Host birthday parties and celebrations of all kinds. Learn how to be a clown, learn some card tricks, or plan a science party.  Select some themes that you would be comfortable working around --or ask the host of the party to come up with original ideas. You will definitely want to host half birthday parties.  The halfway mark between long awaited birthdays is cause for celebration.  Provide only one half of a cake and goofy presents.  

Provide live music or you can play recorded music.  You can be the DJ.

If you do not have such a big backyard, just be certain that the neighbors do not mind the noise.  Better yet, invite them over to party, too.

Although this works best if you have some space between you and the neighbors, you might find an outdoor arena more suitable for loud noise that you could use -- other than your own backyard: a neighborhood park; a state park; church grounds.

Too many times parents fall for the idea that they have to have a destination party for the kids.  Not so.  There is nothing more wonderful for kids than running around and around with their friends in a backyard.

Or if you really want to have a beach party, bring the beach to your backyard!  Just bring in some sand (maybe create a large sandbox to reduce mess) and make sandcastles or lay out on beach blankets and sip lemonade.  

  Host Corporate Parties

There are all kinds of grownup party themes, too.  Hold your office party outside.  What a relief to get out of the office and into the fresh air. Have the party in your backyard or somewhere else.  There will be a big demand for your abilities to provide face painting, clowns, and balloons for the kids. There are big bucks per hour for your services here.

Host Family Reunions 

Family reunions or welcome the new neighbor parties definitly are cozier held outside. Simple sandwiches and chips are a hit.

Host Any Excuse for a Party

Make up a name for a festival.  Invent one.  Start a tradition. Hold a watermelon fest in the summer.  Bring your own watermelon or you can provide the watermelons.

Host a taffy pull.

Sell tickets to a Banana Split Party held in your backyard.  Who wouldn't support you and your entrepreneurial endeavors once you told them it is for your college fund -- unless you tried to do this when the temperatures are below freezing?  Play with the new fangled "Play and Freeze Ice Cream Maker "listed below.  Keep 'em busy making ice cream.  Make ice cream the old fashioned way by hand cranking it.

How about a strawberry festival?  Serve stawberry shortcake with various kinds of cakes and offer various kinds of toppings from whipped cream to ice cream.  Try out the chocolate whipped topping on the strawberries. Dip strawberries into a chocolate fondue.  Sell strawberry shakes and smoothies.

Well, you get the idea.  Design a party around your favorite food.  Cookie, cupcakes, pies, you name it and you can create a party. Sell tickets, making certain that you make a profit.

 Host an Entrepreneur Party

You've probably been to a party where various cosmetics or cookingware are sold.  You can hold the same kind of party -- only you sell your very own backyard creations.  Create a catalogue of your creations for your friends and neighbors to take home to order at a later date.  Be certain that you have a nice selection of your creations to sell immediately.  Take orders for future deliveries.

Host a Business Party

Encourage entrepreneruship in young kids by having a business party every chance you can.  Click here for some ideas.

Organize a Progressive Backyard Dinner Party

A favorite kind of a party is the Progressive Dinner party -- you collect a fee from all party goers for your time and effort to set it all up.  You are after all a professional party planner.  All participating have to hold part of the dinner in their backyards.  Easy to clean up after a backyard party.  You will want to break down all parts of a dinner party and make assignments.  There is nothing to say that you cannot go to two homes for appetizers or two homes for salad and so forth if you have more participants than you have dinner courses.  

Host a Bon Voyage Party

Provide play structures for the kids.  Our favorite is a backyard boat.  Design a pirates party for the kids.  Use it for a Bon Voyage party for students going to Europe -- or off the college.

Host a Murder Mystery

Involve all of your guests or just make it a play to watch.  Write it yourself or purchase a script.

Host a Bird Party

It's time to party.  Bird Day is May 4th, and International Migratory Bird Day is the second Saturday in May -- May 10th.  Celebrate June 28th as "Welcome Back Bald Eagle" as this is the date in 2007 that the bald eagle was taken off the Endangered Species List. Combine this party with a Fourth of July party.  Any day is a good day to have an adoption party.  The British should not be the only ones promoting a National Nest Box Week.  Americans do it, too.  From February 14 - 21 clean out your nest boxes and put up new ones.  National Bird Day is January 5, 2009. Click here for some bird party ideas.

.  Party Activities

Other ideas for parties in your backyard (for a fee, of course):  Hot air balloon rides, charity fundraisers, Easter Egg Hunts, Supper with Santa, singing Christmas tree festivals, Fourth of July celebrations, and all other holiday party themes.

Party Rental Business

Rent costumes and party tents.  Rent out those bouncy moon walks. Find out what is needed in your neck of the woods and fill the need with your rentals.

Make and Sell Piñatas

Use your creativity to make these wonderful party traditions.  Kids love to whack piñatas  until the piñatas  pop open and release all the candy.

Deliver Balloon and Cookie Bouquets

Make folks happy with your beautiful balloon and streamer bouquets.  Make them fat and happy with your cookies. 

Write a Party Book

Find your niche.  Look at the important dates in your state's history, for example.  Create a party book for ideas how to celebrate and decorate for each important date using themes from the history of your state.  For instance, in Texas have cow bells handy to ring in the New Year or celebrate Texas Independence Day on March 2. 

 Advertise

Design plates to use for each occasion.  This will make your parties very special.  Advertise your party business with your own  plates and accessories.

© Backyard Entrepreneur^TM 2007

Link to us.  Contact us if you wish to have your site listed here as a resource in party planning.

Here are some resources to help you get started:

Links

Books

Clip Art for your Newsletters

Free Clipart and Web Graphics
A huge collection of totally free clipart! No pop ups, trick links or registration required. Just high quality images!

Education -- With a Degree, you become an Expert

Equipment

Fabric for Tablecloths and Such

How to Construct a Bottle Xylophone

British Broadcasting Company

Marketing Ideas

Backyard weddings

Magazines

Partners and Resources

The Party Works -- Kids birthday parties, party favors, cake decorations, and more.

Supplies

Party Supplies -- PartyAV.com Offers Party Supplies, Favors, Decorations, Accessories for All Occasions.

World of Wonderment - One stop for your custom gifts, cards, and promotional materials.

Weddings -- Match Up Your Single Customers to Generate Business