Summer Solstice Celebration Ideas

Enjoy these summer solstice celebration ideas, including a little history, food and drink, activities, and music to make your party a success.

Looking for a reason to throw a summer party? The Summer Solstice, aka Midsummer, is the perfect time to throw a party. It's typically around June 20th, the first day of summer, and the longest day of the year.

The summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere is the day on which the sun is at its highest point in the sky when the Earth’s axis reaches its steepest incline towards the sun.

There are many traditions and rituals held on this day, including dancing around the Maypole in Sweden, wearing traditional costumes and floral wreaths, and jumping over bonfires in several European countries.

On this day, many plants were considered their most potent, especially St John’s Wort, named after John the Baptist, which offered protection from evil spirits. St John’s Wort is a pretty sunny yellow flower that is still used today to help treat depression.

Summer Solstice Party Ideas

Have a Bonfire

I don’t recommend jumping over a fire, but there’s something about sitting around a bonfire in the summer that’s really special. Singing around the campfire, telling stories, and roasting marshmallows, it's all so much fun.

Limited on space? Try this quick and easy tabletop fire pit DIY.

Food and Drink Ideas

Make a refreshing cocktail with fresh berries like this Raspberry Shrub.

Or this pretty Hibiscus Margarita recipe.

Serve Strawberries

This is the time of year when strawberries are at their freshest and should be readily available. Put them in your drinks. Make strawberry lemonade. Dip them in chocolate or serve them alone.

Strawberry Recipes: Strawberry Cookies.....Strawberry Praline Trifle, Strawberry Glazed Pie..... Strawberry Shortcakes.....Strawberries and Cream Sheet Cake

Nothing says summer like flowers. Why not use edible flowers to garnish your desserts, drinks, or toss in a salad? 

Summertime also means cooking on the grill. This grilled pizza is perfect for a party. Have fun by letting everyone make one of their own.

Summer Solstice Party Activities

Make flower crowns for all to wear by gathering flowers and other plant materials and weaving them between a wire wreath fitted to your head. There are many tutorials with details, like this one from Paging Supermom.

You and your guests may also enjoy making living wreaths (shown above) or other garden crafts.

Make firestarters with bundles of herbs as take home favors or use as fragrant kindling for the fire at the party.

Create fern lanterns to hang from the trees or set amongst the guests.

Make pressed flower suncatchers to further celebrate the sun.

Music

No party is complete without music to listen to and dance. Consider hiring a guitarist to play your favorites or make a playlist of your favorite songs about the sun to play at the party.  Here are a few oldies but goodies:

• Here Comes the Sun - The Beatles
• Let the Sunshine In (Aquarius) The 5th Dimension
• Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me - Elton John
• Steal My Sunshine - Len
• Pocketful of Sunshine - Natasha Bedingfield
• Walking on Sunshine - Katrina and The Waves
• Sunshine on My Shoulders - John Denver
• Brighter Than The Sun - Colbie Caillat
• You Are the Sunshine of My Life - Stevie Wonder
• Soak Up the Sun - Sheryl Crowe
• Sunrise - Norah Jones
• Ain’t No Sunshine - Bill Withers

I hope this post inspires you to celebrate the sun during the summer solstice. If hosting a party just isn't your thing, look around your area for a summer solstice fair and join in on the celebration.