When you’re trying to plan things to do on your birthday, keep in mind that it’s your day! Your birthday celebration can be anything you want it to be, and you can have the best birthday, full of fun things, as long as you stick to your interests and remember that your birthday party is about you.
From very low-key activities to extravagant soirees to adventure activities far outside of your usual comfort zone, this article will give you lots of ideas and things to do on your birthday that are sure to give you and your friends and family a great time.
Set Your Budget
We know we’re talking about fun things to do on your birthday, but you’ve still got to keep a realistic mindset when making plans. Knowing what you can afford and setting a budget is important because unless you want to go into debt in the quest to ensure a happy birthday, it’s best to stay within your means.
But don’t worry. Whether the budget is almost nonexistent or money is no object, there are many things you can still do. Fun things don’t have to cost a lot. We will now break down activities based upon their cost.
Keep in mind that your location may change the cost of some of the activities mentioned below, so be sure to check online or by phone before setting your plans in stone.
Free and Cheap Things to Do on Your Birthday
You can do so many things to celebrate your birthday for free or with very little money. This article will cover just a few of them, but the ideas listed below can be expanded on to suit your wants and needs.
Host a Game Night or Slumber Party
You can have a lot of fun inviting close friends over to your home for board games, card games, and other fun games. You can even have fun with an old throwback and relive your youth by hosting a slumber party, complete with your favorite ice cream flavors, cake, sleepover games like truth or dare, scavenger hunt in the dark, or telling scary stories by flashlight.
You can stay up late and watch nostalgic movies, all those classics you remember from your childhood and teen years! Or have a dance party in your pajamas to the old hits from your youth. A dance party is sure to make a lot of memories.
Celebrate your birthday the way you want, and if nostalgia is your thing, you may be surprised at how much fun you can have doing the things you did as a kid. Add your favorite snacks, wine, or cocktails to the mix if you want to “adult” the party up a bit.
Go on a Camping Trip
There are a lot of free and inexpensive camping sites you can rent to celebrate your special day. Grab your tent and invite some friends and family and spend a night or a weekend in nature, building campfires, cooking outdoors, and reconnecting with friends. You can roast marshmallows, stargaze and live your best life surrounded by nature and friends.
You can even make it a solo trip if you find that getting back to yourself while in nature is something you would like. There are no real rules when you plan something like this, as long as you’re safe and let someone know where you plan to camp.
The great outdoors has a way of leveling a person out and getting you back to yourself. Take advantage and enjoy your own company if you think that sounds nice.
Host a Movie Night
Gather up your closest friends and host a movie night. You can have a movie marathon or just focus on one of your favorite movies, or even focus on a specific series and theme the party after it.
Another thing a lot of people do, which is sure to create memories and be a lot of fun, is creating their own drive-in theatre, right in their own backyard!
You will need a projector, a white sheet, garage door, or white/light-colored siding, and a movie. The rest is entirely up to how creative you want to be. Some people set up lawn chairs, and some do nicer and fancier setups. Some people even set up a mock concession stand so you can snack on popcorn and other treats while you watch movies.
Attend a Wine Tasting at A Local Winery
A great way to spend your birthday celebration is at a winery. Most wineries offer a free wine tasting, so even if you don’t know anything about wine, you can bring your best friends and spend the day at the winery.
You can all enjoy trying different types of wine, listening to great music, and enjoying the outdoors and the beautiful scenery. Remember not to drink and drive, so if you plan to drink, you can always book a room at a local hotel or bed and breakfast so that you can catch a cab or ride service or shuttle from the winery back to where you are staying.
Moderately Priced Things to Do on Your Birthday
If you don’t mind spending a little more, there are a lot of mid-range budget activities you can do on your birthday.
Have a Pool Party
Rent out a public pool and invite your friends for a day of swimming and fun. Some pools allow you to choose the music that is played so you can listen to your favorite tunes while you swim.
There is usually a concession stand, and many pools have birthday packages that include pizza or some other quick meal. Another perk to this idea is that the money goes to your local parks and recreation department most of the time, which is going back into the community.
Go to a Water Park or Theme Park
A water park or theme park is a fun way to spend time with friends and get almost constant entertainment. Many theme parks also have shows you can attend.
So you can enjoy rides, eat good food, see a comedy show or a magic show, and celebrate with nonstop fun. This is an activity that is usually family-friendly, which means that friends and family who come with you can even bring their children with them.
Unique Ideas
There are lots of things that people don’t usually think of when thinking of things to do on your birthday. If you’re looking for different ideas, here are some ways you can celebrate your birthday that you and your guests are sure to remember.
- Get a karaoke machine and host a karaoke night. Sing your favorite songs and share some laughs
- Do community service with your closest friends and make a difference where you live to celebrate your special day.
- Have an ice cream bar. Gather up a variety of flavors, sauces, and toppings and create tasty ice cream treats
- Take a cooking class. Recreate some of your favorite foods from your favorite restaurants and enjoy a fantastic dinner you can be proud of because you made it.
- Have a spa day. You can do it at home with your friends or go out to a spa. On the way, do some window shopping, treat yourself to a new outfit or a new haircut, and reinvent and rejuvenate yourself.
- Go to a music festival with friends. Dance, sing along and let go of the stress of the past year with some music therapy.
Adventure Activities
If you enjoy adventure, extreme sports, or just want to break out of your shell a little, celebrate the past year of life, and welcome in the new year of life, an adventure activity may be up your alley.
Just keep in mind that these activities can be a bit more expensive than other, more tame ways to celebrate your birthday.
Break Out Your Bucket List
If your bucket list is an epic list of adventure, dream big this year when planning things to do on your birthday, and do something you have always wanted to do but never got around to trying. The following are some things to do on your birthday that are a little out of the ordinary.
Take a Trip
Traveling somewhere you’ve never been is a great way to spend your birthday. Or maybe you’ve been somewhere and loved it and never got to go back. Treating yourself to a trip is an adventurous way to celebrate your birthday, and it will create lots of memories.
If you want somewhere relaxing, you can try a beach, the wilderness, a national park, or even the mountains. If you want something full of hustle, bustle, and loads of activities, go to a big city like New York City, Los Angeles, or San Francisco. Times Square in New York City is an experience in and of itself, but they host events there all the time that you can check out.
Laser Tag or Paintball
Laser tag or paintball are also fun ways to get some steam out of your system and have fun with friends. You can go to a local place or find a large place that offers these activities and more.
There are also themed laser tag and paintball places so that you can find a venue that not only has a fun activity but is themed to meet your specific interests.
Trampoline Park
Trampoline parks have been growing in popularity over the last decade or so, and they’re a great way to get in a good workout while having a happy birthday.
There are obstacle courses, dodge ball areas, acrobatic areas, and leisure areas that can match the fitness and skill level of you and your guests. These venues also often have birthday packages so that you can eat there, jump there, and get a discount for you and your guests.
Other Extreme Activities
If you’re a real adrenaline junkie, or even if you just promised yourself you’d do something wild one time just to see how you like it, there are plenty of things to do on your birthday to get your heart pumping and your adrenaline flowing. The following are some extreme activities that may interest you if you’re looking for more adventure than what an amusement park can offer.
- Hot air balloon ride
- Bungee jumping
- White water rafting
- Rock climbing or mountain climbing
- Skydiving
- Helicopter ride
- Snorkeling or scuba diving
These activities often require some level of fitness, experience, permits, or skill level, so be sure to check into all of these sorts of activities before booking or inviting guests. Don’t be surprised if you don’t get many takers when you invite people on these sorts of adventures for your birthday, but if they are the things you want to do, do them anyway. Life is too short not to try the things you want to try or do the things you love to do.
Your Birthday, Your Rules
Whether you need to find free things for your birthday, want to really have an extravagant birthday bash, or want to stick to a more classic birthday party at home, make sure that you choose things to do on your birthday that appeal to you. This is the one day a year where you don’t have to be a total people pleaser. You can set the bar and invite guests, and they can enjoy the things you like in celebration of your birthday.
Don’t feel selfish, don’t feel guilty, and don’t get discouraged if you are struggling to come up with things to do on your birthday. Just do some thinking about yourself, what you like, who you are, and what you’d love to do.
When you decide, you make the plans, and you make the rules. This is your day. You can go back to normal life after your birthday. Live for yourself on your birthday.
