Our 7 picks for fun work summer party ideas

Everyone looks forward to summer. The warmer weather, the greener air, and the overall improved atmosphere provides a brief escape from the nine or so months of our classically dismal UK weather. Yes, we all look forward to the year-end Christmas party, but there is no reason the mid-year summer party, retreat or team event can’t be just as fun! Chances are, you’ll need to host something inside for the Christmas party. In summer, you can get creative as you have comfortable outdoor weather. If you want your employees to have something to look forward to during the summer, here are some great ideas to get the ball rolling. 

We all Love a Good Luau

Even if you’ve never been to Hawaii, you can bring Hawaii to your event. If you are unfamiliar with the concept of a luau, it’s pretty simple - the word means party or feast that is accompanied with entertainment. They are meant to be fun, friendly and for closely-knit communities. 

It can be fun to organise a luau. Consider renting a large outdoor space and incorporate a Luau theme. Expect to serve things like fresh food, grilled meat and tropical drinks. The flower rings called Leis are the most classic indicator of a luau, so be sure to stock up on those. Also, make sure you have plenty of branded beach products on hand - straw hats, beach towels, sandals, sunglasses and other similar merchandise items. You don’t have to host it on a beach or an exotic location either, as long as you can pull off the theme, any venue will do!

Get Active in your Community

Consider giving back to your surrounding community. It can be rewarding and fulfilling to do some charitable good. In fact, the allbranded team does something similar every year. Since 2022, our team has taken part in a campaign to clean up parts of Hamburg, Germany - the location of our main headquarters - by walking the streets and picking up trash. Read more about it on our social responsibility page.

You can think of things like planting trees, holding internal company competitions with prize money to be donated or other activities of the like. 

Enjoy Great Outdoors with a Camping Retreat

Take your employees to the great outdoors and bond with outdoor activities, hikes and games. Setup tents, build bonfires and foster a real team spirit in a relaxed environment surrounded by nature. People feel closer to each other when they spend time outdoors, so this is the perfect time to bring the team together and make memories that will last a lifetime. 

Learn Something New in a Culinary Activity

Everyone could use a good tip or two when it comes to the culinary arts. Whether you can’t tell the difference between a pot and a pan or are the next Gordon Ramsay, it is loads of fun to learn how to make a martini or bake a proper rigatoni.

You can learn a new skill right next to your colleagues and it can help create a sense of comradery or competition depending on how you structure the event. Find a bar, restaurant or culinary school that hosts team cooking nights for a few hours. It’s the perfect retreat from a hard day’s work and something everyone can look forward to, and it’s a surprising amount of fun.

Have a Picnic

Work summer party ideas don’t have to be complicated. A picnic can be pretty simple but a classic. If you have the space or grounds to do it on site, all the better. Either way, it is a great way for everyone to kick back with good food, drinks and maybe even some entertainment. Host games, raffles and it might not be a bad idea to send everyone home with some sort of summer themed gift package. This is an easy concept and is not too difficult to execute, so planning can be a breeze. Take the hassle out of planning something hugely extravagant.

Put on a Comedy Night

Who doesn’t like to laugh? Gather the team for a night of fun and amusement with some comedy. You could hire a local comedian to perform for a small bit of time, or take the team to a more well known show. Or even find someone on the team who wouldn’t mind telling a few jokes. This is another fairly simple concept if you know how to find the comedian with work-appropriate material.

Host an Office Olympics

Break your coworkers up into teams and lean on their competitive spirits by hosting a lineup of games, challenges and puzzles. This can be held in large outdoor spaces or venues if your office spaces cannot accommodate. Make the win even more desirable with branded company medals or even trophies. Provide incentives for participation by handing out employee branded gift bags to all those who attend. With a little music and food, you will have an office olympics that no one will forget anytime soon - and will look forward to doing again the following summer!

We hope these ideas spark some imagination for an idea that you may have - or didn’t even consider. Summer is now in full swing with the solstice passing, so it’s time to get on with the planning. Thanks for reading!