18 Sizzlin' Summer Event Ideas For Apartments
As a property manager, it can be tough to come up with ideas for resident events, but Sprout has got you covered! We’re sharing our favorite event ideas for Summer 2024 that you can create for your apartment community!
(1) BLOCK PARTY
Invite residents to build their own summer kit! Use sand buckets as bowls and have a variety of summer foods and activities. Plus, you can even invite local vendors to set up their own tables to sell their goods and services to make the ultimate block party.
Your Shopping List:
Amazon Affiliate Links Included
(2) S’MORE FUN
Have a grab-and-go S’mores bar or even movie night under the stars with s’mores. These sweet treats are easy to incorporate into renewal or move-in gifts or even your marketing too.
Your Shopping List:
Amazon Affiliate Links Included
(3) LEMONADE STAND 3 WAYS
What’s great about lemonade is that it is SO versatile! We’re giving you three ways to do it!
Lemonade Bar
Lemonade Spritzers
Lemonade for Charity
Your Shopping List:
Amazon Affiliate Links Included
(4) SUNDAE FUNDAY
July is National Ice Cream Month! What's a better way to celebrate than by enjoying this cool treat? Set up the cutest sundae bar with all the fixings for your residents to build their own masterpiece.
Your Shopping List:
• Wooden Board
• Wooden Risers
• Ice Cream Garland
• Yellow Bags
• Ice Cream Cups
• Ice Cream & Toppings
Amazon Affiliate Links Included
Well hey, while you’re here… Grab our Resident Event Guide for Apartments! Oh yeah, Its Free
(5) UNDER THE SEA PARTY
Jaw ready for this? Host an under-the-sea resident party with some jawsome treats for all ages. Add an ocean documentary in the background for full effect OR host an outdoor movie (hint: JAWS) at your apartment pool area.
Your Shopping List:
• Ocean Table Cloth
• Fishing Net Decor
• Table Risers
• Decorative Shells
• Glass Cylinder Vase Set
• Water Beads
• Shark Toys
• Plastic Cups
• Cellophane Bags
• Goldfish
• Shark Gummies
• Pirate's Booty
• Magnetic Board
Amazon Affiliate Links Included
(6) DOG DAYS OF SUMMER TREAT BAR
July is the official start of the dog days of summer. Host the ultimate yappy hour with all the fun treats, drinks, and toys pets will love.
Your Shopping List:
• Barkcuterie Board
• Milk Bones
• Dog Pops
• Dog Toys
• Pet Water Sprinkler
• Woof Balloons
• Blue Table Cloth
• Fence Pot With Flowers
• Shadow Box
• Small Cups
(7) ICE POP BAR 2 WAYS
OPTION 1: ICE POP CART
Help residents cool off this summer with ice pops. Simply fill up a cooler or bucket with ice and add your ice pops. It's a perfect event by the pool, at the entrance, or even for marketing at the park.
Your Shopping List:
Amazon Affiliate Links Included
OPTION 2: ICE POPS & CHAMPAGNE
Get creative with your happy hour and pop some ice pops in an ice-cold beverage. This cool drink is sure to end up on Instagram.
Pairing Ideas
Mango & Champagne
Watermelon & Sparkling Rosé
Peach & Moscato
Tropical Mix & Pinot Grigio
Coconut & Chardonnay
(8) FLOAT FEST POOL PARTY
Summer is about floating your cares away at the pool with a book and a cold beverage. Having a great resident pool party doesn't need to be an ordeal. You can easily fill up your pool with some Instagram-worthy floats and have a cart or cooler with some cold beverages. Your residents will post with the floats and do your marketing for you.
Your Shopping List:
Amazon Affiliate Links Included
(9) ROSÉ HAPPY HOUR
Have your residents stop and smell the rosé. Set up a rosé bar where residents can stop by and pour a glass to wind down. This is the perfect event to encourage referrals. Ask your residents to bring a friend along to enjoy a glass of wine. It's the perfect opportunity for them to see their friends home along with your beautiful community.
Your Shopping List:
Rosé Wine
Amazon Affiliate Links Included
(10) DONUT BAR
Your residents donut want to miss this sweet event. Partner with a local bakery or donut shop to host a donut bar that everyone will love. Plus, if you have a resident with an upcoming renewal you can invite them to chat about it over donuts.
Your Shopping List:
Donuts, Milk, and Coffee
Amazon Affiliate Links Included
GET ALL THE TEMPLATES FOR THIS DONUT BAR FREE IN OUR RESIDENT EVENT EBOOK
(11) “LET’S FLAMINGLE” PARTY
Is there a better way to bring the summer vibes than with a 🦩 flamingo-themed soiree?
Option 1:
Host a larger-scaled event to kick off the opening of your community pool! Pass out leis to residents and encourage the staff to wear their favorite beach look!
Option 2:
Set up a grab-and-go station or a flamingle cocktail mixer in the clubhouse and decorate in a tropical theme.
However you decide to throw your “FLAMINGLE” event, below are some of our favorite decorations from Amazon. Purchase all of the items and you still come in under $75!
Flamingo Party Decoration Set (With fans & pom poms) - $16.98
Inflatable Floating Flamingo Drink Holders - $9.99 for 12
Tropical Luau Party Decor (Pineapples, leaves and flowers) - $16.87
Aloha balloons and paper fans & flowers - $15.89
Suggested Treats:
Fresh Fruit Kabobs
Tropical flavored sparkling waters (Our two favorites are La Croix’s Coconut and Hibiscus)
Tropical flavored fruit snacks make for a nice hand out too!
Amazon Affiliate Links Included
(12) GRILL & CHILL EVENT
Having a hard time getting residents to show up to your events? With summer around the corner, try hosting a few smaller scaled events that show off your community amenities.
Do you have a nice park area? Or BBQ spot by the pool? Set up this event in one of these areas.
Don’t have the man-power to have a full on BBQ event? Could you partner with a local vendor or food truck to provide Hamburgers & Hot Dogs?
Give it that summertime feel with the following decorations:
And we added some flowers to the table — because you just can’t go wrong when it comes to flowers.
Sides to offer: Chips, bags of cookies, sparkling water, lemonade and soda
Amazon Affiliate Links Included
HEAR FROM A SPROUT MEMBER
“We use all of the templates and content that you share almost daily. Love the creativity and ease of use for all sorts of different occasions with really good content and design!”
(13) MAKE IT A WINE NIGHT
We challenged ourselves to put together a wine and cheese event for under $100 - Thanks to Trader Joe’s that is TOTALLY possible!
SPICE UP YOUR WINE EVENT:
Have a “GUESS HOW MANY CORKS” game set up >> closest guess wins a gift card
Invite a local artisan to host a “Wine & Painting” party or a “Wine & Wick” candle making party
Set up a jigsaw puzzle and make it a “Sip & Solve” — ask each resident to try for at least 10 pieces (this is a great way to host a consistent event if you can leave it set up and make it part of a recurring happy hour)
Paid members: Log in and search “wine” for all of these pre-done Canva templates and more!
(14) PIZZA PARTY
Reminder: MAY 20 IS NATIONAL PIZZA PARTY DAY
Can you change it up a bit and partner with a local pizza shop?
Are your residents more likely to pick up pizza and take it back to their apartment? Consider purchasing small cheese pizzas and having an ingredient bar. Residents can build their own pizza and take it home to cook in their own kitchen!
(15) CRAFT STATION
Help your residents get created with a craft station with all the tools they need to create something special for someone special.
Your Shopping List:
Amazon Affiliate Links Included
(16) SEAFOOD BOIL EVENT
We always get requests to make invitations for this summer event! It’s a favorite for obvious reasons. 🦀 “Spoiling our residents makes us BOIL over with excitement!”
(17) MIMOSA BAR
Nothing is better than a refreshing mimosa to start or end your day. This creative resident event is perfect way to upgrade a standard breakfast or happy hour event.
Great combos for your mimosa bar
Orange Juice & Champagne
Lemonade & Champagne
Pineapple Juice & Prosecco
Peach Juice & Prosecco
Grapefruit Juice & Champagne
(18) POPCORN TO-GO EVENT
Post on social media letting residents know you have bundles for them to pick up.
Stand at the gate handing these out to residents coming or going.
Leave them out on a bar cart.
Set them up in common areas. Leave out small amounts and refill as needed.
Have maintenance leave them in the homes of service requests.
Leave them for new residents in their apartments as a sweet surprise.
MORE FREE RESIDENT EVENT IDEAS
8 Heartwarming Events to Keep Your Residents Falling in Love with Your Community
Unique (and easy) Resident Appreciation Ideas for Your Apartment Community
12 Fun and Easy Resident Event Ideas to Show Resident Appreciation
Episode 53: Building a Sense of Community in a No-Touch World
