30+ Adult Birthday Activities You'll Love: Party Ideas, Outings, & More

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Enjoy a memorable birthday with these fun birthday ideas for adults

Co-authored by Seth Hall and Maryana Lucia Vestic, MFA, M.Phil.

Last Updated: March 21, 2025 Fact Checked

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Unique Birthday Activities

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Inexpensive

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At-home

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Outings

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Creative

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Destinations

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Have a Memorable Birthday

Is it almost time for your next birthday party? Planning birthday activities for yourself or someone else can be stressful. Check out 30+ birthday activity ideas for adults below. We’ve organized the birthday activities into clear categories, from at-home activities to destination gatherings made for memories. You’ll also find unique party themes and food ideas for the perfect birthday bash.

Best Birthday Activities for Adults

At-home: murder mystery, dance party, game night, photoshoot, karaoke
Outing: spa day, brewery, cruise, ax throwing, escape room, music festival
Creative: painting party, cooking class, flower arranging, crafts & pottery

Section 1 of 7:

Unique Adult Birthday Activities

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Celebrate your birthday with unique but easy-to-plan activities. These adult birthday activity ideas think outside the box but include something for everyone. Go rugged with a hiking trip (or make it all about glamping), or head out for several fun activities if you live near a city. A fun day or night out is about great ideas and the people close to you who make them come alive.
- Comedy Show: With a little planning, it’s surprisingly easy to book a block of tickets for a comedian the whole group likes. The pressure to plan a great birthday now rests on the comedian’s shoulders, so pick a funny one!^{[1]
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- An “Around the World” Party: All it takes is setting up each room or space as its own particular country. Guests can dress up as their favorite country while you organize activities for each area. Set up a Tahitian beach in the spare room or an Italian soccer game in the yard. Treat guests to a Parisian class on making croissants in the kitchen or learn Irish step dancing in the living room. The world is yours to discover so your guests can enjoy every moment.^{[2]
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- Ice Skating: Even if your birthday doesn’t fall during the winter months, it’s super fun to take friends and family to an ice skating rink. You can rent one out if planning on a big party, or just head to the rink with a few special guests to hit the ice together. It may be an opportunity to deck out the birthday cake with an ice skating theme too.^{[3]
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- Food Truck Crawl: Take the concept of a pub crawl and, instead, visit your favorite food trucks for the ultimate tasting menu. Head to where the food trucks congregate and start with Korean BBQ, move on to burgers and burritos, and finish with Belgian waffles or ice cream cones. The meal is yours to plan—just be sure everyone tries something new in the process.
- Wilderness Hike: Few adult birthday activities are as special as those spent walking through nature, climbing a mountain, or sightseeing forest trails. Help guests prepare ahead of time by including a list of tips for “what to bring,” so they can have a comfortable outdoor experience. Stay over for a camping trip (or a glamping trip if you need to add some sparkle to your outdoor gathering).^{[4]
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- Museum Tour: A trip through the worlds of history, art, and architecture feels like a destination birthday without having to leave town. You can also rent out a private room at a museum or simply take your closest friends on a guided tour. Spend the day in ancient Egypt or Rome, Renaissance Italy, or a Japanese garden–everything is possible.^{[5]
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- Indoor Rock Climbing: Leave the mountains for another day while still getting a workout in for your rock climbing birthday bash. Book a rock-climbing space or take a class with your favorite group as a challenging start to this special day.
- Puppy Party: Dog lovers will appreciate this surprising birthday theme that brings pooches front and center. Decorate with puppy-friendly decor and invite guests to bring their dogs along for a day of doggie play that celebrates the birthday guy or gal, along with their precious pups. Guests can donate to their local shelter in place of gifts for added meaning.^{[6]
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Section 2 of 7:

Inexpensive Adult Birthday Activities

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Inexpensive adult birthday activity ideas are just as fun as pricey ones. It all depends on how creative you get with planning. Take your guests to enjoy a cheap group activity or start with a theme that allows fun to unfold at home.
- Picnic in the Park: You don’t have to rent out a space, look for expensive decorations, or arrange entertainment. Show up, set up a picnic in the grass, and invite some friends along. Keep things simple by ordering a pizza or having everyone bring one food item. Then, focus the day on fun activities, like touch football, telling stories, or relay games.
- Open Mic Night: Set up a fun space and grab a karaoke machine. Guests can sign up for their slot and perform their hearts out. They can do a comedy set, sing a song, tap dance, or act out a speech from their favorite play or movie. Find out how talented your closest friends are.^{[7]
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- Pub Quiz: Don’t just meet friends at a local bar—choose one that features a pub quiz night worth attending. As long as guests can eat well, have a few drinks, and engage in games and quizzes, you’ve just saved yourself from overspending on a birthday gathering.
- Sports Viewing Party: Make the big game or final tournament part of your birthday by watching sports with your buddies. Set up the man cave (even if your guests include ladies) and provide lots of delicious treats for your home team. Make some sparks fly by asking everyone to wear the jersey of their favorite team to keep things interesting.
- Potluck Competition: A potluck is a great way to keep a birthday budget under control, but why stop there? Arrange everyone’s dishes and set up a food competition worthy of the Food Network. Comment cards and a rigorous judging process will help everyone figure out which dish is number one.^{[8]
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- Bowling Alley: Large parties sometimes rent out lanes at the bowling alley, but if your group is small, you can simply head there and book your lanes in person. Many bowling alleys also have lots of fun activities in addition to bowling, from roller skating and ping pong to darts and arcade games.^{[9]
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- "Year You Were Born” Party: If you were born in the 1980s, make it all about vintage video games, neon costumes, and dancing to big beats. If you’re a late 90s/early 2000s kid, set up an area to skate and rollerblade all you like. It turns out you can travel through time without even leaving home.^{[10]
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- Adult Pajama Party: Arrange a girl’s night in and turn it into anything you like: a streaming series watch party, a DIY spa, or a party game extravaganza. Slumber parties are just as fun for adults, especially when everyone can dig into a pancake bar in the morning.^{[11]
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Section 3 of 7:

Adult Birthday Activities at Home

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These adult birthday activities work for any indoor or outdoor space. They’re simple to set up for those who want to get creative but not roam far. They include activities like playing games, watching your favorite movie, and hosting a murder mystery event
- Karaoke: Decide on a night out at a karaoke bar or a home-based karaoke birthday party for the music lovers in your life. If throwing the party at home, grab a dependable karaoke machine and a fun spot for guests to sing their hearts out.^{[12]
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- Game Night: Grab all your favorite classic board games and play the night away with those you care about. Board games like Monopoly, Sorry!, and Jenga can take guests back to their childhood. Toss in others like Scattergories, Trivial Pursuit, or Pictionary, so there are plenty of game choices.^{[13]
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- Murder mystery: Figure out whodunit at your next birthday party using a murder mystery theme. Guests can dress up as their favorite detectives and work through a set of clues left for them to investigate.^{[14]
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- Movie Marathon: Hosting an at-home movie night that runs late is ideal for those who prefer intimate birthday parties. Have guests decide on movies to watch (or sequel after sequel for a movie franchise marathon) and set up your mini theater space. They’ll love a movie theater-inspired concession stand filled with buttered popcorn, candy, and extra-special treats for intermission.^{[15]
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- Photoshoot: Turn your home base into a photography studio by hosting a birthday party photoshoot. Take photos of each other using costumes, themes, and props to help create a birthday photo album they won’t forget.
- Yard Games: A birthday blessed with good weather means it’s time to play outside like you did when you were a kid! Set up a series of yard games for adults, including horseshoes, Bocce ball, croquet, or cornhole. Make it a group competition so guests really get into the games.^{[16]
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- Disco Dance Party: Put your dancing shoes on for an all-out disco birthday extravaganza. Set up a big silver disco ball or make yourself a silver balloon wall for a memorable photo opportunity. Don’t forget a bottomless playlist so the dancing never ends.^{[17]
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- Gardening Party: Going green makes any birthday special when you plant a garden with those you care about. Decide on beautifying a shared community space or conducting a gardening how-to class where guests take a newly potted plant home with them.^{[18]
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Section 4 of 7:

Adult Outing Birthday Activities

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Focus on having a great time with a birthday group outing. Turn over the responsibility of hosting a party at a local venue so guests all have a great time. Take a risk, play a game, or spend the day with entertaining group activities perfect for a birthday celebration. Plan ahead of time so you can book your outing before the big day.
- Ax Throwing: Head to an ax-throwing venue so your guests have proper safety and supervision measures nearby. Ax-throwing parties are one of the latest trends among fun grown-up birthday ideas. Guests can test their skills while engaging in some healthy competition between snacks.^{[19]
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- Scavenger Hunt: Put your thinking caps on and feel like a kid again by taking part in a birthday scavenger hunt. Make it interesting by personalizing the journey and objects with a particular theme or location. Whoever finds the most objects wins the day!^{[20]
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- Skydiving: Find your inner risk-taker and take your closest friends along for a skydiving birthday adventure among the clouds. Most local skydiving centers are used to hosting groups for parties and can take care of the details you don’t want to. Just show up, gather your courage, and fly!^{[21]
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- Bonfire: Celebrate a birthday beneath the stars with a big bonfire as your centerpiece. Activities include scary storytelling, songs, and making enough s’mores for everyone to enjoy.
- Escape Room: How amazing would it be to figure out how to get out of an escape room with your best friends and family? Escape rooms involve getting locked into a series of rooms with your group while your cell phones get locked up. After you’ve worked up an appetite by managing to break free, celebrate together with a big birthday cake to finish.^{[22]
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- Laser Tag: Strap on your vest and grab your laser gun—visiting a laser tag course isn’t just for work outings anymore. For smaller parties, you can get a party pack of laser tag kits and turn just about any public space into an obstacle course.^{[23]
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Section 5 of 7:

Creative Adult Birthday Activities

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Adult group classes make birthday parties better through learning. Try some of these classes and workshops so guests leave with a new set of skills and often a party memento they created themselves.
- Painting party: Nurture your inner artist with a painting birthday party full of fun. Everyone can relax and focus on making their own party mementos with whatever their favorite painting methods are, like watercolor or oil.^{[24]
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- Flower arranging: Learn about the art of flower arranging while making a personalized bouquet with friends. You can hire a gardening expert to oversee the event or just have fun putting together cool floral arrangements with those you love spending time with.^{[25]
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- Jewelry making: Fulfill your dream of selling jewelry on Etsy by getting crafty with necklaces, bracelets, and earrings as a birthday party activity.
- Mixology Class: Creativity comes in many forms, including the art of making craft cocktails. Take your team of mixology students to an in-person workshop or join each other for a virtual version. You can also set up mixology stations at home for a DIY cocktail party of your own creation.^{[26]
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- Cooking class: Get birthday party guests involved in learning new cooking techniques to add to their skill set. Taking a cooking class is a fun group activity everyone enjoys together. There are many options to choose from, from pasta making and learning a new cuisine to workshops dedicated to specialties like dumplings or croissants.
- Crafts/pottery: Turn your home or backyard into a crafting class for an adult birthday activity that’s fun for all involved. Pair pottery making or beading with craft cocktails for a creative birthday everyone will remember.^{[27]
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- Woodworking class: DIY fans will especially appreciate this hands-on birthday class for woodworkers in the making. Choose a beginners’ class level so all the guests can follow along when they make their own party favors they can take home afterward.^{[28]
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- Dance class: A birthday is a great excuse to learn how to dance. With your closest friends in tow, you can celebrate in a dance class where you become competent in dance steps for everything from ballet and tap to mambo or hip hop.

Section 6 of 7:

Destination Adult Birthday Ideas

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Go on a trip for a destination birthday you won’t forget. If you’ve got the time to spare, there’s no reason you shouldn’t plan a destination birthday full of memories everyone will cherish. There’s something here for everyone, from spa lovers to foodies and music fans alike.
- Spa Visit: Throw a birthday party centered around relaxation and focus only a spa can offer. Book a massage, get a manicure/pedicure, or spend the day in a steam room letting the year’s worries fade away.^{[29]
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- Beach Weekend: You could head to a local beach or travel to a destination known for its beaches instead. A weekend at a beach resort can mean swimming, snorkeling, sailing, kayaking, scuba-diving, or jet skiing, depending on what sunny destination you end up in.^{[30]
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- Wellness Retreat: Achieve peace of mind by traveling to a wellness retreat for a weekend of pure bliss. Take long walks in nature, enjoy classes in yoga and meditation, and explore clean eating programs for a brand new you just in time for a new birthday year.
- Brewery: Take an adult birthday boy or girl to their favorite brewery to explore the many flavors of beer. They’ll have a blast checking out the beer-making process and tasting everything from IPAs to lagers and stout.^{[31]
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- Wine Tasting: Whether you spend a birthday party wine tasting in Napa Valley or in a winery near your hometown, you’ll remember it fondly. A winery tour allows guests to learn about the different varieties and flavor profiles of their favorite types of wine. They’ll get to sip as they learn, which makes this one of the more fun birthday group activities.^{[32]
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- Sporting Even: Take your closest buddies and make the trip to see your favorite sports team play. Spend a birthday cheering on football, baseball, soccer, or any sport you love most. Arrange the trip (and tickets) ahead of time so the only thing on your mind will be victory over the other team.^{[33]
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- Road Trip: Hit the highway with your best friends for a road trip birthday activity like no other. You can all plan on a route that covers your favorite sites and attractions. Take turns at the wheel, which means everyone can enjoy their new surroundings equally. You can make your birthday road trip as short or long as you and your guests like.
- Music Festival: Make memories through music by heading to a destination music festival with your loved ones. Pick an artist, band, or genre that everyone likes and pay attention to the details so the trip runs as smoothly as possible. Watching live music is so much better than listening to a playlist at your house.^{[34]
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- Cruise: Pack up your closest friends and say “Happy Birthday” on an ocean cruise. This may mean a week’s vacation in a faraway destination or just a day cruise around your nearest city. It’s also possible to rent out a boat for a private cruise birthday party like no other.^{[35]
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- Casino: Win big and buy yourself birthday presents by heading to a casino with your luckiest pals. It’s time to hit the slot machines, spin the roulette wheel, and play poker. What you’ll have are adult birthday activity memories for life.^{[36]
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EXPERT TIP

Kirin Dejonckheere
Certified Life Coach
Kirin Dejonckheere is a Certified Life Coach based in New York City, NY. Kirin provides both online and in-person 1:1 coaching sessions. She tailors each program to her client’s needs, personality, and desired outcomes. In addition to receiving her Life Coach Practitioner certification in 2020, Kirin is personally mentored by Rob Dial is also a NASM Certified Personal Trainer and Nutrition Coach.

Kirin Dejonckheere
Certified Life Coach

Birthday activities are a terrific chance to express who you are. When you get older, it's more about creating an experience than an actual party. Go for a weekend getaway or try something new, like a cooking class, or something extreme, like skydiving. It could be a good way to celebrate and bond.

Section 7 of 7:

How to Have a Memorable Birthday as an Adult

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Choose a fun theme. Party guests appreciate themes that focus on nostalgia, a cool costume, or foods they can’t wait to try. Mention the party theme in your invitation so everyone has plenty of time to prepare.^{[37]
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Christa Innis
Event Planner, Social Media Consultant & Content Creator

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- 90s theme
- Fiesta
- Hawaiian Luau
- Masquerade Ball
- Garden Party
- Carnival
- Glow-in-the-Dark
- Viking Ship
- Winter wonderland
- Safari
- Medieval feast
- Zombie Apocalypse^{[38]
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Are you looking for a big bash of 50 or more people, a medium-sized group of 10-20, or an intimate gathering of a few close friends? What party theme, location, and food you serve all depend on the number of guests you plan on having.^{[39]
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Christa Innis
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If you’ve been saving up and have money to spend, allocate where your funds are going (i.e., venue, food, tickets, etc.). If you have to stick to a specific budget, planning becomes even more important so you don’t overreach.^{[41]
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Christa Innis
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Choose food. What's on the menu is one of the most important parts of a good birthday party. Try some of these food pairings, themes, and DIY bars for the most delicious birthday party around.
- Wine and cheese
- Breakfast bar
- Donut board
- High tea finger sandwiches and cakes
- Backyard BBQ
- Beer pairings
- Dessert swap
- DIY Pizza bar
- Ice cream bar
- Potluck
- Rosé party food^{[43]
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It's about your location, the food/drink, and the guests, but that doesn’t mean little things won’t crop up. Don’t leave aspects like parking, party favors, dress code, bar tab when necessary, or the birthday cake to someone else. Plan ahead, so all you’ll have to do is have a wonderful time!^{[44]
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Join the Discussion...

Adult birthday party ideas that aren't boring?

Filip Kabashi
Candlemaking Expert

What do you say about these b-day party ideas?

➤ Rent a house
Book an Airbnb or cool rental for one night with a pool or firepit.
Bring the people, the music, and the drinks and youve got a private party that feels like a gateaway.

➤ Private chef
Hire a chef to come cook a custom meal in your home or venue. You can theme the dinner and even do wine pairings. Feels luxe and intimate.

➤ All out candle making experience|
Set up a station with equipment and scent options. Everyone goes home with a candle. Add drinks and charcuterie and you've got an immersive experience.

➤ Movie with sound off (personal favourite)
Play a cheesy or a bad horror movie with sound off. Guests take turns doing live voicover of characters. It becomes way funnier than the real plot.