Hear us out: There shouldn’t be an age limit on birthday parties. We all have a yearly opportunity to gather our friends, do something fun, and be at the receiving end of a little extra love and attention—so why not take it? Sure, some years you just want to lay low, eat your favorite foods, and put on a movie, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But, if you’re excited about the idea of doing something a little extra to celebrate this year (beyond the typical “dinner at a nice restaurant” routine) then we say go for it. If your birthday is in the summertime, that’s all the more reason to make an event out of the occasion, since there are endless options of things to do. To offer some inspiration, we’ve rounded up a list of summer birthday party ideas that will make you feel like a kid again.
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Backyard BBQ
Starting off simple, you can truly never go wrong with a barbecue. If you have your own outdoor space (or have a friend who does) take advantage of the warm weather and invite your friends over for a cookout. Fire up the grill, fill a cooler with adult beverages, and set up some outdoor activities—like cornhole or even a piñata. This is a great way to invite a crowd while still keeping things pretty casual and easy.
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Roller Skating
Cue the nostalgia. If you and your friends are up for something a bit more active, then invite everyone to a skate party. Look up your local roller skating rink and see what options they offer. You may be able to rent out the whole place for a private party or just get a designated seating area for your crew during the public skate sessions. If you want to take things one step further, make it a disco-themed skate party and encourage everyone to come out in boogie-ready attire.
Brewery or Winery Tour
Instead of just going to a bar for your birthday, take your friends behind the scenes on a brewery, winery, or distillery tour. Depending on where you live, these tours can be pretty affordable, including a full tour of the place and lots of samples along the way. Then, once you’re done, you can either stick around and keep enjoying the offerings on site, or head on to a dinner reservation elsewhere.
Pajama Brunch
So, you might be too old to have a birthday sleepover with five to 10 of your closest friends, stay up all night gossiping, and pulling pranks on the first ones to fall asleep, but you can try to recreate the feeling of that next-morning breakfast. Invite all your friends over for a big brunch buffet and encourage them all to come in their favorite PJs or comfy clothes for a leisurely hang. One of the best parts about the adult version of this post-sleepover-style brunch? You can spike the orange juice with champagne.
Bonfire Party
If you have a fire pit at your disposal, then you’ve already got the main attraction of your party figured out. Now, just add s’mores and a few other summer-perfect foods, and you’ve got a failproof recipe for a good time. If you can get your hands on a projector for an outdoor movie screening, then you’ll have the full night’s entertainment secured.
Garden Party
There are a couple different ways to interpret this birthday party idea. One option: Use “garden party” as a theme for a charming outdoor lunch. Decorate with lots of florals and garden-inspired decor and send your guests a dress code to match. Another option: Make it a gardening party and set up a planting or propagation station. Buy an assortment of cheap, small pots and two-inch plants, and have everyone pot their own plant to take home as a party favor.
Painting Party
Throw your own paint and sip class at home and make a party out of it. Ask everyone to bring a bottle of wine and let them know you’ll provide all the painting supplies (you can buy bulk packs of cheap canvases, brushes, and paint at your local craft store). Your guests will all leave with their very own masterpiece—or, at the very least, they’ll have enjoyed a relaxing and fun activity with friends.
