Graduation Party Ideas

Congratulations! You deserve a graduation party. A graduation at any stage of life is such an accomplishment and should be celebrated properly. You should be proud of yourself whether it is a kindergarten graduation, elementary school graduation, high school graduation, college or university graduation. As the graduate, make sure to thank and remember those who helped support you through this time and get to where you are today.

Congratulations! You deserve a graduation party. A graduation at any stage of life is such an accomplishment and should be celebrated properly. You should be proud of yourself whether it is a kindergarten graduation, elementary school graduation, high school graduation, college or university graduation. As the graduate, make sure to thank and remember those who helped support you through this time and get to where you are today. 

Graduation Party Invitations

• The Graduate Photo - on the front of your invitation have a recent picture of the person graduating that they approve and have calligraphy text that says graduate. On the back, have your party information and more pictures, if the graduate agrees, include a baby picture to show how much they have grown. 

• They Did It - on white cardstock, write “grad party” in bubble letters outlined with pen and underneath say “they did it”. The purpose of this card is to preemptively acknowledge the amazing accomplishment made by the graduate, showing how proud you are of them. 

• Grad Vibes - on white cardstock cut and glue the outline of a black grad cap in the center of the invitation. Across the top say “the future is bright” or “grad vibes only” and then underneath say “honoring _______”. Around the invitation draw colorful dots and flakes to make it look like confetti. 

• Funny Saying - with inspiration from Spongebob, say “__(# of years)__ later and still standing”. Have fun colored paper and draw poofkin flowers around the outside.

Graduation Party Decorations

• Have Mylar balloon with the year the person is graduating and take pictures with them
• Have a banner with the starting year of the school with an old picture of the graduate and the current year with a current picture of the grad to show how much time has passed. 
• Have a balloon arch with the guest of honor’s favorite colors or the colors of their school or colors for where they are going next
• Have a banner that says “congratulations” 
• Cut wooden letters of the word GRAD and paint them in sparkly silver
• Advice jars - have clear jars with little graduation hats on them and have people write little notes of advice to the graduate. 
• Photoshoot - create a place to take photos, this can be done with a nice backdrop or scenery. If possible, have an outside space to be able to take photos with the natural lighting of the sun. 
• Have twinkle lights 
• Walk through the years - have photos of the grad from the years of their schooling experience up until the current year
• Diploma cutlery - have black plastic cutlery wrapped in white napkins and tied with a red ribbon to look like a diploma.

Graduation Party Games and Activities

• As a general activity, make sure to take lots of pictures and try to have everyone get at least one picture with the graduate. 

• Memory jar - when the guests arrive, have them write their favorite memory of the person graduating on a piece of paper and put into a glass jar. Then, it is up to you if you want to read them aloud or by yourself after the party. 

• Autographs - have a yearbook out and have everyone sign it and add a message or best wishes. 

• Cap decorating - have graduation caps and paint to decorate or add a message and then have the graduate rotate wearing all the fun caps. 

• Pin the cap on the grad - print out a large photo of the grad, either a normal picture of them or their graduation photo and have cut out caps to try and pin on them.

• Who knows the graduate best - have 20 specific questions that the grad reads aloud and the players have paper marked 1 to 20 and they have to answer the questions. 

• Has the graduate ever - have age appropriate questions for whether the grad has or has not done the act, such as has the grad ever slept in class or been camping or been on TV. 

• Send off sparklers - when it is fairly dark, have everyone light a sparkler to celebrate the grad and their accomplishments 

• Do lawn bowling, mini golf, or other simple backyard games

Graduation Party Food

Fruit kabobs - use wooden dowels and layer colored fruits Candy bar - gummy worms “book worms, rocket candies “smarties”, tootsie rolls “honor rolls”, pop rockets “class rings”, starbursts “reach the stars”, and nerds “nerds” Graduation caps - have Ferrero Rocher chocolates with mini graduation caps on them Smart cookie - have different types of cookies and a sign saying “the graduate is one smart cookie” Individual cups of caesar salad Finger sandwiches Pinwheel wraps Charcuterie board Chips and salsa  Have cutout of the last two numbers from the graduation year and fill one with fruit and the other with vegetables Have cupcakes with little graduation cake toppers Grad cake that says “congratulations” and flower icing swirls

• Fruit kabobs - use wooden dowels and layer colored fruits
• Candy bar - gummy worms “book worms, rocket candies “smarties”, tootsie rolls “honor rolls”, pop rockets “class rings”, starbursts “reach the stars”, and nerds “nerds”
• Graduation caps - have Ferrero Rocher chocolates with mini graduation caps on them
• Smart cookie - have different types of cookies and a sign saying “the graduate is one smart cookie”
• Individual cups of caesar salad
• Finger sandwiches
• Pinwheel wraps
• Charcuterie board
• Chips and salsa 
• Have cutout of the last two numbers from the graduation year and fill one with fruit and the other with vegetables
• Have cupcakes with little graduation cake toppers
• Grad cake that says “congratulations” and flower icing swirls 

Graduation Gift Ideas

• Go with the grad to get nails done together before the graduation
• Flowers and chocolates
• Gift cards for food places and eating out
• Jewelry or a watch
• Trinket box
• Picture frames and fun printed out photos
• Email address with pictures, messages, and memorable events from over the years
• Childhood book with signatures of all their teachers