Getting adult birthday party ideas can be tricky. People look at birthdays in a variety of ways. Some view it as a great celebration, having made it through another year of life. Others dread the milestones. The best way to make both types happy is to gather their favorite people together to celebrate with food, fun, and friendship.
Kids parties are easy because they usually have something in mind, and kids look forward to birthdays all year long. The themes are endless, and the venues plentiful. To have a successful adult party, think like a kid! Put the time into gathering birthday party ideas and planning a party that will make the guest of honor happy.
You may want to check with them to get an idea of what they think is the perfect party. Do they want something small and intimate or a larger bash at a venue? Once you’ve decided how big the party will be, choose a theme to get started. The theme will guide you through everything from decorations to activities and even the dress code.
How to Plan an Adult Birthday Party
As you’re planning, one of the first things you need to do is to create a guest list and get your invitations out early enough (4 – 6 weeks in advance) so the guest of honor’ s favorite people can save the date.
After your invites are out, get the theme fully set up with decor, food and drink choices, and games to keep everyone entertained. Think like a kid and plan a fun filled event! Find the perfect theme and gather everyone to celebrate the guest of honor living another year filled with stories, friendships, and life. Below are adult birthday party ideas for every personality. Find the one that fits yours if it’s your birthday or the guest of honor if it’s theirs. Then have fun!
Unique Birthday Party Ideas for Adults
If the birthday guy or girl likes all things different and unique, you can highlight their personality by choosing a unique birthday party idea. Matching the party with the person is one of the best ways to ensure a great time is had by all.
Murder Mystery Party
Plan a murder mystery night. The easiest way to do this is to order a pre-planned murder mystery kit (there are many available online). Each guest is assigned a character to dress up as ahead of time; and instructions are provided. Everything is planned in advance, and all mysteries have a theme. Some take place in the old west, some are in the 1920’s and others are in a mysterious setting like a train. Kits come with ideas for decor to transform your party place into the theme location.
Begins with the Letter Party Theme
Use the first letter of the guest of honor’s name as your theme. Have the guests wear costumes that begin with that letter. Serve main dishes and desserts that begin with their letter and have a signature cocktail that starts with the letter of their first name.
Cooking Class Adult Birthday Party
If the birthday guest of honor loves to cook, this is the one of the perfect adult birthday party ideas that lets them share their passion. A cooking class party is not only fun, but they get to learn a skill they’ll use in the kitchen long after the party is over. Choose anything from homemade pasta making to cookie or cake decorating classes and invite the guests to participate. Drinks and gifts can be done after the class is over. Check with the teacher to see if you can hold that part of the party in the same place you took the class.
Scavenger Hunt Birthday Party
Create a scavenger hunt party for the birthday guy or girl. Create clues that lead to each other, with the final destination being the actual birthday party. Scavenger hunts are a lot of fun, they don’t cost much, and they provide the party entertainment while letting guests get to know each other as they search for clues.
Destination Birthday Party at Home
Choose the guest of honor’s destination of choice and decorate the party space accordingly. If they have always dreamed of going to France, decorate with famous French landmarks on the walls, serve French foods, drink French wines and have everyone dress up like they’re going to spend a day in Paris.
Breakfast Birthday Party
Forget the stuffy dinner party, have a breakfast party instead! You don’t need to have it in the morning. Invite the guests to dress in pajamas and serve breakfast for dinner. Include all the breakfast favorites along with mimosas or Bloody Marys.
Adult Bowling Birthday Party
Bowling isn’t just for kids when it comes to birthday parties. Divide the guests into teams, bring food and drinks with you and enjoy a night of competitive fun. Jazz it up even more by going moonlight bowling.
Adult Rollerskating Birthday Party
When was the last time you and your friends went rollerskating? Go back in time with this adult birthday party idea and host a ’70s themed disco party at the local roller rink. Have everyone dress in their 70s best while boogieing to the beats of the decade.
See the Future Party
Treat the guests to a visit with a psychic or tarot reader and get together at a restaurant afterwards to share everyone’s experiences while enjoying good food and drinks.
Constellation Birthday Party
You’ll need the weather to cooperate with this one. Plan a night of star gazing and have a guest speaker attend to teach everyone about the constellations and planets that are visible that night. Many colleges have students that would love to earn extra money by giving a mini-class on astronomy. Have wine, picnic fare and blankets spread out for all the guests.
Adult Karaoke Party
Go for the classic karaoke night. You can go out and perform in a bar or get a karaoke machine to use at home. Serve drinks to help loosen up the guests so they’ll be up at the microphone in no time.
Ideas For Adult Guys Birthday Parties
Sports Party
How many little boys had a sports party growing up? Lots. Bring back those memories with this adult themed birthday party idea. The food can be themed for the sport, like tailgate foods for a football party. Include sports themed desserts (like football cupcakes). Decorate the the house with sports memorabilia from the honoree’s favorite team and include an actual game outside (tag football or a baseball game).
Zombie Laser Tag
This brings back memories of the teenage years, when the favorite place to spend a weekend day was at the laser tag place. Have this at home as an outdoor activity for an adult birthday party. Have everyone dress as zombies and provide them with laser guns and targets. Food ideas can be zombie themed, like jello mold brains and other typical Halloween foods.
Adult Birthday Party Ideas for Women
Cocktails Birthday Party Ideas
Host a cocktail party with a professional bartender to create your friend’s favorite drinks, and some they may have never tried. You can decorate the space like a 1920’s speakeasy or do a Cheers theme, complete with someone dressing up as Cliff or Norman.
You can also choose an elegant theme, complete with fancy dress and shoes with old time jazz in the playlist. Include champagne cocktails as part of the drink choices.
Spa Photo Booth Party
Include a night of pampering with facials, manicures and pedicures then once everyone is refreshed and looking their best, have a photo shoot in a photo booth. Have plenty of dress up items like tiaras, feather boas, and signs with birthday-related sayings.
Fancy Dress Makeovers
Go glam in your own home. Have all the guests wear their fanciest party dresses, and then call a makeup artist to come do their makeup. Your guests can go bold and get a look that they’ve always wanted to try out or fashion their look after a favorite celebrity. You don’t need to go out to look fabulous. Staying in with your besties and treating yourselves like princesses is just as fun!
Small Birthday Party Ideas for Adults
Some birthday guests of honor don’t want a big party, instead they love small celebrations with their loved ones. Here are a few adult birthday party ideas that are perfect for a birthday party with close friends and family.
Adult Adventure Party
If the birthday girl and her friends are adventurous souls, an outdoor adventure is the way to go. This is best done as a small group. That the group rock climbing, kayaking, tubing through a not-so-lazy river or any other adrenaline pumping adventure.
Game Night Birthday Party
Have a throwback board game party. Have guests bring their favorite board games from the younger years and send everyone down memory lane while having a night filled with friends and laughter. You can ask guests to come in pjs as a nod to the sleepovers of their youth. Send everyone home with a goody bag filled with all their favorite candy from when they were kids.
Escape Room Party
Escape room parties are perfect as a small group adult birthday party, because they are specifically designed for small groups. The venues offer a challenge in a themed environment that requires thinking and teamwork. Finish the night in your favorite small restaurant to celebrate with dessert and drinks.
Ideas for an Adult Birthday Party At Home
Home is where the heart is, especially when celebrating a milestone like a birthday. Make your space memorable with these at-home adult birthday party ideas.
Drive-In Movie Party
For the movie buffs, get a projector and screen a favorite movie outside. Set up chairs, movie snacks and drinks and enjoy the show.
DIY Crafty Night
Host a DIY birthday party. Choose a favorite Pinterest idea, gather the supplies, and create something beautiful. Each guests gets to take their creation home at the end of the party.
Cookie Swap
Cookie swaps aren’t just for Christmas. Instead of the traditional birthday cake, celebrate with cookies instead. Ask each guest to bring 2 dozen cookies, one for tasting and one for swapping. Every guest gets to go home with a dozen different kinds of cookies.
Poker Party
Host a poker night as a birthday party at home. You can hire a card dealer and a bartender to make your player’s favorite drinks. For extra fun, have everyone dress as an Old West saloon character.
We hope we’ve given you a lot of birthday party ideas to consider. Remember to allow yourself plenty of time for fun because birthdays are meant to be celebrated!
get more ideas for your birthday bash with our 30th birthday party ideas and 50th birthday party ideas!