Planning a sleepover party for girls ages 7–13? Once you've chosen the guest list, picked the perfect theme, and set up the tents, the next question is usually: “What are they actually going to do all night?”

The good news? You don't need to plan a minute-by-minute itinerary—or spend a fortune on elaborate entertainment—to keep kids having fun.

The best sleepover parties usually have a mix of creative activities, games, food, downtime, and plenty of time to simply hang out with friends.

Whether you're hosting a cozy sleepover at home or planning a birthday sleepover in Austin, here are 15 sleepover party activities kids ages 7–13 will actually love.

1. Create Friendship Bracelets

Friendship bracelets are a sleepover classic for a reason. They're inexpensive, easy to customize, and give everyone something fun to take home.

Set out colorful embroidery floss, beads, letter beads, charms, and a few examples to get them started. You can even choose colors that coordinate with the party theme.

For a more personalized activity, have each girl make a bracelet for another guest. It's a sweet way to create a little party keepsake.

Perfect for: Lavender Lux, Girl Power, Purple Dreams, or any colorful sleepover theme.

2. Have a DIY Spa Night

Turn your sleepover into a mini spa experience.

Set up a little station with headbands, cozy robes, nail polish, under-eye gel patches, and kid-friendly face masks. Add relaxing music and let everyone take turns giving themselves a little pampering.

For younger guests, keep it simple with things like nail painting, cucumber slices, and fluffy robes rather than complicated skincare products.

The goal isn't perfection—it's creating a fun experience where everyone can relax and laugh together.

3. Host a Movie Marathon

Once everyone is settled into their tents, it's time for a movie!

Let the girls vote on the movie or choose a few favorites ahead of time. Make the experience feel special with popcorn, candy, cozy blankets, and individual snack trays.

You can even create a “movie theater” snack menu with popcorn, movie candy, drinks, and a fun dessert.

Tip: Don't feel like you have to watch three movies. For many kids, one movie followed by chatting and games is plenty.

4. Set Up a DIY Mocktail Bar

A mocktail bar instantly makes a sleepover feel a little more grown-up.

Set out sparkling water, lemonade, fruit juices, fresh fruit, fun straws, and cute cups. Let the girls create their own drinks and come up with names for them.

Try a simple menu such as:

• Strawberry lemonade fizz

• Raspberry spritzer

• Pineapple punch

• Pink lemonade sparkle

• 
  

And of course, add plenty of ice and fun garnishes.

This is especially fun for a birthday sleepover because it doubles as an activity and a special party drink.

5. Have a Photo Challenge

Give the girls a list of silly or creative photos they need to capture throughout the evening.

Ideas could include:

• Funniest group photo

• Best pajama pose

• Most dramatic movie reaction

• Silly face photo

• Best “album cover” pose

• Everyone jumping at the same time

• A photo with the sleepover tents

  
  

You don't need professional equipment. A phone and a little creativity are all you need.

If you're hosting a themed sleepover, encourage everyone to incorporate the decorations into their photos.

6. Have a Karaoke Party

Put on a playlist and let everyone take turns performing their favorite songs.

For kids who don't want to sing alone, encourage duets or group performances.

You can even give out silly awards like:

• Best Dance Moves

• Most Dramatic Performance

• Best Group

• Crowd Favorite

  
  

Don't worry about whether anyone can actually sing. The worse the singing, the more memorable the night tends to be!

7. Play “Would You Rather?”

This one requires absolutely no preparation.

Have everyone sit together and take turns asking “Would you rather?” questions.

Keep them age-appropriate and silly:

• Would you rather have unlimited pizza or unlimited ice cream?

• Would you rather be famous or be the funniest person in your school?

• Would you rather have a pet unicorn or a pet dragon?

• Would you rather never have homework or never have chores?

  
  

It's an easy activity to pull out when the energy starts to slow down.

8. Decorate Pillowcases

Give each guest a plain white pillowcase and fabric markers or fabric paint.

They can decorate their pillowcases with:

• Their names

• Favorite sayings

• Doodles

• Hearts and stars

• Inside jokes

• Friendship messages

  
  

It's both an activity and a party favor, which makes it especially great for birthday sleepovers.

Bonus: Have everyone sign one another's pillowcases before bedtime.

9. Have a Sleepover Scavenger Hunt

A scavenger hunt can be as simple or elaborate as you want.

Hide clues around the house leading to a final prize or treat. For older girls, create riddles instead of simply telling them where to look.

You could even make the hunt match your theme.

For example, a Swiftie Par-Tay could have music-related clues, while a Touchdown sleepover could use football-themed challenges.

10. Create a “Just Dance” Competition

Turn the living room into a dance floor.

Choose several songs and let everyone participate in a friendly dance competition. You can use a dance video game if you have one, or simply create your own choreography challenge.

For a less competitive version, divide the girls into small groups and have each group create a short dance.

Then everyone performs.

No judges necessary—just lots of laughs.

11. Make a Late-Night Snack

Instead of simply putting snacks out, turn them into an activity.

Depending on the age of the guests, you could have the girls make:

• Mini pizzas

• Ice cream sundaes

• S'mores

• Decorated cookies

• Popcorn mixes

• Fruit skewers

• Personalized snack boards

  
  

For younger kids, keep the activity simple and supervise anything involving ovens or hot surfaces.

A DIY snack bar is also a great way to break up the evening between activities.

12. Try an Austin Adventure Before the Sleepover

If you're hosting a sleepover in Austin, consider starting the celebration with an activity outside the house.

You might visit a local park, grab ice cream, explore a kid-friendly attraction, or plan another age-appropriate outing before heading home for the sleepover.

You don't need to pack the entire day with activities. In fact, one simple outing followed by a relaxed sleepover can be the perfect combination.

The girls can burn off some energy, then come home to their cozy tents, snacks, movies, and pajamas.

13. Have a DIY Craft Night

Choose one simple craft that matches your party theme.

Some ideas include:

• Decorated canvas bags

• Beaded keychains

• Friendship necklaces

• Painted picture frames

• Hair accessories

• Mini vision boards

• Decorated journals

  
  

For a sleepover with a more sophisticated feel, choose a craft that feels less “little kid” and more like something the girls would actually want to display or use.

14. Create a “Besties” Memory Book

Set out a notebook or scrapbook and have each girl contribute a page.

They can write:

• Favorite memory from the night

• Something funny that happened

• A favorite thing about the birthday girl

• Inside jokes

• Drawings

• Photos

• Advice for the birthday girl

  
  

By the end of the party, the birthday girl has a keepsake filled with memories from her friends.

It's simple, inexpensive, and often becomes one of the most meaningful parts of the party.

15. Let Them Have Unstructured Hangout Time

This might be the most important activity on the entire list.

Don't plan every minute!

Kids ages 7–13 often want time to simply hang out with their friends. They may talk, play games, listen to music, take pictures, trade bracelets, tell stories, or crawl into their tents and giggle.

And honestly? Those are often the moments they'll remember most.

A sleepover doesn't have to be packed with activities from beginning to end.

Give them a few fun things to do, then let the party unfold naturally.

How to Plan the Perfect Sleepover Schedule

If you're wondering how to fit all of these activities into one evening, don't try to do all 15!

Choose 3–5 main activities and leave plenty of room for snacks, chatting, and downtime.

A simple schedule might look like:

4:00 PM: Guests arrive + settle into tents

4:30 PM: Austin outing or outdoor activity

6:00 PM: Dinner

7:00 PM: DIY activity or friendship bracelets

8:00 PM: Mocktail bar + snacks

8:30 PM: Movie or karaoke

10:00 PM: Dessert + games + hangout time

11:00 PM: Pajamas + movie/talking in tents

Later: Lights out… eventually!

The exact schedule will depend on the age of the kids and the type of party you're hosting.

And remember: the goal isn't to keep everyone constantly entertained. The goal is to create an environment where they can have fun together.

Make the Sleepover Setup the Star of the Party

One of the easiest ways to make a sleepover feel special is to create a setup that feels completely different from an ordinary night at home.

That's where themed sleepover tents come in.

At South Austin Sleepover Tents, we create boutique sleepover setups designed around your child's personality and favorite things. From soft and dreamy to bold and playful, our collections make the sleepover feel like a real event from the moment guests arrive.

Planning a girls' sleepover?

Consider a few of our favorites:

Lavender Lux is perfect for girls who love soft purple tones and pretty details.

Beverly Hills Dream brings a fun, glamorous feel with white tents, pink accents, flamingos, and tropical touches.

Girl Power is a playful combination of soft pinks and golds.

Purple Dreams is perfect for a cozy, colorful sleepover without all the bows.

And if you're planning a themed party, collections like Swiftie Par-Tay, Boho, Spring in Paris, and more can help bring the entire party together.

The best part for parents? We do the setup for you.

South Austin Sleepover Tents delivers everything to your home, sets up the tents and decorations, and returns the next day to take everything down and pick it up.

That means you can focus on the birthday girl and her friends instead of spending hours arranging mattresses, blankets, pillows, decorations, and tents.

Ready to Plan Your Sleepover?

A great sleepover doesn't need to be complicated.

Choose a few activities the kids will love, add plenty of snacks, create a cozy space for them to hang out, and then let them enjoy being together.

Whether you're planning a birthday party, a girls' night, or a “just because” sleepover, the little moments—laughing in the tents, making friendship bracelets, taking silly pictures, and staying up way too late—are what they'll remember.

And when you want to make the night extra special, South Austin Sleepover Tents can handle the setup so you don't have to.

We deliver, set up, take down, and pick up throughout the Austin area, including South and Central Austin, Westlake, Circle C, Dripping Springs, Bee Cave, and Lakeway.

Ready to plan a sleepover they'll be talking about long after bedtime?

Book your sleepover today!

Frequently Asked Questions

What are good sleepover party activities for 7-9-year-olds?

Younger children typically enjoy simple, hands-on activities such as friendship bracelets, crafts, scavenger hunts, decorating pillowcases, movie nights, and DIY snacks. Choose activities that don't require too much complicated instruction and allow plenty of time for free play.

What do 10–13-year-olds do at sleepovers?

Older kids often enjoy activities that feel a little more grown-up, such as mocktail bars, karaoke, photo challenges, DIY spa nights, crafts, movies, and friendship activities. They also appreciate having unstructured time to talk and hang out with their friends.

How many activities should you plan for a sleepover?

You don't need to plan an activity for every hour. Three to five organized activities are usually plenty. Leave room for dinner, snacks, movies, chatting, and spontaneous fun.

What is a good activity for a girls' birthday sleepover?

A DIY spa night, friendship bracelet station, mocktail bar, photo challenge, or themed craft can be a great choice. Combining one or two structured activities with a beautiful sleepover setup creates a memorable birthday experience without overwhelming the kids—or the parents.

How far in advance should I book a sleepover tent rental in Austin?

For the best selection of dates and themes, it's a good idea to book your sleepover 2–4 weeks in advance, especially for weekends and popular party seasons.