Graduation season is right around the corner, so it’s time to start planning graduation parties! If you have a high school senior in your house, the senioritis is probably intense right about now. They’re ready to say goodbye to high school and hello to their future, so you should throw them a send-off that celebrates this monumental moment!
After spending a majority of their high school career in virtual school, this class of high school students deserves an amazing shindig with all of their friends. Keep reading for our unique high school graduation party ideas!
Graduation Photo Booth
As the parent and event planner, you’ve got a lot to do on the day of the party. Leave the photography to the pros by renting a luxury photo booth for the whole day. Not only will you get amazing photos, but it also adds an activity that your party guests will love.
Our selfie station is the perfect option for an Austin, Texas area graduation party. The printed photos are great keepsakes that your graduate and their friends can take to college with them!
At Oh Happy Day Booth, we offer custom luxury backdrops and photo templates so that you can personalize your booth. For example, we can create a custom “Class of 2022” photo template. When it comes to unique high school graduation party ideas, the options are endless with a photo booth!
Honoree Trivia Game With Prizes
How well do your guests know your graduate? Test their knowledge with a trivia game, and make it more enticing with some sweet prizes. Since most of your guests will be your child’s classmates, center the trivia questions around their high school career.
Here are some ideas:
What was their favorite class?
Who was their favorite teacher?
What was their least favorite class?
Which elective did they really love?
Did they prefer exams or essays?
What was their least favorite cafeteria food?
For the prizes, gift cards are always a crowd-pleaser. What could make a Texas high schooler happier than a Whataburger gift card?
“Adulting Survival Kit” Party Favors
While your child is the guest of honor, they won’t be the only soon-to-be high school graduate at the party. Send their friends off with an “adulting survival kit” party favor to celebrate their accomplishment too.
Whether they are heading to college, taking a gap year, or going straight into a job, these items will make them laugh:
Tide To Go stain stick
Protein bars
Candy
Earplugs
Hand sanitizer
Starbucks gift card
Mini first aid kit
Chapstick
Lint roller
Think of these party favors as a blend between a gag gift and an actual practical gift for new grads. They’ll love them!
Make Your Own Dessert Bar
Take your graduate’s favorite dessert and turn it into a dessert bar at their graduation party! Your guests will love making their own delicious creations. For a summertime party, a build your own ice cream sundae is always a huge hit. You could also rent a slushie machine and let guests customize their flavor. If the party is in the evening, a DIY s’mores bar is a great activity!
The way to make unique high school graduation party ideas like this more fun is to customize them around your graduate. For example, incorporate as many of their favorite candies and sweet treats as you can. You can also tie in their high school colors to theme it up.
2022 Cupcake Table
Since we’re on the topic of desserts, another cute idea is to arrange cupcakes in the shape of “2022” on a big dessert table. This is a super easy unique idea that makes a memorable impact on your guests!
Base the Party on the Graduate’s Favorite TV Show or Pop Culture Moment
Graduation parties don’t technically need a theme, but having one can make the party more fun and guide your party planning choice. Plus, this is probably the last time you can throw a themed party for your soon-to-be adult kid!
The key to creating a theme that teenagers will love is to not go overboard with corny decor or phrases. Instead, revolve the theme around something they love, like their favorite TV show or pop culture moment.
Here are some ideas:
Friends theme - “The One Where They Graduate”
Harry Potter theme - graduating from Hogwarts
Olivia Rodrigo - “Sour” theme
Marvel superhero theme
Whether you’re throwing a huge shindig or a casual backyard barbeque, adding a theme to a graduation party is a nice touch!
Personalized “Class of 2022” Decor
Incorporate some fun “Class of 2022” decor into your party. We love these handmade cups from Etsy! Any extras can be kept as a keepsake. You can also find graduation-themed napkins, straws, cake toppers, and more. Several Etsy shops will customize the items with your graduate’s name, which adds a nice personal element.
Another great Etsy find is this class photo banner. Your guests will love walking down memory lane and seeing a photo of the graduate from each year of school!
Custom Balloon Garland
Nothing says celebrate like a custom balloon garland! They’re perfect for high school graduation parties because you can use your child’s high school colors or the colors of the college they’re heading to in the fall. A balloon garland also makes a great photo opportunity and party entrance.
For customized balloon garlands for Austin, Texas area graduation parties, check out our sister company, Pop & Drop! Balloon garlands can even be paired with our photo booth backdrops for an amazing photo op!
Unique High School Graduation Party Ideas Wrap Up
As a parent, your child graduating from high school and taking the next step in their lives in an emotional time. You can show them how proud you are of them with a personalized party that fits their personality.
Capture the day with a customized photo booth that your graduate and their friends will love. Contact us today to book a booth for your party.
