Turning 50 is a milestone birthday and deserves to be celebrated! Lots of memories have been made during that half a century, and there’s no better time to make more. From elaborate themes to low-key parties, we have ideas for a 50th birthday that work for everyone’s big day.
Choose the perfect theme
Before you can start planning your decorations, start with a base for your 50th birthday ideas. Think about personality, likes and dislikes, and favorite things as you decide.
You can opt for a glamourous “Fifty and Fabulous” theme that focuses on a sophisticated color palette and can be tweaked for almost anyone’s birthday bash.
Get quirky and cute with a 50s theme, complete with poodle skirts and ice cream floats! Even a simple “Cheers to 50 Years” can help you nail down decorations centered around the guest of honor’s favorite adult beverage.
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Add dazzling decor
Spend less time decorating and more time celebrating! Instead of focusing on elaborate embellishments, pack a punch with a few key pieces of decor. This keeps everything feeling less like a children’s party and more mature and sophisticated for the birthday guy or gal.
Oversized numbers
50th birthday celebrations are meant to be a big deal, so make sure no one misses the reason for the gathering! Using large numbers filled with balloons or lights will create the perfect photo backdrop or centerpiece for the party. You can even buy extra-sturdy foam numbers and use them as a table base!
Sophisticated signage
Pay homage to the guest of honor with a birthday sign. Whether it has a clever saying or simply shares some fun facts or photos, it’s a nice way to tie your decor together. Add some balloons to fill things out, and you’re set!
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Plan a flavorful menu
No doubt that family and friends will want to mingle at the birthday party, so make sure the food and drinks lend themselves to that. Serving in cups or bite-size options are great ways to keep things simple!
Delectable bites
Think dinner parties in miniature, like charcuterie, crostinis, and decadent dips. Guests can easily graze on their own and enjoy the higher-end apps. Don’t forget to throw in a few of the birthday person’s favorite eats!
Charming cakes
The centerpiece of the dessert table needs an amazing birthday cake that proudly proclaims how fantastic it is to be 50. Choose a fun cake topper to customize a traditional cake, or go for something on-theme if you have one set. Cupcakes with toppers are another option that’s easier to serve!
Serve vintage sips
You can’t “cheers to 50 years” without some creative cocktails! Whether you have a theme or not, you can’t go wrong with retro-inspired drinks. We’re partial to simple ingredients with a twist, like a grapefruit martini or tequila gimlet.
🥂 Looking for more ways to celebrate? Host a birthday brunch for a sweet and simple gathering with your favorite people.
Make a memory
If there’s one thing most people learn after half a century, it’s that spending time with loved ones means more than any 50th birthday gift! Set up some activities at the party to ensure that it’s a night to remember.
Seize the (birth) day
It’s officially time to start knocking things off the list! Life is short, and there’s no time like now to embrace it. Let the guests offer advice and suggestions to help build a bucket list to guide the next chapter in life.
Laughter keeps you young
If the guest of honor loves to laugh, book a comedian to take the stage! They can riff on everything from senior discounts to the Golden Girls to all the new wrinkles appearing in the mirror. A roast master is another choice for those who are 50 and fearless. Be sure to give them lots of inside info to make the teasing extra special.
Strike a pose
There’s no better way to remember the party than with silly pictures! Hire a photo booth so guests can snap the night away, complete with themed 50th birthday props. Most photo booth companies can even add a phrase or border to the prints to commemorate the celebration.
Act your age
Get partygoers into character and book a murder mystery party! This is a terrific activity for anyone obsessed with true crime or who loves movies or the theater. Most scripts and scenarios can be tailored to themes, including the 70s, a birth year, old Hollywood, and more. Guests can arrive in costume and get ready to solve a murder!
Step back in time
Music is one of the most nostalgic pieces of the past, so it definitely deserves a place in your 50th birthday party ideas! Book a cover band to play all those mixtape staples and turn your venue into a dance party. If you’re hosting a low-key backyard party, try an acoustic band or singing guitarist to jam to tunes from the 70s to now. A mobile DJ can spin songs while hanging in the background instead, too.
Turning 50 is a big deal and deserves a big celebration! Make it something special this year and enjoy time with those who make life worth living. 🎂
Megan is the Director of Customer Experience at GigSalad and has gained 9+ years of insight on what makes a great event on both sides of the booking process. Her favorite things include books, true crime podcasts, coffee, hiking, puns, and making people laugh.
Cute article – but honestly, for the most part, these suggestions are more appropriate for older, aging baby-boomers. I turn 50 in a couple of weeks, which makes me, along with everyone else of my age, a proud member of Generation X. Not big fans of Elvis for the most part, nor the 70’s. Gen-Xers, more than not (of course not all) identify more closely to the 80’s. I was barely out of the womb during the “Mad Men” generation. Think less Elvis, and more Van Halen, Prince, Rush, Stevie Ray Vaughn, etc.
Just my experience and opinion.
Thanks!
Hi Greg,
This is AWESOME feedback! As a person who’s turning 50, your experience is important to take into consideration. We’ll update this article to provide more relevant party ideas for your big 50th celebration. Stay tuned!
Thank you for bringing that to light. Good to know
I’m turning 50 this year and I DO want a 60s/70s celebration because I was too young to be part of it. 1967- The Summer of LOVE :)
you got it right! Don’t be uptight, no stress. Party baby!