Advice please for a backyard makeover on a budget?

You don't metion if it is a grad party for a girl or boy. Idk if you checked Pinterest, but they have some great ideas! Here are some other links as well.

https://www.pinterest.com/nseander/grad-party-ideas/

https://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=outdoor%20graduation%20pool%20party&rs=typed&term_meta[]=outdoor%7Ctyped&term_meta[]=graduation%7Ctyped&term_meta[]=pool%7Ctyped&term_meta[]=party%7Ctyped

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/49469295881874840/

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/49469295881874888/

https://www.decorationy.com/party-decorations/gradutation-party-decorations-grad-ideas

https://www.pinterest.com/nseander/grad-party-ideas/?lp=true

http://www.alittlecraftinyourday.com/2015/05/04/25-diy-graduation-party-ideas/

http://decor.iyashinohitoduma.com/outdoor-graduation-party-decorating-ideas/

https://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=Centres%20de%20table&pin=350366045983307972&lp=plp

https://www.pinterest.com/klacy1226/outdoor-graduation-party-ideas/?eq=outdoor%20graduation&etslf=10647

https://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?rs=ac&len=2&q=cheap%20outdoor%20graduation%20party&eq=cheap%20outdoor%20grad&etslf=15021&term_meta[]=cheap%7Cautocomplete%7Cundefined&term_meta[]=outdoor%7Cautocomplete%7Cundefined&term_meta[]=graduation%7Cautocomplete%7Cundefined&term_meta[]=party%7Cautocomplete%7Cundefined

I think your yard looks great! Spend the money on a bit of decor as B. Enne suggested. I see helium balloons at each of the fence post breaks. Google, you can do a ton with balloons and crepe paper streamers from the dollar store that is cool. Don't forget, they are kids, fill up that yard with them, give them good food and drink, it will be all good. Now I didn't look at every suggestion above, how about a Pinata? They sell them in all the party stores. I have gone to adult parties and the host filled with airline size booze bottles, and the hidden grand prize was a pair of tix to some local sporting event. Not knowing the age of your grad, fill with age aporopriate, gender neutral items. Rent or borrow a karoke system (alert or invite the neighbors), if they are into that. Hope this gets your creative juices flowing! Have a fantastic party! 🎉

I agree with Naomie about the balloons. Helium-filled Mylar balloons are only $1 each at the Dollar Tree. I would go ahead of time to choose the balloons you want. You may have to go to several stores to get the designs you want. The day before your event take them back to the store to be filled. You can also paint 9 foam core boards ($1 each) to spell out "Happy Grad" . Affix these to your fence panels.

If you have a spot that is protected from rain and wind, you can make your own "Pin the ( ...) on the ( ... )". We have done "Pin the Subpoena on the President" for a President's Day Party (used Clinton and Nixon) and "Pin the fig leaf on the statue of David" for an Italian Themed Party. We used a graphics program on our computer to generate the images. Let your grad come up with the idea of the image for "Pin the diploma on ..."

While it may sound hokey, the old fashioned "fishing" game where you drop a fishing pole behind a watery painted drop cloth or screen can be a lot of fun. Ask the parents first, but you can make up some gift cards to get out of washing dishes, taking out trash or some other chore for a specific period of time. Dollar Tree also sells some good sized name brand candy products for $1 each. Add some joke prizes like a $1 box of trash bags and a box of deodorant soap.

Great suggestions so far! However, it can still be a lot of work puting on a graduating party. As it's for the person graduating, why not get then to help! They can even ask there friends to help to! It is good to get everyone involved, plus they get to have a say as to what theme they wan't ect to! I would defenatly look into a Karaoke machine. My Son made one for his 18 Birthday. He dowloaded songs on to his lap top computor and connected speaker's he didn't have a Microphonebut though, but you should be able to conect a one. Get them to ask there friends if anyone has one you can borrow. Hope the party's a great success! Kay Adelaide Australia

PLEASE BE CAREFUL NOT TO RELEASE THE BALLOONS AS THEY ARE A MAJOR DANGER TO WILDLIFE!!!!!!

Oh what fun!! get some solar lights to string up if it's at night. A pinata, a game of Twister, even pin the tail on the principle (or their worst teacher) will bring laughs, karaoke is a great idea!

Have them bring a baby pic of themselves (1 year or younger) and see if they can guess who their friends are.

Truth be told, the kids just like having good eats, and hanging with their friends.

The games suggested go a step up if giagantisized... make a huge checker deck

and use foam board circles for pieces..same with the night party....use glow sticks for pin the glow stick on the ???

try a few potted plants for some colour or check with neighbours and see if you can borrow some for the event, or if looking to plant anything see if they have any that need splitting.