The Best Graduation Party Ideas to Celebrate Grads of Any Age (2024)

Graduation is a momentous milestone—and families and friends want to celebrate this big day with you and your graduate. So we're sharing our best graduation party ideas, from decor to drinks. Get our budget-friendly tips for creating handmade graduation party decorations, including entertainment, food, and more.

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Two Parties in One

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Guests might need to split time between multiple parties on a single day. A convenient and economical graduation party idea is to plan a joint event with close friends so partygoers can stay and mingle instead of just dropping by for a few minutes.

Editor's Tip

This works well if you have two grads in the family at the same time, too.

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Outdoor Food Stations

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A simple buffet (with dishes prepared the night before) will satisfy hungry partygoers after a long graduation ceremony. Set out dishes like pulled pork sandwiches, sloppy joes, taco-in-a-bag, and buffalo chicken sliders. Hosting an outdoor party can mean inviting more guests, and it's great to be outside in the late spring.

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Drinks on Ice

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Sturdy metal buckets and window planters stand up to the task of keeping party drinks cold when filled with ice. Provide various drink options for party guests, such as soda, water, and lemonade.

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Simple Snacks

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Spend more time focusing on your grad's big day than fussing with the food—graduation party food doesn't have to be complicated or homemade. Assemble a pretty cheese plate with fruit, nuts, and crackers, or serve up trays of fresh fruit and cut veggies—no cooking needed. If your grad wants something more unconventional, have a full bagel spread, a dessert bar (instead of food), or carnival-themed snacks.

How-to: Organize Outdoor Party Food and Drinks

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Memory Display

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Share fond memories and celebrate your grad's achievements from kindergarten through graduation with a memory timeline. You can buy a banner, like this black and gold one ($12, Etsy), or DIY. Attach important photos to construction paper and hang them from string or a clothesline using clothespins (if your party is indoors, attach them to twine or ribbon and hang from a mantel or across a wall).

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Front Walk Welcome

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Let party guests know they have the right house by adding a sign to your front walkway with this graduation party idea. Cut out letters to spell "congrats" from paper and glue them to paper plates. Attach wooden dowels to the backs of the plates and stick them into the lawn for simple, low-cost graduation party decor.

Editor's Tip

Use your grad's school colors for an extra touch of school spirit.

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Grab-and-Go Party Snacks

View Recipe

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Minimize dirty dishes and maximize guest mingling with grab-and-go graduation party snacks. Our spicy cinnamon sugar snack mix fits perfectly in sturdy, bright paper cones.

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Gift Table

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To keep the party organized, set up a single place for guests to drop off gifts for your grad. Encourage partygoers to sign a guest book so your grad knows who attended the party and—more importantly— who to send a thank-you note.

How-to: Organize Outdoor Party Food and Drinks

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Graduation-Themed Cupcakes

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Creative Dessert Bar

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The classic sheet cake is good, but a DIY snow cone station is a delicious and memorable graduation party dessert. Set out purchased or homemade syrups in fun bottles with a bucket of shaved ice. Then, let guests craft their own sweet dessert.

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School Spirit Decor

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For a rah-rah graduation party idea, show off your grad's school spirit with homemade pennants crafted from felt. These festive DIY party decorations can be assembled ahead of time and make a sweet keepsake for the grad. Use them to decorate their bedroom or dorm room. To make your own, glue felt letters to a felt flag.

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Photos are a Must

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After the ceremony and before the party, set up a time for your grad to take the requisite pictures with immediate family and close relatives. Ask a guest to handle the photography responsibilities during the party or hire a professional photographer.

Editor's Tip

To encourage impromptu pictures, scatter disposable cameras around the party, or ask guests to text the photos they take with their smartphones to you so you can create an online scrapbook.

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Sweet Note Sharing

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Have party guests leave notes of good luck and best wishes for the grad. Set up a station with scraps of paper, ribbon, and pens. Have each guest write a note and roll up their sweet sentiment. After the party, have the grad open them.

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DIY Photo Booth

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Capture fun memories and festive party moments with a DIY photo backdrop or photo frame, above ($8, Etsy). Create a simple one by stringing cut squares of metallic paper on a plain wall. Have guests strike a pose and compile the pictures into a sweet gift for the grad. For an extra fun graduation party idea, buy some photo booth props or make a small sign people can hold up that congratulates the graduate.

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Words of Wisdom

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Share meaningful words of wisdom and advice with the grad. Use inspirational quotes as part of your party decor. Print them on oversize paper and hang them around your party space.

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Greeting Card Box

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Most partygoers will bring a congratulations card, so having a card box ($10, Amazon) is essential! Wrap a shoe box in paper, find a basket, or use a decorative organization bin the graduate can take to college. Label it or put a little sign near it to make it easier to find.

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Achievement Table Display

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Recognize all of your grad's accomplishments. Place things like trophies, letterman's jackets, letters of recognition, and their college acceptance letter for all to see. Guests will love seeing how they've succeeded from kindergarten through senior year.

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Heartfelt Table Toppers

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Find some place card holders ($16, Amazon), add pictures of the graduate onto each, and add them to tables. Use their senior pictures or photos throughout senior year. This will give guests something fun to discuss while eating your yummy food.

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Pick a Theme

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Stand out and decorate with the graduate's favorite colors, school colors, or future college's colors. Add balloons, banners, flowers, and streamers in the same colors.

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