50th Birthday Party Ideas

Warning! Before you start gathering 50th birthday party ideas, make sure you know your guest of honor's feelings about hitting the big 5-0.

This is especially important if you want to be on speaking terms after the big day's over!

If you think he/she would prefer not to be reminded of his/her wrinkles, bags and ever-increasing nearness to death, better opt for a generic birthday bash.

If, on the other hand, he/she can laugh about getting older, feel free to roast away.

50th Birthday Themes

Garden Soiree
Surprise Party
Kentucky Derby
Beers of the World bash
1950's or 1960's retro bash
Roast a la Don Rickles...ouch (ask guests to bring gag gifts too)
Tea Party (you could also do this as a kids' tea party for a laugh)
Black and White
Hollywood/Red Carpet
Casino Night
Over the Hill
Mexican Fiesta (complete with a grown-up pinata of course)
This Is Your Life retrospective
Masquerade Ball
Come as You Were (everyone comes dressed to look decades younger)
Mardi Gras

50th Birthday Party Ideas for Special Venues

Have your event at an unusual venue:

a bowling alley (would be great for a 1950's theme)
on a boat (a "booze cruise")
rent an area in a baseball or football stadium (arrange to put a birthday message on the scoreboard)
arrange to meet in a city or on a college campus that was special to everyone
rent an art gallery
book a castle or other fabulously outrageous place (search wedding facilities
for great lists)

Plan a scavenger hunt that takes the guests on a tour of the birthday guy's or gal's favorite spots in the city (the local donut shop, a favorite store, a childhood haunt, and so on), the last stop being a celebration at their favorite restaurant.

Hire a limo to drive everyone to a favorite beach for the day (or weekend if you can swing it)

Arrange for a group lesson of an activity you know he or she would love to learn how to do (sky diving, skiing or knitting perhaps?) and then spend the day DOING it!

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