How to run a Secret Santa at a summer party

A Secret Santa draw does not need a Christmas tree. A garden barbecue, a pool afternoon or an evening on the beach is just as good an excuse for a gift swap, and with the pressure of December gone it is easier to run. Nobody expects a cashmere scarf at a barbecue. They expect something for €15 that makes people laugh or gets used the same day.

Themes that suit the season

A beach theme points people towards sunglasses, a decent towel or a small waterproof speaker. A practical "surviving July" theme gets you mosquito repellent, cooling towels and a handheld fan. For a group that gardens, a garden party theme works with terracotta pots, basil seeds and a hand trowel that will not bend. For the ones who cook, build it around barbecue rubs, a good marinade and picnic kit.

Whatever the theme, ask each participant to create a wishlist with three or four things that fit the brief, so the person who draws them has something to go on.

What to charge people

Summer draws run cheaper than Christmas ones, which suits the mood. Between €10 and €20 covers most groups. Colleagues tend to prefer the €10 end; close friends can stretch to €25. For a big, loose group, even €5 to €10 works if the aim is ice lolly moulds, a bright water bottle or a set of novelty tongs.

Say upfront whether the budget covers wrapping, or whether a gift bag is fine. Brown paper with a sprig of lavender, or a reusable bag the recipient can take to the beach, both suit June better than leftover Christmas paper.

Gifts that actually get used

Anything that cools someone down is a safe bet: a gel eye mask, a cooling neck wrap, a fan that clips to a pram. For the evening, waterproof playing cards, a compact travel game or a bag of glow sticks all earn their place outdoors.

Food and drink land well too. Ice cube trays that make one enormous cube, an infuser water bottle, a kit for making ice lollies at home. A hammock pillow, an outdoor cushion or a citronella candle covers comfort for very little money.

On the tech side, a waterproof phone pouch, a power bank or a small Bluetooth speaker for the shower are the gifts people are still using in August.

Timing and logistics

Give people at least two weeks' notice. Summer calendars fill up with holidays and weddings, so pick the date carefully and steer clear of long weekends when half the group is in the Dordogne.

Set the rules in one message: the theme, the budget, and any restrictions. Some groups skip alcohol; strongly scented candles are a bad idea when the party is around a barbecue. Decide whether gifts should be useful, funny or a small indulgence, and have an indoor fallback in case the weather turns. If the party might move inside, check that none of the gifts are the sort that melt.

Making the exchange feel like an event

A gift table under a parasol, with a few flowers and a string of lights, turns the exchange into a moment. Hold it in the last hour of daylight and the photos look better; or keep it as the finale of the evening, once everyone has eaten.

Add a round of guessing who gave what, or invent categories such as "most likely to end up at the beach" and "best gift for a heatwave". Set up a corner with a few props for photos, so the exchange gets recorded and does not vanish into the rest of the day.

You can organise a Secret Santa online in a few minutes, set the budget, and let the draw go out by email while you sort the barbecue.