The Ultimate Guide to the Best Pool Party Essentials

Waterproof Portable Speaker

Not sure what to bring to a pool party? Bring the tunes! No worries if some water splashes on this waterproof speaker. Place it wherever the party’s at — It’s Bluetooth connectivity will keep the music pumping over 30 feet away from its source. It will play for up to five hours when fully charged. Because it is small and light, it’s an easy item for guests to bring.

Inflatable Serving Bar and Mesh Food Covers

No need to get out of the pool to enjoy a nice, cold beverage. Soda, beer, or water bottles will be kept on ice in the pool within this large floating buffet container. Or use it to keep snacks on ice, like grapes or chopped pineapple. This set also comes with three (non-inflatable) mesh food covers. Keeping the fruit flies away from appetizers is essential during an outdoor pool party, whether in the daytime or at night. The mesh food covers protect large platters while allowing the food to be visible. The food covers and inflatable serving bar are easy to clean and add a nice touch to a catered pool celebration.

Inflatable Volleyball Net and Basketball Hoop

Throwing a pool party for a sporty bunch? Whether they are casual volleyball players or fiercely competitive, this inflatable volleyball net and ball will keep guests entertained. The volleyball net includes weights, so it stays anchored in one place. It’s perfect for one-on-one games or small groups. The inflatable basketball hoop floats freely in the pool and comes with a blow-up basketball.  

The basketball and volleyball sets can also be used on dry land, though they will be low to the ground. They are more suited to small children when used out of water.

Patio Umbrella

Shade is essential to include in the pool party set up. When the sun gets too intense, plenty of people can gather under this durable yet lightweight patio umbrella. Tilt it to your desired angle. An even balance of sun and shade means people can choose to either get their tan on or relax without getting too sweaty. 

Set up the umbrella near the pool so those who prefer to be in the shade won’t miss out on any fun. Keep food, beverages, and sunscreen cool under the umbrella, and set up a table and chairs around it as an inviting place to gather.

Extra Sunscreen

What to take to a pool party when unsure of the theme or food situation is easier than you think. You can’t go wrong with extra sunscreen. If you don’t know many others in attendance, offering up your extra sunblock is a great conversation starter. This pack of two Coppertone Sport SPF 50 will ensure you have enough sunscreen for yourself and your new friends. 

It’s sweat and water-resistant for up to 80 minutes before reapplying. Plus, it leaves you moisturized without an annoying layer of white grease that comes with some other sunblocks.

Fruit-Themed Inner Tubes 

It is crucial to have floaties to go around at backyard pool parties. There is nothing worse than one person hogging the one inflatable inner tube or lounger. This pack of four inner tubes allows multiple people to lie back and float simultaneously. Watermelon, kiwi, lemon, and orange-themed inner tubes make for fun group photos, too! They can fit kids or kids-at-heart. 

These inner tubes are made of sturdy material that won’t easily puncture. Like any blow-up pool toy, they deflate and are easy to store in the off-season.

Kids Pool Party Plates

Whether you are serving hot dogs, chips, or fruit salad at your pool party, these colorful paper plates will hold it all. This is a 10-pack of 20 plates, totaling 200 plates. So even if partygoers forget where they left their plate and need to get a new one, there will be plenty. The rim is decorated with flamingos, popsicles, and other summertime designs. 

Have leftovers? These plates are microwave-safe. And even though they are paper plates, they are cut-resistant and soak-proof, so there is no need to be too careful around the splashing pool water! These plates are durable and meant to be used poolside.

Water Balloons

Parents may hate filling them up and picking up the debris, but kids absolutely love water balloons. One of the most helpful things to bring to a pool party in need of kids’ entertainment is a whole bunch of filled water balloons. Because when you are already hosting, filling up water balloons is a task that should be delegated. 

This set includes a whopping 590 multicolored water balloons, 16 stems that fill 37 balloons simultaneously, and five different interfaces to inject the water. This automated system ties the balloons for you! Just remember, whether it’s a water balloon toss or an all-out fight, be sure not to do it too close to the pool. You don’t want the debris to litter the pool.

Floating Beer Pong Table

This floating beer pong table will surely be a hit if your guests love beer pong. The floating table features a covered cooler in the center to store beer cans. Cup holders keep plastic cups in formation, plus extra cup holders on either side of the table are convenient for onlookers to use for their drinks as they cheer on the competitors. Of course, this setup can also be used to play games with nonalcoholic beverages.

Floating Pool Lights

The things you need for a pool party at night are a whole different ball game. You need glow-in-the-dark, get-the-party-started decorations! These multicolored floating pool lights are dimmable via a remote so that the party host can set the mood. Set the light mode to flash, strobe, smooth, or fade. The brightness can also be adjusted by using the button on each light. 

This pack of 16 spherical lights at 16 inches each will create quite the glow for up to 10 hours. If your pool can’t accommodate all 16 lights, you can always position them on dry surfaces, like on a table or by the pool entrance.

Tropical Cocktail Accessories

This variety pack of tropical cocktail accessories brings fun and excitement to your poolside beverage offerings. They are the perfect final touch to a freshly made cocktail, but you can also place a firework stick or flamingo stirrer in a bottle of water or soda just for fun. And kids love a fun paper umbrella to stick in their drink to make them feel like a grown-up! 

With 150 pieces, this package of tropical cocktail accessories will keep you set for several summertime pool parties! These fun drink additions provide a colorful touch that looks great in photos and elevates your beverage game.

Pool Towels

When throwing a pool party, some guests are bound to forget their towels. It happens every time. Sometimes, one person will need more than one towel throughout the party. So, have some spares on hand. This pack includes four striped cotton towels that are machine washable. The towels come in summertime colors: orange, green, yellow, and blue stripes against a white background.

Glowing Party Cups 

These glowing party cups keep the party going long after the sun goes down. This pack of 20 clear cups also comes with glow sticks that wrap around each cup’s rim. The glow sticks last for up to 12 hours! Glow sticks come in pink, green, purple, yellow, orange, blue, and red. So instead of writing your name on your plastic cup, you can remember which one is yours by the color of the glow stick. 

The cups are made of durable plastic, which can be washed, reused, and recycled.

Inflatable Battle Log Rafts

Fun for teens, adults, and kids alike, these inflatable battle log rafts will entertain your more active pool party guests. This set comes with four logs for four people to sit on. The objective is to knock each other off using the accompanying inflatable jousting sticks! The sticks come with handles to allow for easy gripping. Or skip the jousting and just lounge on the rideable blow-up logs for a more low-key time.