Are you looking for the very best 50th birthday party ideas to usher someone into their golden years in style?You’ve certainly come to the right place. We’ve gathered a list of themes, activities, and other tips you can use for an unforgettable indoor or outdoor event. With these suggestions, you’ll be able to host a spectacular celebration!
Out and About 50th Birthday Party Ideas
If you want to take your guests out on the town, these are our picks for the best 50th birthday party ideas to celebrate the half-century mark with your nearest and dearest. These celebratory adventures and activities will make the event even more memorable!
1. Let’s Roam Birthday Scavenger Hunt
Your 50th birthday party celebration should be as iconic as you are! One unforgettable way to get your friends together to celebrate this milestone is with a Birthday Scavenger Hunt from Let’s Roam. These app-led activities allow you to assemble teams and explore the city of your choice as you search for stops and answer personalized trivia about the birthday star. Even better, the photo challenges will send you home with a batch of pics and laughs to last a lifetime!
Planning is easy! Just choose the adventure that suits you and your group best, and we’ll set you up with an unforgettable adventure. Stick to a sightseeing scavenger hunt, make it a bar crawl, take friends on an epic art walk, or go ghost hunting. We’ve got options!
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2. Progressive Dinner
If you’re planning a birthday party for a foodie or planning your own culinary-based birthday party, why not throw a progressive dinner party? The idea is that you split up your meal between several locations. You can ask friends and family to host if they live in the same neighborhood. Otherwise, choose three to six restaurants and bars in a certain part of town and plan to visit each for a different course. Start with a drink, get appetizers, move on to salads, then a main course, and end with dessert or a post-dinner drink.
The ability to try multiple places is appealing, and you can extend the meal by including activity between courses. If you’re planning to bring a large group, be sure to make reservations with restaurants in advance.
3. Wine Tasting
Wine aficionados will definitely want to incorporate wine into birthday celebrations. The good news is that you can find vineyards, wineries, and wine bars are located all over the world. You don’t have to be in Napa Valley to plan a wine-tasting birthday party. Find a local spot and make a reservation for your group. Make custom wine glasses to commemorate the event and send everyone home with their party favor. Bring snacks and cake to the winery if they allow outside food, or order some cheese boards and then kick back and enjoy some tastings with your group.
4. Brunch Celebration
Once you’ve reached the age of 50, it might not sound appealing to go out for late nights anymore. If that sounds familiar, plan a brunch celebration instead. Get your best buds together for a midday party. Pick a restaurant in your area serving a tasty brunch menu and make a reservation. Some places have great brunch drinks and interesting coffee options. Mimosas, anyone? Make a whole day of it, or save the rest of your afternoon for putting your feet up and relaxing.
5. Art Class
Get the creative juices flowing by signing your group up for an art class. Choose from pottery, painting, drawing, or unique choices like glass blowing or mosaics. Many art studios have great packages for birthday celebrations, and you can have the whole classroom for your friends. Learn new skills and see which of your friends may have a secret talent. Bring the pieces home to display and enjoy the memories of the birthday every time you see them.
6. Bar Crawl
Want to hit the town for a birthday celebration? Let’s Roam offers bar hunts that will allow you to experience favorite watering holes or spots you’ve never been before. You’ll be tasked with specific challenges that will earn you points as you compete with your crew. It’s an exciting way to keep the group engaged!
7. Skydiving
Do you have skydiving on your bucket list? It’s a popular activity amongst adrenaline junkies and would be wild to include as part of your milestone birthday! Pick a few of your daredevil friends and set a date. The plane only has room for a few people, so fill it up with your biggest cheerleaders who will encourage you to make the jump.
Once you’ve safely landed, head to your favorite watering hole for a toast, and have the staff bring out a cake decorated to fit the theme. What a special day!
8. Game Night Out
Work in some friendly competition with your friends and family with a game night out. Choose an arcade with many vintage games, like pinball and video games. Or you can opt for bowling, axe throwing, or another competitive game with its own location. Keep score and hand out prizes to the winner or just keep things casual. Whatever you choose, it’s a great way to bring people together.
Worried about the weather? You could always plan a virtual game night and host it anywhere you choose! This has the added benefit of being inclusive to friends and family all over the world.
9. Roller Skating Rink
Go retro and strap on your skates with a roller rink party. It was such a popular choice for kids, but why should kids have all the fun? Most cities in the US still have at least one roller rink that can be rented out for parties. Tell your guests to wear some neon or throwback gear from your favorite decade and make sure the playlist at the rink matches your theme.
10. Golf Outing
If the weather is nice, a golf outing would be ideal for your favorite guy or gal who likes to hit the course! You can set a tee time for a larger group and partner up to hit the links. Getting outside and enjoying the beautiful scenery while chatting with friends is always nice, and you can plan for lunch or drinks and cake after your round! Coordinate your outfits to take it to the next level!
11. Destination Birthday Celebration
If you want to go big for a 50th birthday party idea, head out of town for a destination celebration with your closest friends. There are so many incredible destinations you can visit over a long weekend!
Head to Palm Springs, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Miami, or New Orleans if you want to heat things up or just catch some rays. Big cities are enticing options for small group, so you might prefer to catch a show and plan a dining experience or uncover surprises at one of the museums in New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, or Washington, D.C. You might even choose a cabin in the mountains of Colorado, where you can also dip into the nearest town for a sightseeing tour and enjoy quality time together.
50th Birthday Party Ideas You Can Use Anywhere
A themed 50th birthday party celebration might be just what you’re looking for. Consider these ideas for the big day, and get creative! Whether you buy high-quality props from a party store or gather a group and make your own decorations, any one of these motifs will be memorable!
12. Doo-Wop and Poodle Skirts 1950s Theme
Turn your 50th birthday celebration into a blast from the past, and use the 1950s as your theme. Choose songs you would find on an old-school jukebox and grab a karaoke microphone. Music is the best way to get a party going. Invite your guests to wear their best 1950s outfits, like poodle skirts, leather jackets, and other attire. For food, you can serve up snacks from the era when diners became popular. Options include hamburgers, grilled cheese sandwiches, french fries, and milkshakes. Challenge your guests to some 50s trivia or even an old-school sockhop.
13. Dinner Party
Turning 50 means entering your golden era, so usher it in with a fancy soiree. Host a fully seated dinner party, or opt for something simpler like a co*cktail party featuring finger foods your guests can grab as they mingle. Choose 50th birthday party decorations that glitter with gold, and ask guests to come dressed to impress—you could even make it a black tie event or a purely golden gathering.
14. This Is Your Life
Turn the party space fully dedicated to the guest of honor. Invite family members and best friends of the birthday guy or gal (even if it’s you) to share their favorite photos memorable moments. Have people contribute to one long story, or take time to invite everyone to share their own tales of times with the birthday guy or gal. It’s a beautiful way to mark 50 years of life and make the celebration incredibly personal.
Add to the event by serving food and drinks your honoree loves and creating a playlist with sentimental songs, favorite artists, and music that reminds you of moments you’ve shared.
15. Disco Dance Party
Most people have heard of Studio 54, so take that and turn your birthday party into a disco extravaganza. Call it Studio 50 and bring in disco balls. Turn the music up loud and dance the night away! Kick the half-century celebration up a notch by asking guests to come in their best 1970s outfits. Seeing partygoers show up with the fabulous hair, vibrant colors, and jewelry of the era will set the whole vibe!
16. Backyard BBQ
Backyard parties can be as simple or extravagant as you’d like, and there are so many ways to customize them for the honoree and guests. Cook burgers and hotdogs on the grill, or add some veggie skewers. Invite guests to bring their favorite BBQ side dishes and turn them into a potluck. Beers, lemonade, and sodas can stay cold in simple coolers. You can roast marshmallows and enjoy s’mores around the fire for an interactive dessert. This is a great laidback party option that doesn’t require a ton of preparation but will leave a lasting impression on all who attend.
17. Dinner Party With a Twist
Everyone should try a murder mystery event at least once! Invite your nearest and dearest for a dinner party, but make it a night of anticipation and intrigue. There are board games that include everything you need to throw a murder mystery party, including character cards, invitations, and even menu suggestions to go with the theme. Have your guests come in character, in full costume or with a few simple props to get everyone into the spirit!
Psst… Did you know that Let’s Roam offers virtual murder mystery team-building activities?
Tips for a Perfect 50th Birthday Party
Now that we’ve covered our selected themes and ideas for a 50th birthday bash, let’s go through a few tips for party planning. These suggestions work for parties indoors or out in public, and they’ll provide you with a list of considerations to think through during preparation.
Make it a surprise party!
Decide whether or not you want to throw a surprise party. This is obviously not possible if you’re planning your own 50th birthday party, but if you’re throwing it for one of your loved ones, choose whether or not you want to surprise them. Not everyone loves to be surprised; think carefully about whether your loved one would appreciate a big surprise or not.
If you choose to throw a surprise party, communicate clearly with the invited guests. You should ensure they know not to say anything to the guest of honor before the party and understand exactly where and when they should arrive.
Pick out the perfect 50th birthday gift.
Consider birthday gift ideas well before the big day. If you’re throwing the party, that can be a gift itself, but if you want to pick out something else, don’t wait until the last minute. Traditional gifts for the 50th birthday are gold, so you can use that as inspiration. Another great idea for a birthday present is an experience, like a gift card for a restaurant or tickets to a show. Many adults have a house full of things and don’t necessarily need gifts. Experiences or consumables can be great gifts!
Let’s Roam offers gift cards and Explorer Passes that are perfect for your favorite 50-something explorer. Definitely a gift that keeps on giving, these passes allow the recipient to plan scavenger hunts, virtual game nights, and other activities on their own time. Pair them with an adventure book, and your present will give the birthday celebrant activities to share with friends or family for a whole year!
Don’t forget the details.
It’s important to consider all of the little things that often get left for last-minute. Your party doesn’t have to be flawless, but you should try to predict everything you might need to make the event go smoothly. Shopping for a theme can be really fun, but DIY decorations are a budget-friendly option, and there are ways to customize them for your honoree and guests.
50th birthday party supplies could include everything from cake toppers to confetti. Centerpieces, napkins, plates, and silverware can take your dinner party to the next level. You won’t need as much if you just serve appetizers and finger foods, but be sure to have extras on hand, especially silverware and cups, because it really seems you can never have enough. Try to anticipate the needs of your partygoers so you aren’t caught off guard.
Send guests home with party favors.
Birthday party favors aren’t just for elementary school children—there are plenty of favors adults will love! Consider favors as unique ways to remember the party. Set up a photo booth with a background and props and put out a Polaroid camera. Get your guests cups or drink koozies commemorating the event. Offer a candy or dessert buffet and provide mini takeout containers to suit the theme. Favors shouldn’t be the most important part of the gathering, but they can surely add a bit of flair to your fantastic party!
Boost the fun factor with party games!
Allow guests to let their hair down with some birthday party activities for adults, including some of our favorite party games. Games can help bring people out of their shells and encourage them to chat. Pick games that fit your theme, but keep them optional for guests so everyone remains comfortable.
Many groups gather all the time, so people already know each other, but if you’re bringing together people that haven’t met, consider including starting with some icebreakers. Simple conversation starters and games will keep conversation flowing.
Make sure there are drinks, food, and birthday cake.
No matter how the guest of honor feels about it, friends and family generally like to sing Happy Birthday and watch as the birthday cake has its candles blown out. Whether you decide to have a birthday cake or not, you should definitely plan to serve something to the guests to eat, drink, and celebrate. Dessert options should match the preferences of the special guest. Try cupcakes, cake pops, ice cream, or another sweet treat.As long as the birthday star likes it, it’s not out of place!
The time of day you throw the party can help you determine what you need for food options. Having a party during dinner means you should anticipate hungry guests and ensure you have plenty of snacks and appetizers, even if you aren’t feeding guests a sit-down dinner. Try and serve at least one meat-free and one gluten-free option, or check on the specific dietary restrictions of your guests ahead of time.
Drinks should also be catered around the favorites of the birthday guest, but there should be a variety. Always provide water and a non-alcoholic option. If you have alcohol, serve some snacks. We don’t want anyone to be overserved!
Enjoy your birthday bash!
When you choose any one of these 50th birthday party ideas, your event is bound to be a big hit! Just remember that any 50-year-old would feel lucky to be at the center of family and friends, no matter which theme you choose. The most important thing is that you are able to gather the people together who want to extend the happiest of birthday wishes and make the day as special as your guest of honor.
Looking for more party planning info? We’ve got additional birthday party planning tips, as well as tons of specific ideas for birthday boys and girls of all ages in the birthday parties section of our Explorer blog. Have a peek before you set the theme for your next big day!
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I do for my 50th birthday instead of a party?
There are many fabulous 50th birthday celebration ideas that don’t involve parties. Try a scavenger hunt, a day on the golf course, or a wine tasting to mark the occasion!
What are some unique 50th birthday party ideas?
Host a destination-focused celebration, a disco dance party, or a backyard bbq. From scavenger hunts to virtual game nights, Let’s Roam has fabulous 50th birthday party ideas you can use to plan an epic event.
What can I do to celebrate my 50th birthday indoors?
You can celebrate your 50th birthday anywhere! For an unforgettable occasion, consider a “This Is Your Life” party, where guests share memorable moments about the guest of honor.
What color is associated with a 50th birthday?
50th birthday party themes and decorations come in all shapes and sizes, but gold is the classic color to mark the big 5-0.
Why is 50 such a special birthday?
Everyone feels differently about milestone birthdays, but 50 marks half a century, so it’s a reason for a huge celebration. These 50th birthday party ideas will help you throw the perfect party!
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