90th Birthday Party Ideas

Our 90th birthday party celebrates the many fabulous things the nonagenarian has lived through, decade by decade. Hang on, it's going to be an exciting ride!

Take a look and you'll see what we mean.

90th Birthday Party Ideas for the Celebration of a Lifetime

Up for a couple of alcohol-imbued 90th birthday party ideas? After all, Prohibition was in full force and speakeasies were all around. Set up a bar with all of the fixings for cocktails, along with lots of swizzle sticks. Find a metal tub (think bathtub gin), fill it with ice and have bottles of mixers chilling in it. Along with modern day drinks such as Cosmos, Martinis and Mojitos, make sure you have a true 1920's cocktail like Planter's Punch on hand. A bartender dressed as a flapper will add just the right touch.

Our Planter's Punch Recipe:

• 1 oz dark rum
• 1 oz light rum
• 1/2 oz Orange Curacao
• 2 oz orange juice
• 2 oz pineapple juice
• 1/2 oz simple syrup
• 1/4 oz lime juice
• dash Grenadine
• dash Angostura Bitters
• 2 oz Club soda (optional)
• Maraschino cherry and orange slice for garnish

The 1930s and 1940s: The Music

Big band music was popular from the early 1930s through the 40s. You may not have a stereo with a turntable anymore, but you'll be able to get all of these great bands digitally:

• Count Basie
• Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey
• Benny Goodman
• Duke Ellington
• Glenn Miller
• Artie Shaw

The music is rich, warm and wonderful. I've eaten many a meal with these great bands playing on the stereo and can attest that it's the perfect background music.

The 1950s: The Soda Fountain

For the younger set, or for your guests who don't imbibe, a non-alcoholic bar is in order. A soda fountain is easy to set up. Ask a friend (or your husband perhaps?) to dress up as a soda jerk, paper hat and all. He'll need a couple of blenders, lots of ice cream, malt, coke and rootbeer. Serve milkshakes and floats in tall fluted glasses with straws.

The 1960s: The Food

The family dinner was never the same after Julia Child published her classic cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking in 1961. How about beef bourguignon on your party menu? If that recipe isn't a favorite, have a look through the cookbook and select several recipes to try. Make little place cards with each guest's name and "Bon Appetit!" written on them.

The 1970s and 1980s: The Lighting

Disco balls, believe it or not, go absolutely great with big band music. And even if they didn't, we would have found some way to include them in our 90th birthday party ideas because they're just so darn much fun! Bet you didn't know that mirrored balls were used in the 1920s to light up the dark speakeasies. They reached the height of their popularity, of course, during the disco era of the 70s.

The 1990s: The Dessert

Accompany the traditional birthday cake with a contemporary dessert idea —the mini dessert buffet. Treat your guests to chocolate mousse parfaits in shot glasses, and chocolate covered cream puffs served in beautiful Japanese soup spoons. Add miniature fruit tarts for color.

The 2000s: The Party Favor

Considering that this party is based on dates, here are a few favor ideas that see that concept through.

On the more expensive side, silver dollars minted in the year of the party is a fabulous gift, and especially good for the younger crowd because the coins will increase in value.

Custom newspapers announcing the 90th birthday party of your birthday girl or boy is a little more reasonable in price, and a lot of fun.

Another suggestion: give a gift that will grow with each guest for the next 90 years. Give each guest a seedling they can plant outside in honor of the special birthday guy or gal.

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90th Birthday Invitations