How to Host the Ultimate Foam Party This Summer 2024
Your foam party is going to be one of the best parties of the summer with our helpful how-to guide. This unique party idea is a fun event for kids of all ages and even adults.
Doing something out of the ordinary and unexpected is one of the best ways to plan an event, according to Everyday Reading. You also don’t have to wait for a special occasion to have a party. Sometimes having one just because and to bring people together is the perfect reason. And that’s what makes a foam party such a good one to host this year.
Are foam parties still a thing? They definitely are! In fact, they’re growing in popularity. They were invented in the 1990s, but they were more difficult to host. As they gained popularity and equipment became more widespread, more and more people began to host foam parties in their own homes and backyards.
They’re easy, safe and fun for all ages, so if you’re looking for theme party ideas for the summer, you and your guests will love this. We’ve got a one-stop guide that will make it easy for you to throw your very own foam party.
Jump to Section
- What Is a Foam Party?
- Tips for Hosting Your First Foam Party
- Foam Party Supplies
- Foam Party Games
- Fun Foam Party Ideas for Kids
What Is a Foam Party?
Before we jump into the guide for hosting, let’s define a foam party. As the name implies, this is a party where the venue or party space is filled with foam. The foamy bubbles fill the space, allowing kids and attendees to run through and play in the foam.
The foam is created from a specialized machine and a specialized solution. The foam machine creates tiny bubbles that don’t pop or disintegrate. This allows the foam to pile up, allowing you to run through the mountains and play in the piles that can grow up to six feet tall.
What Did Foam Parties Become Popular?
Though the first foam party can be traced to 1932, it grew in popularity in the 1990s at clubs in Ibiza, a Mediterranean island, making it perfect for a 90s theme party. While they were a signature of nightlife, they have now moved outside the clubs and have become favorites for parties of all kinds and all ages.
They’re fun for birthday parties, summer get-togethers and pool parties, along with fairs, festivals and fundraisers. By using foam party rental companies and machinery, you can create a foam party with ease in your chosen location.
The simplicity of these parties also makes them super customizable. That means you can add other themes to make your event even more unique.
Do You Get Wet at a Foam Party?
Yes, you do, but it depends. If you’re fully submerged under the bubbles, you will get more wet than if you’re standing on the side of the party. Because of this, it’s a good idea to wear a bathing suit or quick-drying clothes to a foam party.
This is one reason why it would be good to combine it with a pool party. But no matter how you host, you can be sure guests will have tons of fun and you’ll get lots of cool photos.
Tips for Hosting Your First Foam Party
No one is going to forget the party you throw this summer. What are the benefits of foam parties? They’re fun, playful and safe for all ages. Plus, the solution tends to be biodegradable, so it won’t harm grass or plants if you choose to have it in a backyard.
But what parents really want to know is: is it safe for kids? The solutions are non-toxic, so you can have a worry-free occasion.
Choose Your Location Wisely
So, how do you host the perfect foam party? First, you want to choose a location conducive to hosting a big bubble bash. These are often outdoor spaces that are wide and open.
If you plan to host a foam party indoors, be sure the space has high ceilings and adequate ventilation. However, an outdoor foam party is the optimal option.
Prepare Your Guests
When sending out the invitations, it’s important to emphasize that this will be a foam party. Prepare your guests and tell them what they can expect from the event.
They’ll probably want to bring a bathing suit, a change of clothes and a towel. This is especially true if you’re having your party at a pool.
Choose a Fun Theme
You may also want to think about decorating. Consider summer party themes to go along with the foam. Mermaids, under the sea, neon 80s theme parties and dance parties are all fun themes and pool party ideas that pair well with foam.
You can choose décor, music, lights and food around a chosen theme. Even if you don’t have a defined theme, you’ll still want to consider these party aspects.
Have a Designated Dry Area
Since guests and the whole area are likely to get wet, it’s a good idea to have a space where guests can keep their valuable items they don’t want to get wet like phones, purses, wallets and keys, as well as their change of clothes.
Creating a “dry” area of the venue will ensure these items are kept safe and everyone can have fun without worrying about damage.
Safety Measures
You may also want to have a dry area so guests can take a break from the foam or a space where food can be kept, served and eaten.
Along with food, avoid using glass to store food or to serve it. You don’t want to risk broken glass getting concealed under the foam and a guest potentially hurting or cutting themselves.
Foam Party Supplies
To host a foam party, you’ll need the right supplies. These can often be rented from a foam machine rental company, so you won’t need to purchase any of the major equipment on your own.
Unless you’re going to have foam parties regularly enough to warrant having your own equipment, renting it is a less expensive option. It also allows professionals to ensure the machine is set up correctly and that everything will run smoothly.
Foam Party Machine
So, what exactly do you need for a foam party? First, of course, you’ll need a foam party machine. These are what produce the foam and they come in a variety of shapes and types.
The kind of machine you’ll need depends heavily on the space you’re hosting the party in, how much of it you want to be covered and how much foam you want to produce.
Professionals from a rental company can help you determine the right size machine for your party. In most cases, a standard, large or extra-large machine will work.
Foam Solution
You’ll also need a liquid foam solution. Most rental companies will provide this along with their foam machines. When choosing a company to rent from or a foam solution to use, you want to ensure the solution is hypoallergenic, biodegradable, non-staining and scent-free. This will ensure the bubbles are healthy and not harmful for the guests, the environment and the venue.
Foam Party Décor
While a machine and solution are what you’ll need for most parties, you can also add on some extras. You may want to add some extras to make playing in the foam even more fun.
Consider an inflatable foam pit, an inflatable slide, an inflatable bounce house or a slip and slide. Plus, you may want to pair the foam with back lights, opt for UV glow foam or use safe color additives to turn the foam into different colors.
Foam Party Games
Playing in the foam is only half the fun. There are plenty of foam party games you can play to make the day even more entertaining.
Foam Basketball
Consider getting a basketball and hoop and playing foam basketball. Running through the bubbles while trying to dribble, steal and shoot is sure to incite laughs.
Foam basketball is one of the easiest and most fun birthday party ideas for teens and younger kids.
Scavenger Hunt
Another option is to have a foam scavenger hunt. You can hide various objects throughout the space so they’re concealed by the foam. Guests will have to search around, feeling through the foam to find the objects.
You can either have them win by finding a certain amount of objects or certain objects. Either way, they’ll enjoy running through the space and searching around the foam.
Dance Battle
You also can’t dismiss the fun a classic dance party or dance battle will be. Turn up the music, grab some glow sticks and dance the day away. Or play a game of stop-and-go with the music. In short, there are plenty of games that become way more fun in the foam.
Marco Polo & Schoolyard Games
You can also play a classic game of Marco Polo at a foam party. One guest is blindfolded and has to search for other guests by only listening for the sound of their voices.
In fact, a lot of schoolyard games would be fun to play in the foam, including tag, red rover, capture the flag or relay races. Break out classic games like Twister, which will be even more fun in the foam.
Get an inflatable ball for foam volleyball or keep off the ground. Or have a water balloon or watergun fight as the foam bubbles up around you.
Fun Foam Party Ideas for Kids
A foam party is fun to throw on its own, but there are also so many ways to add to the fun. There are plenty of foam party ideas that will delight kids and make the party even more memorable.
One of the easiest ways is to make it a themed foam party. Choosing a theme can also help transform the venue and create a fun atmosphere for the entire event.
Beach Theme
Consider a beach party with palm trees and beach balls flying through the air. It’s a classic for a summer event. Or choose a theme with a costume associated with it, like pirates or neon. This way, everyone can come dressed up and you can have a costume contest.
Foam Paint Party
Make it a foam painting party where everyone comes in white but the foam is all colorful. Later, they can have a balloon fight with colored water or paint their own white t-shirts.
Winter Wonderland
Or host a winter-in-the-summer party and pretend the foam is like snow. Guests can come dressed up in a winter color scheme and you can decorate the space like it’s the holidays. This would also be fun to do indoors in the winter to bring a bit of summer magic to the cold season.
Foam Pool Party
If the party space has a pool, you can’t go wrong with a foam party pool. Guests will love running through the foam and jumping in the pool. This is the best way to cool down in the summer heat, after all.
Make it a classic pool party and backyard barbecue and have a grill cooking classics like burgers and hot dogs. From kids to teens to adults, there are so many ways to make a foam party feel custom and unique.
The heat and sun of summer present the perfect opportunity to gather with friends and family. And a foam party is a great way to cool off from the summer heat.
You can combine it with a pool party or simply fill a space with foam on its own. Foam parties can be easy, safe and convenient to host, so they’re great for kids’ gatherings as well as a way for adults to embrace their inner child.
With a variety of foam party games to play and memories to make, this is sure to be one of the most unforgettable moments of summer fun!
For even more fun party ideas, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!
