May 1st is May Day, a celebration of the return of spring. After the long, dreary winter months, it’s a chance to get outside and enjoy the warmth and flowering blooms.
This gigantic list of 107 ideas contains fun activities for kids, crafting ideas, spring-themed treats, & ways to freshen up your home and yard.
For the Kids:
1. Make classic May baskets from construction paper to hang on neighbors’ doors
2. Go on a wildflower nature walk and make flower crowns
3. Plant a garden of easy-to-grow fruits and veggies like tomatoes and zucchini
4. Have a May Day parade with decorated bikes, wagons and strollers
5. Do May Day themed crafts like sun prints, tissue paper flowers or kite making
6. Set up an epic backyard obstacle course with hula hoops, jump ropes and more
7. Host a “_Bling Your Bike_” decorating party for the neighborhood kids
8. Make DIY May Day jewelry like floral crowns or petal necklaces
9. Learn fun jump rope rhymes and host a competition
10. Set up a backyard kiddie pool and have water balloon fights
Sweet Treats:
11. Bake a light lemon bundt cake drizzled with tart lemon glaze
12. Make edible flower cupcakes topped with candied violets or pansies
13. Prepare a fresh berry trifle layered with lemon curd
14. Dip fresh strawberries in white and dark chocolate
15. Mix up a pitcher of refreshing strawberry lemonade
16. Bake a classic pineapple upside-down cake
17. Make pretty flower-shaped sugar cookies with royal icing
18. Whip up an indulgent coconut cream pie with toasted coconut
19. Try your hand at homemade strawberry-rhubarb pie or tarts
20. Prepare a bright, creamy key lime pie for a tropical twist
Crafting Fun:
21. Craft colorful egg carton flowers to brighten any room
22. Make rustic farmhouse signs with uplifting spring sayings
23. Upcycle glass jars into charming votives with tissue paper
24. Get a kitchen herb garden started in cute painted pots
25. Craft a vibrant yarn wreath for your front door
26. Try your hand at punch needle embroidery wall art
27. Make a woven paper basket for collecting fresh eggs
28. Craft a festive DIY paper streamer backdrop
29. Upcycle bottles into pretty tinted vases with food coloring
30. Sew a cheery fabric garden banner to hang outdoors
Decorating Ideas:
31. Cut fresh flowers from your garden to display in vases
32. Hang a pretty DIY flower garland along your stair railings
33. Fill glass cylinders with blossoms and scatter them down your table
34. Display potted flowers, like tulips or daffodils, around your home
35. Make a spring cleaning kit with lemon-scented room spray
36. Craft paper cones to hold individual bouquets at each place setting
37. Use old books or boxes to make a rustic ombre centerpiece
38. Make fragrant spring-themed potpourri for pretty bowls
39. Hang a DIY wooden ladder to display potted blooms
40. Use vintage milk bottles to display single flower stems
Festive Fun:
41. Host a Mad Hatter-themed tea party with whimsical decor
42. Plan an outdoor picnic or farm dinner with long, rustic tables
43. Gather friends for an evening bonfire with s’mores and acoustic music
44. Play classic outdoor games like croquet, cornhole or jumbo Jenga
45. Go for a scenic hike and have a wildflower meadow picnic
46. Host a springtime barn dance with live bluegrass music
47. Plan a fancy Mother’s Day high tea with bite-sized sandwiches
48. Set up an outdoor movie night under the stars
49. Have a backyard carnival with game booths and fried food trucks
50. Go for a walk and play the “wildflower I Spy” game
Get Outdoors:
51. Book a weekend camping trip at a nearby state park
52. Go fly a kite at a nearby park or beach
53. Plan a wildflower photography adventure to scenic spots
54. Get your vegetable garden planted and ready for summer
55. Take your bikes out for a spin on the first warm day
56. Go fishing and have a fresh fish fry at day’s end
57. Try your hand at foraging for edible plants and mushrooms
58. Set up an outdoor painting studio with canvases and easels
59. Book a sunrise hot air balloon ride over the countryside
60. Go birdwatching and see how many species you can identify
Home Projects:
61. Install a new wooden fence for your backyard
62. Build and hang some DIY birdhouses for feathered friends
63. Plant fragrant herbs like lavender, rosemary and thyme
64. Start your compost pile to enrich your garden
65. Hang pretty porch flower baskets on your railings
66. Construct a raised garden bed for your veggies
67. Build an outdoor fire pit or pizza oven
68. Freshen up your curb appeal with new planters and flowers
69. Power wash your siding, deck and outdoor surfaces
70. Install a new exterior light fixture above your front door
Family Activities:
71. Have a backyard campout and sleep under the stars
72. Organize a neighborhood sidewalk chalk art festival
73. Start a nature-themed scavenger hunt around your yard
74. Host an outdoor movie night under the stars
75. Make DIY bird feeders to attract feathered visitors
76. Have a family field day with three-legged races and water balloons
77. Learn the art of flower pressing and make bookmarks
78. Go on a bug safari and see how many critters you can identify
79. Play classic backyard games like Red Rover and Ghost in the Graveyard
80. Have a family talent show and award silly prizes
Pampering:
81. Book a massage or facial treatment at a local spa
82. Do an invigorating lemon and rosemary detox bath
83. Try your hand at homemade lemon sugar scrubs and body butters
84. Make your own soy or beeswax candles with floral scents
85. Plan a fun girls’ night out with your closest friends
86. Do an at-home mani-pedi with bright spring shades
87. Get a fresh floral mist spritz and new fragrance
88. Enjoy a DIY yogurt and honey hair mask
89. Book appointments for fresh haircuts and color
90. Plan a shopping day to update your spring/summer wardrobe
Food & Drink:
91. Shop your local farmers’ market for spring produce
92. Mix up a beautiful strawberry basil margarita pitcher to share
93. Grill fresh veggies from your garden in fun foil packets
94. Make a pretty rainbow layered salad for a light lunch
95. Host a fresh juice and smoothie bar with fixings like kale and ginger
96. Prepare artichoke dip with pita chips or crudités to snack on
97. Bake a fresh loaf of crusty bread to enjoy with flavored olive oil
98. Host a backyard tapas party with skewers, bruschetta and more bites
99. Prepare a pretty fruit salsa with cinnamon chips for dipping
100. Set up a DIY waffle or crepe station with fresh toppings
Gardening:
101. Plan and install a butterfly garden with colorful perennials
102. Build a charming circular herb garden with a path to the center
103. Plant a cutting garden with flowers for bouquets all summer
104. Get your rose bushes pruned and fertilized for big blooms
105. Install a drip irrigation system to make watering easier
106. Build raised planter boxes for your patio or deck
107. Construct a trellis or pergola for vining plants to climb
No matter how you choose to celebrate, May Day is all about embracing the beauty of spring’s renewal.
Get outside, get crafty, and enjoy this verdant, bountiful season.
