Frieda Schweky
Summer in our community can be one long string of celebrations. Between semahot, birthday parties, barbecues, end-of-camp blowouts, and everything in between, there’s something happening almost every single day – and if you’re the one hosting, it can feel equal parts exciting and completely overwhelming. Over the years I’ve picked up a few tricks that make the whole thing less daunting, save real money, and make for better memories. Here are some of my favorites.
The Combined Birthday Bash
I’ve pulled this one off a few times and it never gets old. All of my kids have birthdays either in or right around the summer, which makes it surprisingly easy to combine their parties into one epic day. The centerpiece: a giant inflatable water slide. Yes, the rental cost stings a little – but when you consider that one slide replaces the entertainment budget for multiple separate parties, you’re actually coming out way ahead.
Here’s how I run it: the older kids come first, say 10am–12pm. Pizza, the slide, custom coloring sheets (such an easy, low-cost touch that kids genuinely love), and an additional craft to fill out the two hours. Then cake or cupcakes, a round of Happy Birthday, and we send them home happy. I‘m able to reset, take a breath, and about an hour and-a-half later the second group arrives – usually my friends with their toddlers, so the spread gets a little more elaborate. Another celebration, another birthday song, another very successful party.
But here’s the best part, and honestly the part I look forward to most, the day after. I ask the rental company to hold off on pick-up until late the next day, then I invite my friends over – without kids, who are all in camp by then anyway. We get the water slide entirely to ourselves. We act like absolute children and it is glorious. Maximum fun, maximum value!
Keep a Vendor List
This one is simple and it has saved me so much stress. Throughout the year, whenever I’m at an event and I come across a vendor I love – a caterer, a balloon artist, a DJ, a face painter – I take down their contact info on the spot. I keep a running list on my phone, and when it’s time to plan something, I already know exactly who to call. No scrambling, no asking around in group chats, no settling for whoever someone’s neighbor used two years ago.
As a photographer, I’m at a lot of events, so I’ve had plenty of opportunities to build this list. But honestly, our community is so full of simchas and gatherings that anyone who pays a little attention can do the same thing. Start the list. Future-you will be very grateful.
Pauline Sharabi
Pauline Sharabi has a genius hack that’s equal parts practical and satisfying: freeze your water bottles. They pull double duty as ice packs. Slide them under your fruit trays to keep everything cold, or use them in your coolers instead of regular ice so you’re not dealing with a giant puddle two hours in. And when the day heats up, they’ve thawed into perfectly cold drinks. Two problems, one frozen bottle.
Raquel Sabzehroo
Raquel’s formula for a party people actually talk about comes down to four things: go all-in on a theme and order everything to match (the theme makes it simpler for her so she has direction), put together a fun tablescape, invest in a showstopping cake, and don’t skip the entertainment. When all four elements come together, the party basically runs itself.
Olgi Hashemi
Olgi Hashemi uses a summer party cheat code. First, if you don’t own a splash pad, go buy one from Costco. “It’s the gift that keeps on giving,” she says. Kids are completely obsessed, they get soaking wet, and the best part is that zero supervision is required. No lifeguard, no hovering parent, just happy kids doing their thing. Her second trick is one of those ideas that makes you wonder why you never thought of it yourself: make your craft the party favor. At her daughter’s doggie-themed party, kids decorated collars for little plush dogs, then tucked them into mini-paper doghouses to take home. One activity, zero separate goody bags, and guests walked away with something they actually made and loved. And her third hack? If you have two kids close in age, just combine the parties. (Sound familiar? Clearly, great minds think alike.)
Rain Dates
A community member who prefers to remain anonymous has some hard-won wisdom about outdoor summer events. Always set up a rain date – ideally the very next evening, so all your food and prep can carry right over. And whatever you do, don’t skip the backup generator. “Power goes out very quickly in the summer,” she says, speaking from experience. “You don’t want that to be the reason your event bombs.” She also reminds us to set up umbrellas for shade and to never leave food sitting out too long in the heat. Nobody wants their party to be remembered as the one where everyone got food poisoning.
Don’t Overlook the Gemach
One of the most underutilized resources in our community is right under our noses – our gemachs. We are so lucky to have gemachs dedicated specifically to party supplies — tablecloths, chairs, tables, fake flowers, and more. And they can completely transform what a party costs. Instead of buying decorations you’ll use once or renting equipment that adds up fast, you can borrow beautiful, ready-to-use items and return them when you’re done. It’s one of those uniquely community-inspired resources that makes hosting so much more accessible, and honestly, it’s worth getting familiar with what’s available before you start spending. A little research upfront can save you a lot of money!
The Bottom Line
Summer entertaining doesn’t have to mean spending a fortune or running yourself into the ground. With a little planning, a few smart shortcuts, and maybe a water slide or a frozen water bottle, you can throw parties that people genuinely remember, without the post-party regret. Our community knows how to celebrate, and now you have the insider playbook on how to do it like a pro.
Happy summer, and happy hosting!
Frieda Schweky
Frieda Schweky is a community photographer, videographer, and writer. For photography & video inquiries or article topic suggestions, email her at friedaschweky@gmail.com or follow her on Instagram @friedaschwekyphoto.