into some creative entertainment ideas that bring the heat—without breaking a sweat.
Immersive Themed Experiences
1. Bridgerton tea party: Bring the characters, atmosphere, and proper English teatime to life from this popular series. Guests can be serenaded by a string quartet, with décor reminiscent of a Regency Era soiree. Tea is a must, of course, accompanied by scones, crumpets, and champagne. Book a caricature or silhouette artist to create lovely mementos of the evening for guests to take home.
2. Coastal cowgirl party: A great theme for bachelorette parties, birthday celebrations, or Sweet 16 galas, the coastal and western styles combine to create a unique vibe guests will be sure to love. Partygoers can sport their best western wear and two-step on over to the custom hat-making table to create a topper that’s customized just for them. A country music band is a safe bet for entertainment, with beer and BBQ on hand to sustain hungry ranch hands.
Interactive Culinary Stations
3. B.Y.O.B. (aka Bring Your Own Board): Charcuterie boards are hot right now and offer something snacky for everyone. Engage your guests by assigning them a themed board to bring, like a s’mores board, a Greek-themed board, or a sushi-inspired board. Or the always fun Wild Card Board, which is an anything-goes charcuterie!
4. Martini station: Martinis are a versatile cocktail and welcome at almost any grown-up get-together. Guests can select their mixers from the liquor cart, create their own, or hire a bartender to produce top-shelf martinis shaken or stirred.
Unique Entertainment Acts
Well-fed guests are important, but keeping them engaged goes beyond food. Entertainment keeps them tuned in and wanting to stay just a little longer.
5. Live music: Getting guests out on the dance floor or their toes a-tapping makes for a great event or party. Event planners always read the room, know their guest list, and book music accordingly. An intimate dinner party calls for an acoustical duo, but a wedding reception or birthday party needs a full-on band (extra points for a brass section!)
6. Unexpected surprises: Some gatherings aren’t meant for musical entertainment, but a stand-up comedian, public speaker, or magic act fits the bill nicely. How fun is an outdoor movie theater, with guests lounging on blankets on the lawn? Sometimes, the guests can be the entertainment, staging an impromptu talent show or lip-sync contest!
Team-Building Activities Guests Love
Team-building activities have evolved into fun group activities that unite employees or groups and encourage collaborative efforts.
7. Charity Bike Build: Team building with a cause. A Charity Bike Build involves bike parts, tools, and teams. Each team is responsible for building a bike that will ultimately be given to a deserving child during the holiday season. Teams work together to complete the bike build, and this activity can be done outside under tents. Everybody wins with this activity, making it a solid choice for summertime team building.
8. Putt for a purpose: Don’t worry. No golfing skills are needed for this team-building exercise! Instead, participants are tasked with creating a miniature golf course with items commonly found in food pantries. Each team represents a particular hole, and the degree of difficulty is based solely on the number of items placed in front of the hole. After the activity, all food items are donated to a local food pantry.
Find All Your Event Entertainment Ideas at The Event Planner Expo
Summertime events take on a new level of excitement with themes, entertainment, and activities that keep attendees focused and engaged. Using clever formats and ideas brings new life to the term audience participation, and guests will be talking about your summertime events long after they’ve ended.
Be a part of the action and find out how you can produce sizzlin’ summer events by grabbing your tickets to The Event Planner Expo 2025. This October, the premier events industry conference will bring together hundreds of the best event services to NYC. Make sure you get in the room with these professionals and decision makers to find the inspiration and insights you need to catapult your event planning business!
