29 Most Fun Summer Gifts to Keep It Cool in 2024

It’s finally summertime, and that means it’s time to come up with some fun summer gifts for your friends and family members so you can all enjoy some fun in the sun. But what are you going to get them? What is a good gift for summer anyway?

Whether you’re looking for gifts for summer birthdays, gifts for summer holidays or random acts of kindness, we can help you out. We’ve assembled a list of the best gifts for summer 2023 that are sure to please. Read on to learn more. 

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• Creative Summer Gifts
• Summer Entertaining Gifts
• Unique Summer Gifts
• Summer Gift Basket Ideas

Creative Summer Gifts

1. Tropical Themed Paint and Sip 

If you want to beat the heat in a creative way, paint and sip classes make great summer gifts. They’re also great summer date ideas if you’re giving them to a partner. Find a paint and sip near you!

You can find paint and sip in Colorado Springs, paint and sip in NYC or paint and sip in San Diego. Whether you’re home or on summer vacation, you can enjoy this activity. You could also bring your own wine and art supplies and make your own paint and sip day by taking online painting classes. 

2. Make Summer Ceramics

Perhaps pottery is more your speed. Pottery classes near you make great gifts for the summer holiday. This summer gift idea is perfect for any creative friend who needs a new outlet. 

Whether they’re taking pottery classes in Minneapolis, pottery classes in Chicago or pottery classes in NYC, they’re sure to have a blast learning a new craft.

3. Artsy Gift Cards

Don’t know what to give as a summer gift? You can’t go wrong with a gift card. Pick a creative gift card for your artsy friends. 

A Classpop! gift card is a great option. Your friend can use it for classes, supplies, and more. Let them choose a gift they’ll love. Gift cards are one of the best gifts under $50 because they give the giftee options!

4. Travel Watercolor Set

Summer is the perfect time to paint on the go. A travel watercolor set is a fantastic gift for a friend who loves to paint.

They’ll be able to paint sweet portraits and beautiful landscapes while they get through their list of summer bucket list ideas.

5. Friendship Bracelet Kit

Are you looking for summer gifts for best friends? Let’s bring it back to summer camp with a friendship bracelet kit. You and your friend can make your own custom bracelets and wear them all summer long.

This is also one of the best graduation gift ideas to give to a friend who’s going to be moving away for college. You can both make each other bracelets and use them to remember each other. 

6. Sidewalk Chalk Set

Don’t underestimate the value of sidewalk chalk as a summer gift. Whether you’re giving it to a kid or an adult, you’ll be giving the gift of hours of fun. Sidewalk chalk is the perfect gift for summer lovers who also love getting creative.

Summer Entertaining Gifts

7. Mixology Classes

If you have a friend who loves to entertain, you can’t go wrong with online mixology classes. This is such a good summer entertaining gift! Your friend can learn how to make their favorite summer cocktails for their next pool party. It’s one of the best gifts for cocktail lovers!

8. Wine Tasting

Do you need a gift for wine lovers in your life? What’s nicer than a classy summer wine tasting? A virtual wine tasting is an awesome summer gift idea. Gather your friends, buy some wine, and enjoy a day of relaxation. Don’t forget to bring snacks! 

9. Flower Arranging Classes

Does your friend or family member love decorating for parties? Help them out by giving the summer gift of fun and unique flower arranging classes. 

Virtual flower arranging classes are so much fun and they’ll teach the giftee a brand new skill. This is one of our favorite host or hostess gift ideas.

10. Cooler for Parties

What’s a summer party without a good cooler to keep all of the drinks cold? If you need a summer entertaining gift, look no further. You should get an awesome cooler.

These wheeled YETI coolers are perfect for outdoor parties and camping trips, making them awesome summer gifts. 

11. Serving Bowl or Board

Is one of your friends always the person who’s throwing parties? A serving bowl or board is a fantastic summer gift for them. Find one that fits the summer theme and give it to your favorite party host or hostess.

There are countless options, but this Shark Bait serving board is one of our favorites. It’s so fun!

12. Lawn Party Games

What’s a summer party without summer party games? Yes, you have your standard drinking games, but lawn games can truly make a party special (and they’re family-friendly). 

These giant Yard Dominoes can add so much fun to a fun outdoor party. What’s your favorite yard game? 

13. Comfy Outdoor Chairs

You can’t have a good party without plenty of places to sit. Let your favorite host ditch the uncomfortable plastic lawn chairs in exchange for some comfortable and stylish outdoor seats.

The Sunflow Chair is an awesome option that’s perfect for pool parties or days at the beach. 

14. Portable Campfire

What’s a summer party without a fire to roast marshmallows over? No fire pit? No problem. A portable campfire is so easy to set up so it can be ready for your friend’s summer party in minutes.

It makes an excellent gift for hosts and gift for beach lovers who want a safe and easy way to stay warm during a late-night beach party. 

Unique Summer Gifts

15. Funky Funboy Floats

Your average pool float may not be the most unique summer gift, but these eccentric pool floats certainly are!

These Funboy floats come in all shapes and sizes, from pink convertibles to surfboards and other unique designs. With one of these, you're sure to be the hit of every pool party of the summer. 

16. Beach-Ready Books

What’s a beach trip without a book? Books make excellent beach gifts as well as summer gifts for teachers. There are so many options to choose from.

We’ll recommend Meet Me at the Lake for a summer romance theme, but you should choose a book that you know your friend will love and appreciate while they’re basking in the summer sun. 

17. Beachy Jewelry

Beachy jewelry can make any outfit look more summer-ready and glamorous. That makes it an excellent summer gift.

The Pura Vida summer gift box is filled with dainty and darling summer jewelry pieces. Bonus: every purchase helps give back to artisan communities and charities.

18. Tropical-Print Shirt

Tropical shirts may be vintage and kitschy, but they’re also super stylish. They’re so uncool that they’re cool, you know? They make awesome summer gifts, especially if you then throw a tropical-themed party where your friends can wear their new shirts. 

You can buy them used for genuine vintage vibes, but it’s far easier to find cool new ones at shops like Urban Outfitters.

19. Summer Vacation Photo Frames

Help your loved ones document their summer fun with this summer gift! Summer vacation photo frames can be so cute. They’ll encourage your friends to actually print and display their photos.

20. Bluetooth Boombox

What’s a summer party without some music? You can kick it old school (with a modern edge) by giving the summer gift of a bluetooth boombox so your giftee can pump up the jams. 

This Victrola mini bluetooth boombox looks super retro, but it’s so easy to use. It’s also small enough to easily move around, making it perfect for camping trips or outdoor parties.

21. Temporary Tattoos

Temporary tattoos make awesome gifts for the summer holiday and additions to any summer gift basket ideas. When you get real tattoos, you can’t really enjoy summer fun until they’re healed. Swimming is terrible for fresh tattoos and you shouldn’t expose them to too much sunlight.

Temporary tattoos from Inkbox, however, are the perfect alternative. They last longer than many typical temporary tattoos and they’re great for summer parties! They’re some of the best gifts for summer 2023.

22. Soothing Beachy Candles

Who doesn’t love relaxing with a nice beachy candle? Candles are awesome gifts for summer lovers that last all year long. When your friend wants to remember their summer of fun, all they have to do is light their candle. 

There are countless candles to choose from, but we love this Protect the Planet candle! It’s a great choice for any animal lovers in your life. 

Summer Gift Basket Ideas

23. Tasty Party Gift Basket

Do you want the perfect summer gift basket ideas for a party? Look no further than a basket full of delicious snacks. Bring it to a party so everyone can enjoy it or give it as a housewarming gift for the giftee to enjoy alone. 

This Wine Barrel Gift Basket is an excellent option for a classy summer soiree. You truly can’t go wrong when you combine wine and cheese in one delicious basket.

Snack baskets aren’t just good for parties. They’re also some of the best summer gifts for teachers, especially pre-made baskets like the ones from Harry and David.

24. Children’s Beach Toy Gift Basket

Do you have a friend with a little one who will be having their first beach trip soon? A children’s beach gift basket is so much fun to assemble, and they’re sure to appreciate it. 

So what goes into the basket? Assemble summer gifts that you think the child will like and use. Consider adding some sand mold beach toys alongside a child-sized beach towel and a children’s book about a trip to the beach. 

25. Comfy Beach Towel Basket

You can never have too many beach towels. Give a friend the gift of a set of comfy and stylish beach towels so they can enjoy their next beach trip with friends. 

Mix and match different styles. This Esti beach towel pairs well with this much simpler Business & Pleasure Co. beach towel despite their contrasting looks. Find a few you love and gather them all together in one basket.

26. Summer Skincare Gift Basket

According to many studies published by the National Library of Medicine, the sun can speed up skin aging! There’s nothing wrong with aging skin, but why not help your friend protect their skin with this summer gift idea? It’s the perfect gift for beach lovers who spend too much time in the sun. 

Include some reef-safe mineral face sunscreen, a facial in a jar and a few skincare products that you know your friend loves. They’ll have glowing and healthy skin all summer long.

27. Summer Spa Gift Basket

Looking for gifts for summer lovers who deserve some pampering after a long day at the beach? Give them a spa gift basket! This is also one of the best gifts for someone looking for staycation ideas because they can have an at-home spa day.

Include a cozy Under the Sea spa dress, a Tropical Escape shower steamer bar set and perhaps some beauty products and candles. Give them an at-home spa day they won’t forget as a summer gift.

28. Beverage Gift Basket

This is one of the handiest beach gifts around. It’s a gift basket full of beverages and accessories for them.

Include your friend’s favorite adult beverage. Add in some neat accessories, like this Beer Preserver koozie or this On the Rocks set. Give your friend whatever they need to enjoy a day in the sun with a relaxing drink.  

29. Rainy Summer Day Gift Basket

Uh oh, the rain is ruining a summer day! No worries, this summer gift basket is here to help. Assemble a basket full of rainy day activities. 

This can include things like books, summer-themed puzzles and games to keep your friend entertained. This is one of our favorite family gift ideas for the summer season.

So, which of these summer gift ideas speaks to you? You have the whole season to give summer-themed gifts to your friends and family members! We’re sure they’ll be a hit.

For even more fun gift ideas, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!