Lucky you. The pool gods have blessed you with a pool float, and this summer, it’s time to make the most of it. Here are 36 reasons you should be throwing a pool party this summer:
The Standard Reasons
No one’s going to argue with a pool party on these special occasions.
1. Your birthday. Or your half-birthday. Or your … unbirthday.
2. Memorial Day.
3. Independence Day.
4. Labor Day.
5. Summer solstice.
The International Reasons
You don’t need to save your American flag swim shorts for the Fourth of July. Bring out those bad boys and celebrate some international events.
1. Get patriotic in celebration of the 2016 Olympics in Rio.
2. Pretend you’re a Swede and celebrate Midsummer.
3. Look to the sky for Tanabata, the Japanese Star Festival.
4. Eat your heart out for the Crawfish Festival.
5. Get messy for La Tomatina (but keep the food out of the pool to avoid pool-cleaning headaches).
The Good-Natured Reasons
If you need philanthropic motivation for hosting your pool party, have no fear. There are plenty of good causes that’ll give you a chance to don your water wings with pride.
1. Offer pool-less friends relief from the summer heat. Those poor souls.
2. Host a fundraiser for a cause of your choice. Charge a dollar for poolside lemonade and Popsicles.
3. Make your heart grow 10 sizes by hosting a Puppy Pool Pawty.
4. Grill for a poolside barbecue to feed your hungry friends.
5. Encourage your laziest buddies to get active with a pool volleyball tournament.
The Fitness Reasons
A pool isn’t just a centerpiece for your deck chairs. Make the most of the water and get your summer workout on. You could:
1. Stretch with an aqua yoga retreat.
2. Get those arms moving with a water aerobics brunch.
3. If your squad is made up of serious athletes, try a dice swim workout.
4. Act like kids again with aqua noodle workouts.
5. Or chill after a week of workouts with a floating rest day.
The Pool-Game Reasons
It’s a serious world out there, but it’s summer now. Remind your hardworking friends what fun feels like by hosting a day of pool games like:
1. Watermelon races.
2. Relay races — with sun-lounger privileges for the winning team.
3. Sharks and minnows.
4. Marco Polo.
5. World-record attempts.
The Because-I-Own-a-Pool Reasons
You own a pool. Because of this:
1. You better host a Hawaiian luau.
2. The best birthday parties are pirate parties.
3. You might need to dress like Ariel and throw a mermaid party for your friends.
4. If you don’t host a “Finding Nemo” party for the kids, there might be something wrong with you.
5. You know that margaritas, Jimmy Buffett, sun, and water go perfectly together. Host a “Margaritaville” party.
The Themed Reasons
You don’t have to hide it. You love themes. The dressing up, the inspired snacks — need I continue? Go for it this summer with some themed pool events.
1. Throw a water-themed date party inspired by “A Great Catch.”
2. Gather under the stars for a “howl at the moon” themed party. There are full moons coming up on June 20, July 19, Aug. 18, and Sept. 16, 2016.
3. Host a more sophisticated pirate party for your fancy friends with a “sunken treasure” theme.
4. What does that inflatable ring remind you of? Oh yeah, the Millennium Falcon. Embrace your inner nerd and prepare a “Star Wars” party.
5. Just want to splash around? Throw an “under the sea” party.
The best reason of all? Because you can.