30th Birthday Party Ideas

Your 30th birthday deserves a special celebration. If you are over the bar scene but still want to make it a blast, go with something more casual, like one of these fun and creative 30th birthday party ideas.

Dirty Thirty
Let’s get down and dirty! The “Dirty Thirty” theme is quite common, but you can make it unique and get outdoorsy. Have an outdoor barbeque with vintage and rustic décor. You can even ditch a traditional birthday cake for a classic dirt pudding. And, for those who are more adventurous, look to register for a mud run or an outdoor obstacle course to make your 30th extra dirty!

Roaring 20’s
It’s likely that your twenties were some of the best years of your life, so celebrate the past decade with a 1920’s themed party. Invite guests to dress their best in fancy flapper dresses and suits. Dim the lights, crank up some jazz music, and dance the night away. And don’t forget the prohibition style cocktails!

Balloon Chandeliers
Have a small, classic dinner party, but make it extra special with homemade balloon chandeliers. Fill balloons with helium and make sure they have a long enough string attached so that it meets eye-level when let free in the room. Punch holes in copies of some of your favorite pictures, then simply tie the pictures to the string and place them above the table for décor. And if you want to go the extra mile, use 30 balloons, each with a different picture from every year of the birthday guy or girl’s life.

Adult Sleepover
Bring Netflix and Chill to the next level by inviting a few of your closest friends to join you for an adult sleep over. This is a fun and relaxing way to ring in your 30th birthday, plus, it’s a great excuse to spend an evening in your pajamas. Order your favorite pizza, get gourmet popcorn, make some boozy root beer floats and you’re set!

Cheers & Beers
Cheers to 30 years with a beer tasting party. If providing the beer isn’t in your budget, ask guests to bring a six-pack of their favorite brew. You can also set up a blind tasting by putting all of the beers in a brown paper bag and having the guests guess what beer it is or who brought it. Don’t forget a fun prize, such as a beer mug or customized koozie, for the person who gets the most right! Serve up some heavy appetizers like chicken wings or mini cheeseburger sliders. Or go even more casual with some spiced nuts and your favorite pretzels and chips. Fun tip: put out a bucket where guests can place their bottle caps. That way, you can keep them and create a special memento such as coasters or wall art to commemorate your birthday.

30 Blows
This is the perfect theme if you aren’t exactly keen on the idea of turning the big 3-0. It’s easy to center a party around everything that “blows.” All you have to do is fill the room with tons of balloons and set out some party horns. Also, filling glass bowls or vases with blow pop suckers and bubble gum makes for some great décor and a sweet treat for the guests!

Game Night
Hosting a game night is sure to be a winner. Go retro and bring out the birthday guy or gal’s favorite childhood classics. You’ll be surprised how much fun you’ll have playing Twister, Uno, and Yahtzee. If that’s not your style, go with a casino theme with poker, black jack, and craps. Remember to get created with the food you serve! For example, cut brownies into small rectangular pieces and use icing and M&M’s to turn them in to dominos. Or make your cheese ball a cheese dice by simply making it a square and using halves of black olives for the dots!

Better With Age
Just like wine, you improve with age, so celebrate with a wine and cheese party. Go to a local wine or cheese shop to get recommendations on pairings. They may even give you a special deal if you buy in bulk! If you are worried about supplying all of the vino, invite guests to bring their favorite bottle to share. As for decorations, you can use empty wine bottles as flower vases for the table. Also, turn old wine corks into place card holders or labels for the different types of cheeses. For an extra special touch, find a bottle of wine from the year you were born and make a toast with all of your guests to celebrate the years to come. Sip, sip hooray!

Birthday Brunch
Start your 30th birthday off right with a birthday brunch. Book a table at your favorite brunch spot in the city or host it yourself at home with mini quiches, fruit, and yogurt parfaits. You can even make it a boozy brunch with a do-it-yourself mimosa or bloody mary bar. And since it’s an early affair, try stacking donuts to mimic a birthday cake. Don’t forget the thirty candles!

Let’s Fiesta
Break out the sombreros and turn up the mariachi music to ring in your 30th birthday south of the border style! Plus, who doesn’t love some good Tex-Mex food? It’s delicious and great for a crowd. Try a make your own burrito bar or a nachos station. And just because you are turning thirty doesn’t mean you’re too old for a piñata. Taco bout a party!