30 High School Graduation Party Ideas - SO Clever & Fun!! (2024)

It’s that time of year, high school graduation! Only one of the most exciting moments and best times to plan a high school graduation party. For some of the best high school graduation party ideas, decorating, and fun follow along with this post!

30 High School Graduation Party Ideas - SO Clever & Fun!! (1)

High School Graduation Party Ideas

Time to celebrate all your hard work with a killer graduation party! It’s been a long four years so you want to throw the most fun, easy, and clever graduation party with friends and family. Am I right? There are countless brilliant high school graduation party ideas to give you the best party ever. Between the food table, dessert, drinks, photos, decorations, and the mems, there’s a lot to think about when it’s grad party time and what you want your grad party to look like.

For my high school grad party, I went with a Hawaiian theme. I just wanted it fun and festive, there are so many different ways you can decorate! Just be sure it’s all about you and your personal interests and style.

Graduation Party High School

Where does one start with hosting a good graduation party? The party ideas for girls and for guys can be easy, fun, and affordable! Many high school graduation party ideas make great DIY ideas, which also helps to personalize your party. Whatever vibe you’re going for, here are 30 awesome high school graduation party ideas for you to try!

Walking Taco Bar

A walking taco bar, does it get any better than that? If you love tacos this is the BEST grad party idea. It’s easy, fun, all your, all your favorite taco toppings and the cutest decor can be found. You can even make a sign that explains how the walking taco bar works!

Jumbo Grad Balloons

Huge grad balloons are a vibe. This is the perfect piece of decor to have for a high school graduate party and make it feel like a celebration. Also make for a great photo op!

Donut board

Imagine having a whole donut wall at your grad party? How can you not love that? This is a super fun and easy idea for a high school graduation party! If you’re wanting a cool dessert idea and something different, this is it! Donuts are amazing at all times of the day.

Table Display

Table displays are important at grad parties because there’s where you eat and might spend a lot of your time. You want it to look just as cute as everything else and have something to go with the party! This can be as simple as mason jars filled with flowers, or anything else that looks right to you.

Candy Bar

A candy bar is essential at a high school graduate party. Candy containers and funny signs are some of the most common grad party ideas. What’s the fun if there’s no sweets to snack on?

Balloons hanging from pictures

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I love this idea! One of the best balloon high school graduation party ideas is having a sea of balloons and hanging photos from them. This is entertaining for guests and something for them to enjoy, while displaying pictures in a creative way.

Photo Wall

One of the most used spots at a grad party, a photo wall! Most high school students like to have a photo wall at their party to take fun photos and make memories with friends. Try adding a piece of furniture or something to sit on to your photo wall. This will make for even cooler photos!

Memories table

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Every high school graduation party needs a good memories table where you display your achievements and the cutest photos to look back on. Don’t forget a cute sign in front that says your name!

Food table

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Some of the easiest food ideas for a grad party are served on platters as finger food. These are perfect for picking at and makes for quick food that everyone will enjoy! One of the best high school graduation party ideas when it comes to food!

Beverage wheelbarrow

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Image source byourcraftymom

A genius drink idea! Not sure where to keep all your the drinks for the party or want them displayed in a clever way? The wheelbarrow is the move! All the space you need and easy access for everyone, just filled with ice. How perfect!

Popcorn Bar

Here is a perfect snack idea for the graduation party! Quick and easy, cute popcorn bags. The saying is everything, how can someone not grab one? High school graduation parties are perfect for creative snack ideas like these! Your high school graduation party will be poppin!

Memories Photo Wall

A perfect personalized photo frame to display all your best photos! We love this idea and is something you can always hold on to or reuse. Find any wall inside or outside to lean this against and create something for everyone to look at!

No blake diploma cookies

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What’s more clever and yummy than diploma cookies?? They’re easy, cute, and one of the best high school graduation party ideas. You can’t go wrong with these. A fun alternative to average cookies you’d find at a graduation party!

DIY photo backdrop

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This is the cutest backdrop photo wall idea if you want to make your own! Personalizing with your name and any other decor to create an aesthetic look is so cute. Photo backdrops make for perfect high school graduation party ideas.

Reuse that Cap and Gown

One clever tip to a high school graduation party: reusing that cap and gown. Keep your cap and gown for the party and use it as decor! Have it on display so everyone can see it.

Floating Foam Letters

These foam letters are everything! If you have a pool you got to try this. It’s so cool and can be easily ordered! This is such a fun and different grad party idea for a high school graduate.

Lead Me to the Party

Welcome your guests to the party with colorful balloons! This is a simple grad party idea for high school graduation, just decorate in your school colors or your theme colors. This draws attention and directs guests to where they need to go.

Coordinate with colors

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Color coordination is always one of the best decor ideas for a graduation party and helps to stay to a theme! Everything at the party, you can coordinate with your school colors. Simple yet cute and makes it easy to decorate!

Cupcake tower

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Cupcakes are a necessity come graduation time and are something everyone will enjoy! Add a cute grad cap topper or number of the graduating year for some pizzaz! This tower of cupcakes is the move when it comes to high school graduation party ideas!

Card box

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Image source bybuzzfeed

This is brilliant for a high school grad party! Keep all your grad cards in a cute suitcase. Make a cute sign to go across that is easy to see and adds to the party decor! You can’t go wrong with a good suitcase of grad cards. This can also be a fun activity for anyone who wants to make a card or something else at the party, they can throw it right in!

Inflatable Beverage Bar

30 High School Graduation Party Ideas - SO Clever & Fun!! (11) Here’s a quick way to get everyone together and drinking (sodas duh), an inflatable beverage bar! This is perfect for a summers day and keeping all your beverages cold. You can make a really cute grad party picnic out of it too!

Drinks Station

Having a good drinks station at your grad party is recommended! Even if it’s for water or juice, you will definitely want a designated spot for drinks! You can decorate this as well, so it matches the party vibe.

Decorate with Free Printables

Decorating with free pintable’s is one of the easiest ways to decorate for a grad party. You can’t go wrong with more signs and print outs to make it look like a full celebration. These are cheap and add to the party aesthetic!

Grad Invitations

Update your friends and family with the cutest party invites. This is a fun way to get friends and family excited for your party! Grad party invites can be simple and cute and make for the best DIY project before your party.

Hanging Flowers

I love the look of hanging flowers for a party and these will look amazing at a high school grad party! You will have the coolest backdrop. This is a great DIY party idea that’s affordable and easy. This has definitely become a trend!

Off to College!

Nothing sets the party right look a good graduation banner, especially one that is personalized. It’s so cute and will look great at your party! This makes the party feel even more official with a fun personalized banner.

Outdoor Tables

If your grad party is outside, outdoor tables are a must! You can make this look really good with a fun a cool tablecloth, a centerpiece and of course fun lighting! Outdoor parties are really fun and there are simple ways to make it feel like a grad party.

Combine Themes!

Whether the party is for you, or you are celebrating with a friend, you can absolutely combine themes! Often times this makes the party more interesting because you have more going on. It’s a good grad party idea to try!

Party Games

Personally, party games are one of the most needed things to a grad party. You want to keep your guests entertained and having fun since they won’t be eating the entire time, and party games will help that! I’ve found that the parties that have games/outdoor games people enjoy the most and stay a little longer!

High School Grad Games

Remember libs?? This is a great high school grad party game to keep your friends and family busy! This is something they can do at the table while they eat or to socialize with others. It’s fun for everyone!

More Graduation Party Ideas

  • Best graduation party ideas
  • High school grad gifts to make or buy
  • Graduation gift basket ideas
  • Graduation photo booth ideas

Be sure to pin the high school graduation ideas for later on Pinterest so you can get back to it!

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30 High School Graduation Party Ideas - SO Clever & Fun!! (2024)

FAQs

30 High School Graduation Party Ideas - SO Clever & Fun!!? ›

A survey by FinanceBuzz.com, a financial services site, found the average graduation party costs around $1,100, based on a party size of 60 people.

What can I do instead of a graduation party? ›

15 Alternative Ways to Celebrate Graduation with Friends and Family
  • Throw Them a Grad Party. ...
  • Take Them on a Trip. ...
  • Tickets to a Concert, Play, or Spa Day. ...
  • Give to a Cause that's Important to Them. ...
  • Get Them a Personalized Gift. ...
  • Give Them Cash and Let Them Decide. ...
  • Live-Streaming Graduation Ceremonies. ...
  • Social Media Celebrations.

How much should you spend on a high school graduation party? ›

A survey by FinanceBuzz.com, a financial services site, found the average graduation party costs around $1,100, based on a party size of 60 people.

How many hours should a graduation party be? ›

It can be planned for directly after the graduation or held a few days (even weeks) afterward. Typically you do not host this party prior to graduation. This party can be structured as a typical party (about 2-4 hours) with a start time or as an open house where guests can come and go as they please.

Do you play games at a graduation party? ›

No party is complete without some games that engage and entertain your guests. And for a graduation party, there are many ways to customize games to fit the occasion with sentimental, creative, and goofy activities! Take a look at our 10 graduation party game ideas for some inspiration.

How much money is appropriate for a graduation party? ›

Distant relatives or friends usually send around $15 - $20, while close friends and relatives more commonly send around the $20 - $50 mark. Some families and family friends may choose to spend closer to $100 - $500, depending on their finances and the needs of the graduate.

What food to serve at a graduation party? ›

A barbecue is a fantastic way to feed a crowd if your graduation party is outdoors. Grilled favorites like burgers, hot dogs, chicken, and vegetables are always popular. Add side dishes like potato salad, coleslaw, and corn on the cob for a classic BBQ feast.

Is it rude to go to a graduation party without a gift? ›

If it's a college graduate it's around $50, Symington said. If you receive an invitation to a graduation party, you are obligated to send a gift. "If you're going to go to a party, you really should give a gift. You should actually bring a hostess gift when you go to the party something like a bottle of wine.

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