13 Fun Birthday Party Ideas

Adults are people too, so celebrate that special birthday honoree with a fabulous party!

1. Nostalgic - Gather decorations from the era the person was born and ask your guests to bring gifts from that era as well. Make a mix CD of the top songs from the year of their birth. Award small door prizes to the guests who can answer a list of trivia questions first – Who was the Vice President in (year born)? What was the top song from that year? Name 3 fashion trends from the (60s, 70s, etc). Rent a karaoke machine and load it with songs from that year/era.

2. Over the Hill – Send a message to that 30, 40 or 50 year-old by asking your guests to dress all in black. Decorate with black balloons and order (or make) a tombstone cake. Ask someone to write and deliver a eulogy. Decorate with lilies.

3. Casino Night Party – If you have the space, this is a really fun theme night. Pick up some casino chips at your local party store (or make your own) and rent some game tables. Ask some friends to be dealers for you for the evening. Use scratch-off tickets as prizes for the guests with the most money at the end of the night. Dice/casino-themed paper products are fairly easy to come by. Buy a dice-shaped cake from your local baker.

4. Cocktail Party – For a more elegant touch, a cocktail party is a reliable stand-by. You can either have it catered or spend a few days prepping some great appetizers – look for cold appetizers that can be prepped the day before or others that can be prepared and frozen so you’re not frantic on event day). You may want to convey your preferred dress code right on the invitation. You may want to hire a DJ or a musician to just play light background music or just get some light jazz CDs. Decorate with candles and small table centerpieces. Get creative with your cake – have it made in the shape of a wine bottle or martini glass. You might suggest that your guests bring a cocktail-themed gift to the party, like a set of wine glasses or a liquor gift set. It’s a great way to start a collection for your birthday honoree’s next cocktail event.

5. Luau Party - This is a popular choice for spring and summer parties. You can go with a simple menu (Google some Hawaiian recipes) or go all out and roast a pig (though often not as easy as it looks). State your desired dress code on the invite so guests know to don their favorite Hawaiian shirt, coconut bras and grass skirts. Place a leigh on every guest (or have the guest of honor do it). Decorate with tiki torches, sand and totem poles to give it the ultimate effect.

6. Progressive Party – You can go to a wine bar/club for cocktails, one restaurant for appetizers, a second restaurant for a main course, a show or sporting event, followed by a tavern for a nightcap or a café for coffee and dessert. If you have enough fellow planners who live in relatively close proximity, you can also jump from house to house.

Other Adult Theme Party Ideas:

7. Blast from the Past (Decade Party)

8. Fiesta

9. Mardi Gras

10. Sock Hop

11. NASCAR/Sports Theme

12. Western-themed

13. Hollywood