50th Birthday Party Favors

50th Birthday Party Favors with a Retro Touch

Last year we threw a 50th bash for a friend who was a Trekkie growing up.

For party favors we gave each guest an old-time Star Trek mug (decorated with a photo of Kirk and Spock of course) that we filled with vintage candies —a box of candy cigarettes, an El Bubble Gum cigar, Necco wafers, some Mary Janes and a big jawbreaker.

We wrapped the whole thing in clear cellophane and tied it up with ribbon.
Our friend loved them.

We found everything at Retro Planet, although you can still find some old-time candy in stores today. Good & Plenty, Mike & Ike's, Jujyfruits and Necco wafers are some of the vintage candies that are still around.

Here are several other retro ideas we like:

• vintage light switches

• vintage Pez Dispensers
• an assortment of candy from the guest of honor's childhood days (who remembers packs of candy cigarettes, wax lips and El Bubble Gum cigars?)

• an old fashioned toy from his/her childhood (silly putty, a balsa wood glider, a slinky, jacks, green army soldiers)
• a Tweety Bird bobble head doll (or other favorite cartoon character)

• a bendable Gumby or Pokey doll

For DIY'ers...

• cookies in the shape of something related to your theme and decorated
  with colorful icing
• a photo of the guest of honor with each guest (could be a photo from long ago or from the recent past) in a mini photo frame (better have a small party planned
  for this one!)
• a mini bottle of the honoree's favorite liquor with a personalized label attached
• a sachet or decorative envelope containing 50 flower seeds along with a pair of pretty (or manly) gardening gloves
• a bucket full of assorted reading glasses for the guests to choose from
  before they leave
• a compilation of great quotes about middle age/aging (nothing depressing!) that you make into a pretty little book (this is easily done on a computer)

3 Questions to Ask if You're Still Stuck for Ideas

• how much do I want to spend?
• will my party be formal, informal or somewhere inbetween?
• does my party have a special theme? (is it a Hawaiian luau? a 1950's theme? a garden party?)
• would funny favors be appropriate or appreciated?
• would sentimental favors be appropriate or appreciated?
• does the guest of honor have a hobby or passion that could be incorporated into the favors?