How to Host a Summer Mahjong Pool Party

Last year’s mahjong pool party was one of my favorite gatherings of summer, and I couldn’t wait to bring it back this year – bigger, splashier, and with the perfect summer spritz bar.

(You can peek at last summer’s party HERE!)

I kicked off this year’s pool mahj season with an afternoon full of sunshine, two game tables, a stocked cocktail station, and a fun group of neighborhood friends.

Here’s how I pulled it together…

Mahjong Pool Party Setup

I got a little creative with the setup this year. Since I wanted to invite a few more friends, I knew we’d need more than one game table. My original plan was to set up the second mahj game on the porch, but in a last-minute stroke of genius, McKinsey and I decided to kick the loungers out of the pool sun shelf and transform it into a second game station. It ended up being perfect: shaded by an umbrella, still in the pool but above water, and just the right spot to keep cool while staying dry. Throughout the afternoon, the girls rotated between both tables, and the flow of the party could not have worked out better.

The day before the party, I tracked down the perfect-sized outdoor table with an umbrella holder and shoutout to Matt for handling the curbside pickup. He’s used to my party antics at this point, but even he had to laugh when he rolled up expecting a cute little plant or maybe a bag of ice…and found himself loading a full 40” dining table into the car. He didn’t ask questions, just hauled it home like the champ he is.

We set it up on the tanning ledge with our outdoor dining chairs (adding little leg protectors to keep the pool surface safe), and I cut a hole in the middle of a square tablecloth so it could drape around the umbrella. It ended up being the perfect second game station.

And of course, our original floating game table was set up in the jacuzzi for classic pool mahj.

Two setups, two vibes, and one seriously fun afternoon.

Summer Mahjong Pool Party Set Up — STRIPED POOL FLOATS

The Spritz Bar

For the party, I set up the easiest (and most fun) spritz bar on my porch and it was such a hit! It added the perfect touch to our mahjong pool day and made the whole afternoon feel a little extra (in the best way).

Our cocktail station included everything needed to make Hugo, Aperol, and Limoncello spritzes, and since it was self-serve, guests could easily customize their drinks and top off their glasses whenever they wanted (which meant I could spend more time in the pool playing mahjong)!

It was simple to pull together, so pretty with all the fresh garnishes and bubbles, and honestly, the easiest way to keep drinks flowing without playing bartender. I’ll absolutely be bringing this idea back for the rest of summer.

You can find all the details for this easy DIY Spritz Bar as well as the printable HERE!

I also stocked a floating cooler raft with sparkling waters, which bobbed around the pool all afternoon and looked so cute – it was such a fun little add-on.

Mahjong Pool Party Snacks

I kept the snacks simple with a sweet-and-salty snack board that was easy to prep, pool-friendly, and totally wiped clean by the end of the day.

The snack line-up: Trader Joe’s Synergistically Seasoned Popcorn, frozen prosecco grapes (the crowd favorite!), Skittles Pop’d, white chocolate–covered pretzels, Airheads Xtremes Bites, and Sour Patch Watermelon. A little something for everyone – and exactly what you want to be snacking on between games.

Frozen Prosecco Grapes: To make these, I added about a pound of grapes to a large bowl, poured in a bottle of prosecco, and let them soak for about 24 hours. After draining, I spread the grapes out on a sheet pan and sprinkled them with a mix of sugar and lime zest – just give the pan a little shake to coat everything evenly. Then into the freezer they went for at least an hour. So easy, so refreshing, and such a fun little twist on a summer classic.

Summer Skin Station

One of my favorite little details: an iced sunscreen station stocked with a few bottles of Coola Organic Sunscreen and Evian Facial Mist for quick cool downs. It was a small touch, but everyone loved it.