Happy birthday to me!!
I’ve had great birthday parties in my life. There was the circus-themed gathering when I was 5 when I was introduced to the gloriousness that is Coca-Cola through a Red Vine licorice straw. (Seriously, try it!) A couple years ago, I did a Mad Men-themed dinner party. The year before that we went roller skating (as I’m sure I spent birthdays 10-13.)
So in honor of today, I thought I’d come up with a list of 32 great birthday party themes appropriate for grown-ups that can be done relatively inexpensively and at home. Enjoy!
1. Baseball
Feed your guests hot dogs, hamburgers and beer from a keg. Decorate your space with your team’s colors and set-up an area for catch or even a short game for anyone who’d like to participate. No lights in your backyard? Take it inside and watch your game! Baseball is the perfect thing to watch at a party. Y’all can talk and not disturb those really into the came.
2. Chocolate Tasting
Just like a wine tasting, you provide a variety of chocolates with cards for folks to make notes. Don’t tell your guests what kind of chocolate they are eating until after, but you should have a variety of dark, semi-sweet, white, and flavored chocolates. Red wine pairs great with chocolate! Have some plain crackers and water available between samples. Afterwards, have a couple chocolate-y treats (cake, cookies, etc.) ready to enjoy and/or give your guests gourmet chocolate bars as party favors.
3. Chinese
This is an easy one! Serve all of your food out of to-go food boxes and chop sticks. Fortune cookies (personalized, perhaps?) could be your dessert. Consider an exotic cocktail as your drink of the night. I’m thinking lychee martini. Dress up your party space with rich, Asian-inspired brocade fabrics for your linens.
4. 1950s
This theme is perfect for your quintessential dinner party! You’ll need at least three courses and a small enough guest list that you can all fit around your dining room table. Bring out the nicest china you have, some candlesticks, and the makings for Old-Fashioneds. Ask your guests to dress in theme-appropriate clothes and provide some fun props (pearls, fedoras, gloves, and skinny ties). Finish the party with a pineapple upside-down cake and a thank you note to each guest.
5. Afternoon Tea
After you send out formal embossed invitations, prepare for the party by hitting up your thrift store for mismatched china pieces and the fanciest tea kettle you can find. Ask your guests to wear their fanciest hats, white gloves (yes, this will probably be a girls-only party…) and a pretty dress. If the weather works, take your party outside, but use fancy linens no matter where you go. Of course you’ll have a few tea options. Also, make light sandwiches of both the sweet (cream cheese and jam) and savory (egg salad) variety. Tea cakes from a local bakery would be the perfect dessert.
6. Slumber Party
I love this idea! It’s probably another one just for the girls, but all the better. Your guests can wear pjs and slippers and bring their favorite snack from their teenage years. I’d expect a spread of cookie dough, french onion dip, Cheetos, and chocolate cake. Create a super sweet cocktail using fruit punch (as long as you are truly having a sleepover, of course!) and prep your party area with sleeping bags, pillows, and an Ouija board.
7. Star Wars
Invite your inner nerd to the party and ask guests to get totally decked out as their favorite character. You’ll have to find laser swords as favors and decorate your food table with black cloth (bonus if you can find a Darth Vader mask to serve the chips in.) Since the dorky-types are even sweeter after a couple cocktails, check out this website that has a bunch of drink ideas. I could really go for a Death Star right now.
8. College!
I suppose this party would have to take place on a Thursday night (or was that just a University of South Carolina thing?). You could go with the most basic of snacks (served out of your best acrylic bowls and plates, of course) and give everyone one red solo cup to drink from. (Alternative – use dishwasher safe markers to decorate plastic cups for all guests just like we all did back then…) Girls should come in black pants and a fancy top. Guys in a button-down striped shirt and khaki shorts.
9. Candy
I picture lots of bright colors in your decorations for this one. And peppermint sticks on your invitations. Go crazy with a display of your favorite candies for folks to take as they head home, but prepare dishes using some sweet goodies for the party itself. Suggestions: Skittles vodka, Snickers Apple Salad, and Red Hots popcorn.
10. 1920s
Flapper dresses on the ladies, ostrich feathers decorating the table…this theme would be gorgeous. Even though your music will come through your fancy stereo, try to find some tunes that sound scratchy like they are played on records or through an old-radio. Bathtub gin would be de rigueur, but I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t drink out of a place that’s normally filled with dirty feet. Instead, just make some gin-based cocktails. Chinese food hit the urban scene in the 20s, but perhaps dishes reminiscent of a fancy restaurant may be more appropriate in your neck of the woods.
11. Champagne Brunch
Pretty much #5, but earlier in the day and with more booze. 🙂 Change out the tea and sandwiches with French toast and fruit salad and you’ve got a great morning party!
12. Redneck
A friend of mine tells me of a birthday with this theme and I would just love to do it. She had folks bring a gift and ended up with an old tire, a half-empty bottle of Jack Daniels, and a bright pink bra from Wal-Mart (size 36-DD, of course.) This would be a great theme for a surprise/gag birthday party for just that reason. I’m thinking a cheese plate of Velveeta and Ritz crackers and a fridge full of Old Milwaukee would be perfect.
13. Marie Antoinette
Then on the other end of the scale, you could do this opulent party. Ask guests to dress in their most formal attire (and powdered wigs??) and serve drinks out of stemware. Food and beverage should be plentiful, ridiculously so. Perhaps you could even contact a local high school or college quartet to play kicky, theme appropriate classical in the background.
14. All-American Backyard BBQ
Does this really need a description? Red, white and blue. Grilled chicken, potato salad, and a chocolate cake. Miller Lite and citronella candles in the backyard. The end.
15. Camping
This one could be fun. Pretty much the backyard BBQ, but find a firepit to sit around (checking local regulations first!) and make s’mores. Decorate with camping lanterns and plastic tablecloths. This would be a low-key party theme, but I find the best conversations happen around a fire pit. If that’s your thing, this could be the perfect party!
16. Rock Star
Lots of black leather and rivets in your invitations and decorations. And a fake bear rug. Definitely a bear rug. You’d need a full bar for this one and a very eccentric food display. Green m&ms, guavas, and organic turkey burgers sound right? You’re the star…you can make your own crazy list.
17. Make Your Own Pizza
Another low-key theme, but a good one if you need to include little ones in your party plans. Have lots of dough ready and expected toppings for kiddos and the unadventurous. Provide small amounts of unique ingredients for those willing to experiment. A fruit pizza or this concoction would be perfect for diverse.
18. Beach Party
If you have access to a beach, you win! But this can be done even without a floor-full of sand. Serve seafood and wine spritzers and decorate with seashells. Guests can come in beach attire (swimsuits, light dresses, seersucker!!) and flip flops. Play beach music and teach your guests how to shag. No, that is not an euphemism.
19. Pigs
One of my favorite restaurants growing up (and probably a host of a birthday or two) is a rib joint, so it has pigs everywhere! On the menu via ribs, pork roast, and bacon-wrapped everything, and in the decorations. This would be another good reason to visit your thrift store and see what you can find. Gingham and denim fabric for linens and you should be all set. Oh, wait… pig slop (a gigantic ice cream sundae served in a galvanized tin bucket, covered in chocolate, puppy chow, whipped cream, and sparkler fireworks) in place of birthday cake and plastic pig noses for all guests…NOW you’re ready to party.
20. State Fair
My first stop at the State Fair is for a baked potato, so I’d suggest a baked potato bar. And corn on the cob. And cream puffs. And fried Oreos. And… Ok, you get the idea. Decorate your space in harvest-like decorations and have easy games where folks can win prize ribbons. Best in Show, Best Hindquarters, Biggest Pumpkin, etc…
21. Pirates
Eye patches and parrots. Corsets and black leather boots. If you have a basement, use that space for this party. A dark, dungeony, “below the deck” feel will be perfect! You’d need a rum-based cocktail for the party, but I think the food could be anything you wish. The display dishes should be enough. As guests arrive, ask them to figure out their pirate name and everyone talk like a pirate. Arrrpy birthday, matey!
22. 1980s
Like, oh my God, this is a great party theme! Break out the neon (can you believe this is coming back??) and the hairspray. It’s time for big hair and slouchy, leather jackets. Pin your pants and mismatch your socks. Food can be easy- chips, dips, and other quick snacks will be enough to fuel your guests as they rock out to Bon Jovi and White Snake. (Hmm…cherry pie in place of birthday cake?)
23. Harry Potter
When you send invites to your guests, assign them to one of the four houses. Play games that help you pick a winning house. Butterbeer and chocolate frogs will be all the rage. Light your space with as many candles as you can without worrying about burning the house down.
24. Mexican
Margaritas, Coronas, tacos and salsa. Sounds like a great party to me! No need for your guests to get decked out, but you may want to create a photobooth space with Mexican accessories (sombraro, maracas, bright ponchos, etc.) to help people get in the mood. Then again…after a couple margaritas, everyone will be in the mood!
25. Movie Night
Similar to the Slumber party, but dudes are allowed and the Ouija board stays in the closet. Pick your favorite movie(s), make some great popcorn, have a great birthday!
26. Prom
You could do this seriously or poke fun at the concept. Either get dressed up in fashionable fancy dress or your tackiest. Create a balloon (or equally cheesy) arch for pictures and a fruity (spiked) punch when guests get tired of dancing. Speaking of which, make sure you have enough space to dance and a playlist that will insure the shy guests will be willing to step out.
27. Tim Burton
Beetlejuice, the recent Alice in Wonderland, either Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory… these somewhat scary, somewhat dark, somewhat weird moves are perfect inspirations for a ghoulish party that still has a little fun. Costumes and decorations would be over the top, as should be the libations you serve.
28. Books
I struggled with how to put this theme together, but think it could easily be done. Use old books to create your decorations and library cards as your invitations. Paperback books would be perfect party favors! Perhaps you could further theme your party to your favorite book to figure out food and drink.
29. Ice Cream Social
Just like our pizza party, but with ice cream! Amp up the sundaes by including alcoholic syrups or other decedent toppings.
30. Indian
Beautiful, bright fabrics and big bouquets of bold flowers should decorate your party space. Provide henna tattoos for your female guests and great Indian fare for all.
31. 1970s
This is a great idea for those that really like to play dress-up. Get all decked out in your bell-bottoms and go-go boots. Serve cheese fondue and hang out your disco ball. Make sure you have a great dancing playlist ready for this party!
32. Traveling
If you love to travel, this would be a great way to enjoy it at home. Decorate the party with maps and globes. Enjoy food and drink from your favorite spots or ask your guests to do this same. It will make for an ecclectic menu, but there will be great conversation starters! It’s the best of both worlds – you can enjoy your favorite things about traveling, but still sleep in your own bed at the end of the night!
So what are you going to do for your next birthday party? I can’t wait to plan my next soiree!
*Please note: I couldn’t find an owner for my featured picture. It that is your work, please let me know! I’d love to showcase your work. It is darling!
