To help you plan family church event ideas for summer we gathered five awesome activities. See if one (or more) of these fun, easy children’s ministry events will work for you!
Hosting summer family events is a blast! But let’s face it: They can be lots of work. During the summer months, it’s not so easy to recruit children’s ministry volunteers.
But don’t let fewer volunteers force you to plan fewer fun family events this summer. You can still bring families together for fellowship and reach out to your community. It’s simple!
Instead of bringing families in to your building? Just take families out for summer fun in the community!
Registration Tips for Family Church Event Ideas
Before we get to the activities… Communication is key for kidmin outings, no matter the season. So clearly convey dates, times, costs, and meeting locations.
- Set up online registration through your church’s online database. Or use a free program like VBS Pro. (It’s not just for VBS!)
- Ask families to RSVP by email to let you know they’re coming.
- Or provide a sign-up sheet for several weeks at your church building.
Communicate that these summertime events aren’t just for kids. Be clear that parents/guardians must attend with their children.
Perhaps you’ll float the bill with your family event budget. Or maybe it’s more feasible to ask families to chip in. Whatever you decide, communicate costs. Then make it as easy as possible for families to participate.
5 Summer Family Church Event Ideas
Here are 5 awesome family-focused activities for summer:
1. Picnic in the Park
First up: Enjoy the great outdoors together at a local park. Have families pack a picnic lunch and gather with other families for a summertime play date!
- Some parks let you rent a pavilion or picnic area.
- Clearly communicate where to meet. (The closer to the playground, the better!)
- Provide water or juice.
- Pack extra sandwiches and snacks in case some families miss the memo to bring lunch.
- Bring tablecloths and trash bags for easy prep and cleanup.
2. Church-Wide Pool Party
Next make a splash with a family outing at a local swimming pool. You could just invite families with kids. But for even more fun, invite the whole church family! Kids will love seeing Sunday school teachers, teen helpers, and even pastors have fun in the sun.
- Call to see how much it costs to rent the facility for an afternoon or evening.
- Determine the best date, time, and any costs you’ll ask attendees to contribute.
- Consider offering pizza, drinks…and sunscreen.
- Share a fun worship song with families as you advertise your event.
3. Matinee Movie Meet Up
Summer days are super fun…but can also get a little long. By the time midafternoon rolls around, parents and kids may be going stir crazy at home. Why not meet up at the movies? This is always a favorite among ideas for church family events.
- Check to see which kid-friendly movies are playing in a theater near you.
- Determine the best date and time, plus any costs you’ll ask attendees to contribute.
- Pre-purchase tickets together. Or announce the movie, theater, date, and time and invite families to purchase their own tickets.
- Some places may let you rent a theater for a private event.
 of these fun, easy children’s ministry events will work for you. Hint: Simply take families out into the community!){kind=link}