5 Tips for Planning this Season's First Pool Party
By Kelly Hagler
For pool owners, the best way to ring in the new season is to throw the first pool party. Whether it’s a child’s birthday celebration or a small gathering of close friends, the most important planning happens before you send the invites.
By focusing on pre-party maintenance and preparation, you can ensure your sparkling blue pool will make a strong impression. Combine clear water with interactive entertainment options, vibrant decorations and a unique theme, and your party will set the tone for the rest of the season.
Here are five tips for successfully planning the season’s first party.
1. Maintain your water to create a sparkling blue pool
Clean, clear and balanced water is the most important element of any pool party, so don’t lose sight of pool maintenance while putting together your elaborate plans.
“Don’t wait until that morning to check your water,” says Gina Samarotto, principal designer at Samarotto Design Group, a landscape design firm in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. “You want to give the chemicals time to … do their job.”
Sabina McPherson, manager of Aqua Leisure Pools in Virginia Beach, Va., suggests implementing a specific maintenance program leading up to the party. The program should include a shock treatment, a chlorinator and a clarifier. Your maintenance plan can include:
- POOLIFE® Super Shock ’n Swim, which will dissolve quickly and give your water a soft feel guests will love.
- POOLIFE® Active Cleaning® Granules destroy bacteria, control algae and oxidize organic contaminants, resulting in a clean pool
- POOLIFE® Natural Clarifier improves filtration, eliminates oil and scum and can turn cloudy water clear.
2. Choose a unique party theme
Establishing a theme for your party can create a memorable experience for guests and provide you with ideas for props and other details you can incorporate into the event, says Sarah Lowy, co-founder of JOWY Productions, an event design, planning and production company in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Lowy and co-founder Jodi Cohen suggest a few party themes for your first party:
- Classic toga party. Guests can customize pool wraps and experiment with different toga designs and colors.
- Hawaiian luau. Create an authentic scene with tiki torches and real or fake leis for your guests as they arrive. Include fruit-inspired beverages and brightly colored snacks that align with the luau theme.
- Fire and ice. If you have an outdoor fireplace, combine fire and water to make a fun, bonfire-like party with comfort food and minimal décor.
3. Offer interactive games for kids and adults
If you’re hosting a child’s birthday, the kids aren’t the only ones who can have fun. Entertain adults by creating some light-hearted pool competition. “Plan pool Olympics or a basketball tournament if there’s a hoop available,” Cohen says. “Get parents involved in drills and coaching.”
Consider entertainment options out of the water, as well. “Hire someone to entertain the kids or set up activity stations, [such as] face painting, balloon crafts or tie-dying shirts,” Cohen says.
4. Purchase new pool entertainment products
With a little research, you can equip your pool with innovative, new and unique products to enhance your party’s aesthetics. McPherson suggests adding a pool scent that corresponds with the party theme.
“Usually, scents last until you shock the pool again,” she says. “There are a wide range of scents to pick from, like piña colada and Polynesian paradise.”
Floating speakers and lights are a neat way to keep the party going after the sun goes down.
“You can wirelessly connect your MP3 player or iPod to a floating speaker,” McPherson says. “There are also a lot of options for inflatable lights in different designs, like illuminating balls or flowers.”
5. Focus on functional décor
There are endless possibilities for party décor. But functional décor is key to managing the wet mess that inevitably comes with a pool party. Samarotto suggests investing in a few low-cost bath towels in bright colors for guests.
“Some pool owners ask guests to bring their own,” she says. “But you always end up with left-behind towels that you don’t need.” Samarotto suggests rolling up the towels and placing them poolside. Additionally, Cohen suggests providing guests with tasteful bins and hampers for people to dump their wet towels.
With the right planning and maintenance, you can have a successful pool party. From party themes to unique pool products—and, of course, sparkling blue water—kick off the summer with a celebration both adults and kids can enjoy.
