Labor Day Party: 9 Ideas for Celebrating Labor Day

July 27, 2025 7 min read

Key Takeaways:

Celebrate the end of summer with a themed Labor Day party. Decorate everything, choose a color, and plan a party worth remembering.
Wondering what to eat at your Labor Day party? Go for snacks. Everyone wins, the prep is easy peasy, and everyone can chip in.
End the night with a movie night to remember. Bonus points for using a giant inflatable projector screen. Your friends will be talking about this party for years.

Let’s be real: Labor Day isn’t just another long weekend. It’s the last official excuse to cancel your responsibilities, blow up your best float, and go full summer mode before pumpkin-spice everything takes over. It’s the finale, and we’re treating it like one.

At FUNBOY, we believe in ending summer on a high note, ideally on a fabric covered pool float with a drink in hand and zero plans to check your inbox. Whether you're poolside, lakeside, or just taking over your backyard with a few well-placed inflatables, we’ve got all the inspo you need to throw a Labor Day party that’s laid-back, scroll-worthy, and 100% extra (in the best way).

Let’s make it a weekend to float about.

1. Pick a Theme, Embrace the Chaos

If your crew thrives on a little bit of drama (the fun kind), turn your Labor Day bash into a full-blown themed event — costumes optional, but highly encouraged. It’s the easiest way to give the party a glow-up without breaking a sweat.

Stuck on a theme? Here are a few Labor Day party ideas that hit just right:

“White Out” – Everyone wears all white. Bonus: excellent for group photos.
“Almost Fall, But Not Yet” – Half the party dresses for summer, and the other half shows up like it’s October. Pumpkin pie meets pool float.
“America’s Next Top Backyard BBQ” – Strut the patio like it’s a runway. Serve ribs with a side of sass. The grill is hot, and so are the looks.
“Retirement Party” – You’re not quitting your job, just summer. Dress like it’s day one of retirement. Visors, slippers, and Bloody Marys at noon.

The best part? Themes give people permission to fully commit to the bit — and once someone shows up in jorts and a feather boa, there’s no going back.

2. Over-Decorate Like It’s Your Personality

Labor Day has no official color palette, theme, or decor rules, which is exactly why you should go off. Whether you’re at home, at the park, or posted up in someone’s driveway with a speaker and a six-pack, nothing turns a basic hang into an “I can’t believe we did that” moment like absurdly over-the-top decorations.

We’re talking fringe garlands on folding chairs. Balloons tied to coolers. Custom name tags for people who already know each other. Layer tablecloths. Throw confetti. Drape string lights over bushes like it’s prom night in a sitcom. Wherever the day takes you, level it up with “this probably didn’t need to be this cute, but here we are” energy.

It’s camp. It’s chaotic. It’s giving “we understood the assignment” without anyone even knowing there was one.

3. Paddle Out for a Labor Day Mini-Adventure

If the pool’s packed and the weather’s perfect, it’s the ideal time to take the party on the water (literally). Turn your morning into a mellow little getaway with a paddleboard ride before the group arrives and the party kicks into full swing.

Pack a small cooler, throw on an SPF shirt, and paddle to your favorite local spot — a quiet cove, a lake inlet, or just a stretch of open water with no cell service and no to-do list. Our Luxury Inflatable Paddle Boards are lightweight, super stable, and come with everything you need (yes, even a waterproof phone case). Easy to carry, even easier to love.

Make it a solo reset, or grab a friend and go full “end-of-summer adventure” mode. Paddle, float, snack, sun. Then head back feeling refreshed and way too smug for someone who hasn’t answered a single email today.

4. Plan a Chill-Off: Snack Edition

Forget cooking. Let the snacks do the heavy lifting. Ask everyone to bring their go-to summer snack or drink — the one they swear is elite — and put them head-to-head in a very casual “chill-off.”

Think: frozen grapes rolled in Jell-O powder, pickleback popsicles, spicy watermelon, or store-bought faves they unapologetically stan. Label each one, set out toothpicks or tasting spoons, and let the crowd “vote” by how fast they disappear.

No prizes, no pressure, just a great way to discover new favorites while bonding over weird snack habits. Bonus points if someone brings a rogue combo that somehow slaps.

5. Create a Floating Lounge in the Pool

This is the centerpiece. The main event. The "everyone's going to talk about it later" zone. A floating lounge setup turns your pool into a VIP hangout — no wristbands required.

Start by grouping your biggest, comfiest floats into one area to create a casual hang space. You want a mix of upright loungers, full-body floats, and ones you can drape over like a starfish (think: the Tanning Pool Lounger, Golf Cart Float, or inflatable Retro Convertible).

Set things up so friends can float side-by-side, chat, sip, and rotate through the float lineup without ever leaving the water. Keep towels or robes nearby for those hopping between pool and patio, and make sure there’s a go-to playlist that doesn’t kill the vibe. Think sunny, cruisy, easy-to-drift-to energy.

It’s peak summer leisure — the kind of setup where time doesn’t exist, and no one’s checking their phone (except to post about how good the float life is).

6. Take Over a Park Like It’s Your Backyard

No pool? No problem. Find a local park, claim a shady spot, and turn it into your personal Labor Day land grab. Blankets, folding chairs, bluetooth speaker, done. You don’t need a full picnic spread, just a few shareable snacks, chilled drinks, and at least one friend who’s really good at games or really bad at them (both are fun to watch).

Bring a speaker, make a park-friendly playlist (light on the remixes, heavy on the summer throwbacks), and toss in a deck of cards, a frisbee, or whatever backyard game fits in your trunk. Spikeball? Lawn dice? Croquet if you’re dramatic? It’s your call.

Pro tip: Bring a cooler that doubles as a table, a hat that doubles as a personality, and enough sunscreen to share. There’s something very elite about lounging under a tree with nowhere to be and zero pressure to perform. Labor Day, but unplugged.

7. Host a DIY Backyard Drink Lab

We’re not saying you need to hire a bartender. We’re saying you get to be the bartender or at least the creative director of your own backyard drink lab. This setup works whether you’re pool-adjacent or dry and lounging. Use a bar cart, fold-out table, or even place our Floating Cabana Bar on a tabletop (yes, it works out of water too — iconic).

Line up spirits, mocktail bases, mixers, and fun extras like fresh herbs, sliced citrus, and a ton of crushed ice. Want to get cute with it? Offer edible glitter, drink umbrellas, and popsicles to double as stirrers. Label a few signature drinks (“The Glitter Spritz,” “Float-Tini,” “Cabana Cooler”) or let everyone create their own.

Bonus: Include a couple of mystery ingredients or “secret menu” items under foil or in labeled jars. Challenge guests to create a drink using one mystery pick — no peeking until it’s go time. Guaranteed chaos. Probably delicious. Maybe.

8. Build a Labor Day Time Capsule

Summer flies. So, before everyone starts pretending to like cider again, set up a DIY time capsule station and capture the good stuff.

Lay out pens, cards, disposable cameras, and a box or jar for people to drop notes into — favorite memories, summer predictions for next year, random quotes from the party, whatever. You can even pass around a “summer superlatives” sheet: Best Tan Lines, Most Dramatic Cannonball, Most Likely to Forget This Entire Weekend.

Seal it up at the end of the party and promise to open it next Labor Day. It’s sentimental without being cringe and gives everyone something to look forward to (besides new swimsuits).

9. End the Night With a Backyard Movie Moment

When the sun dips, don’t let the party fizzle — just shift into cozy mode. Set up a DIY outdoor theater and keep the energy going long after golden hour. Our 20 FT Giant Inflatable Projector Screen is the main character here; it inflates in minutes, takes over the backyard in the best way, and instantly turns your lawn into a late-summer cinema.

Convert our Kiddie Pools into cozy personal lounges with blankets and pillows, or set up Luxury Loungers and Kids Sleepover Beds for an upgraded viewing experience that feels extra without the effort. Pro tip: give each “seat” a snack tray with popcorn, candy, and a canned cocktail (or juice box — we don’t judge).

Need movie recs? Here are a few Labor Day-friendly crowd-pleasers:

Dazed and Confused – End-of-summer energy, all vibes.
The Parent Trap (1998, obviously) – Camp-core + iconic lines.
Chef – Feel-good food movie that makes you want a grilled cheese at midnight.
Legally Blonde – Technically, not summer-related, but do you need a reason?
The Sandlot – Always a hit, especially after dark.
Barbie – Pink skies, pink drinks, perfect ending.

Backyard movie night is the comedown no one wants to miss; quiet enough to chill, cute enough to post, and the kind of memory that makes summer feel endless.

FAQs

Why can't you wear white after Labor Day?

The idea of not wearing white after Labor Day is a long-standing fashion "rule" with fairly lame origins in practicality and class distinctions. It's not strict, though. But, it is a historical convention that has faded in relevance.

What color is for Labor Day?

Labor Day's colors are red, blue, and white, mirroring the colors of the American flag. These colors are commonly used in decorations, clothing, and other holiday-related items. They symbolize the holiday's patriotic and celebratory nature.

Are Labor Day and May Day the same?

While these two days used to be synonymous, the US moved away from this and changed Labor Day to September.

The Wrap Up

Labor Day might mark the end of summer, but it’s really just the final act, and you deserve to go out with a float, a fizz, and a flair for the dramatic. Whether you went full theme-party chaos, floated into golden hour, or just posted up at the park with good snacks and better company, the best Labor Day parties aren’t about doing the most. They’re about squeezing every last drop of summer joy with style.

So, crank the playlist, spike the popsicles, and soak it up like it’s your job (because technically, it’s Labor Day). Wherever and however you celebrate, FUNBOY’s got your back and your backyard.

Here’s to a send-off that’s anything but subtle.

Sources:

Weather Education | National Geographic

All About Sunscreen | Skin Cancer Foundation

Why Does Time Fly By As You Get Older? | NPR

How to Pack a Nutritious and Safe Picnic Basket This Summer | Food Insight