How to Host a Summer Olympics Party
“Who needs Paris? We brought the Olympics to the backyard!”
How to Host a Summer Olympics Party That Deserves a Gold Medal 🥇🌎🍹
Looking to host the ultimate summer bash? Take a page from the Horner playbook and go for GOLD with a Summer Olympics Party that brings the world (and a whole lot of friendly competition) to your backyard. Here's how to recreate it with your friends!
🌍 Pick a Country, Bring a Dish (and Your A-Game)
Every guest or family was asked to choose a country to represent—and not just with their outfit, but with a dish (or two!) from that nation's cuisine.
Here are some delicious examples:
🇮🇹 Italy: Pasta & tiramisu
🇬🇷 Greece: Greek salad & stuffed grape leaves
🇦🇺 Australia: Kangaroo jerky & Fosters beer
🇯🇵 Japan: Sushi & mochi
🇲🇽 Mexico: Street corn & churros
And for our home team (GO USA! 🇺🇸), we served up:
Mini sliders & brats for the win
A festive dessert American flag made of mini marshmallows, strawberries, and blueberries on skewers
Sip Like a Champion: The Signature Drink
You didn’t think we’d throw a party without a themed cocktail, did you?
Meet the “Passion For Gold”—a bold and breezy summer drink that had our guests raising their glasses (and asking for refills). Served in a pitcher over ice, this gold-medal-worthy sip featured:
Vodka
Passionfruit liqueur
Fresh passionfruit purée
Lime juice
Vanilla simple syrup
✨ Poured into cups rimmed with gold sanding sugar for extra flair, this drink was the official hydration station for champions.
Dress to Impress (Your Country)
Guests were highly encouraged to show their team spirit—whether that meant wearing their flag’s colors, traditional clothing, or full-blown country-specific athletic wear.
Let’s just say the photo ops were outstanding, and yes—we handed out prizes for Best Dish and Best Costume because we take our party podiums seriously.
🏅 The Horner Olympic Decathlon
Listen, you can’t slap the word “Olympics” on your party without including some competition—and we delivered with a ten-event decathlon that had everyone laughing, sweating, and questioning their coordination.
The events:
Pool Noodle Javelin – Toss it through a hula hoop. Majestic.
Bean Bag Ring Toss – Chalked Olympic rings on the driveway? You bet.
3-Hole Discus Golf – Frisbee meets finesse.
Basketball Around the World – Each of the 7 shots = a continent.
Pickleball Garbage Can Challenge – 10 serves, 3 point tiers, surprisingly hard.
Soccer Shootout – Points zones marked with pool noodles in the net.
Shotput (Medicine Ball Edition) – Heave a 5 lb. ball. Bragging rights included.
Blindfolded Rhythmic Gymnastics (on a Trampoline!) – Balance on one foot, eyes closed. Chaos = guaranteed.
Nerf Archery – Bullseye? Maybe.
Football Toss – Throw through the playset opening. Glory awaits.
🥇 Medal Ceremony (With a Sweet Twist)
Winners took home custom gold, silver, and bronze medals—complete with personalized Avery labels on the back to commemorate their heroic feats at the Horner Summer Olympics Shindig.
Each medalist also received a mason jar filled with:
🥇 Mini Reese’s (Gold)
🥈 Hershey’s Kisses (Silver)
🥉 Rolos (Bronze)
And because we’re equal-opportunity celebrators, every participant left with a Reese’s "gold medal" chocolate for their valiant efforts. No one goes home empty-handed at the Horner Games!
🎉 Decor Worthy of the World Stage
To bring in the Olympic spirit, we decked the party out with:
World flag tablecloths
International flag banners in the food and drink area
International flag toothpicks in each of the sliders
A whole lot of national pride and good vibes
Ready to Host Your Own?
Here’s what you need to recreate the magic:
🎯 A mix of silly and skill-based games (10 is the sweet spot!)
🍽️ Invite guests to rep a country with food and fashion
🍹 Whip up a signature drink that looks and tastes like a gold medal
🏅 Don’t forget the medals, candy prizes, and participation treats
📸 Get that group photo—it’ll be one for the memory books!
This kind of party isn’t just a good time—it’s a world-class experience. Grab your flags, fire up the grill, and let the backyard games begin!
Hi, I’m Chrissy Horner!
I’m passionate about helping women curate the healthiest, most joy-filled versions of themselves. Follow Rooted & Refining for healthy recipes, workout suggestions, faith-filled mindset tips, and simple ways to bring more fun into your everyday life. Sign up today!
