30 Fun Things to Do on Your Birthday: You’re Older But Cooler

things to do on your birthday

Your birthday is the best time to put yourself first and eat all the cake you want without feeling bad about it. Besides, no matter if you choose to have a big party or just gather a few of your closest friends, there are a lot of fun activities you can indulge in. In fact, I’ve put together a list of things to do on your birthday that are sure to bring joy and even take your guests by surprise.

If you don’t want to spend a ton of money on a party, that’s understandable. But going low-budget doesn’t mean you can’t have fun. You and your guests can enjoy plenty of exciting activities and bond over unique experiences. However, if you have the budget for a hot air balloon ride for everyone, that’s definitely something you shouldn’t overlook.

Either way, for an unforgettable experience, I recommend that you surprise your friends and opt for one or more of the following fun things to do on your birthday.

1. Organize a Movie Marathon, With Lots of Delicious Homemade Popcorn

Your birthday party will go down in history with these funky striped chocolate and peppermint popcorn recipes. Just make sure to prepare plenty because they will run out fast.

2. Attend Local Cultural Events

If you’re looking for some more chill things to do on your birthday, then you could check out some local events, such as art exhibitions, street food festivals, or even theater plays.

3. Go Hiking With Your Friends

Hiking is not only healthy but can also be quite fun. You can enjoy nature’s beauty and even set up a celebratory picnic at the end of the hiking trail. Just don’t forget the cake and the drinks — those are a must in order to make this an unforgettable experience.

4. Host a LAN Party

No matter if you’re a gamer or not, playing video games with your friends can be one of the most exciting activities ever. Have your friends bring their computers over, learn how to host a LAN party, and prepare lots of snacks.

5. Play Tabletop Games

I would highly recommend that you get a set of Cards Against Humanity. It’s arguably one of the most gloriously entertaining games you can play with friends. Moreover, if you combine it with booze, you’re guaranteed to witness some hilarious results.

6. Have a Costume Party With a Twist

It doesn’t have to be Halloween to suit up as your favorite movie character. For instance, you and your cinephile guests could dress up as characters from your favorite movie (or franchise!) and even reenact iconic scenes.

7. Organize a Cooking Contest

Who says you can’t have a Top Chef cook-off in your backyard? Challenge your guests to a cupcake decorating contest, a cocktail-mixing tournament, or even a creative pizza topping challenge.

8. Go-Karting

Go-Karting is a rather fun activity, no matter your age. Bring a cake and snacks to keep guests energized, and then race them for a trophy.

9. Book a Spa Day

One of the most relaxing things to do on your birthday is to go to the spa. Make sure you treat yourself to the full package — after all, it’s your special day!

10. Reenact a ‘Will It’ Episode

Are you keen on trying out various foods, like a Snickers sandwich, for example? Prepare crazy and unusual dishes and test them out with your friends, similar to how Rhett and Link do in their Will It episodes.

11. Visit a Planetarium, Aquarium, or Zoo

Spending your birthday at the planetarium can be a truly memorable experience. Take your friends and family on a memorable journey through space and top it off with a delicious galaxy cake.

12. Create an Artistic Masterpiece

A unique birthday party is one where all the guests can paint on a giant canvas. Therefore, prepare lots of acrylics for the guests, and challenge them to paint anything they can think of. The result? A unique mess of a masterpiece to mark your birthday!

13. Get a Tattoo

A tattoo is something that will stay with you forever. Still, think well before you decide what to ink — it’s definitely a big step.

14. Go Horseback Riding

Horse riding is an activity that is both therapeutic and fun. However, you can make it even more enjoyable by preparing some horse-shaped cookies. In fact, you can even prepare horse-themed goodie bags for your guests to take home!

15. Do a Photoshoot

I recommend that you fit all of your friends into a photo booth and take a few series of funny photos to immortalize the moment. Make some weird, serious, or poker faces — whatever you’re into that day. Then, add fun hats and silly glasses, and you’ve got yourself a winner.

16. Go to a Karaoke Pub

If you’ve never been to karaoke, know that it can be one of the best things to do on your birthday. Plus, what better way to celebrate than to sing your favorite songs and enjoy a night out with your friends? After all, with a couple of shots in, anyone can sing!

17. Watch the Sunset From a Hot Air Balloon

Take a hot air balloon ride to celebrate your birthday in style. If you want to really go all out, I suggest that you also prepare a basket with champagne and cake.

18. Play Laser Tag With Your Friends

You can take your guests to a laser tag venue and celebrate your birthday in neon colors. Bring a funky laser-tag-themed cake, energy drinks, and lots of snacks to guarantee success.

19. Plan a ‘You’ Weekend

First, go to your favorite winery and enjoy some wine-tasting. Then, take a stroll to your favorite restaurant and perhaps even pair the food with more wine. Finally, take the following day to rest and recharge because of all the wine you had!

20. Custom Masks for Everybody

Are you celebrating your birthday during the pandemic? Then keep it safe and fun by customizing face masks! You can even learn how to DIY a face mask from scratch.

21. Visit a New City and Try the Local Food

If you love trying out various foods, then you should consider organizing a birthday trip around your country to treat yourself to all the local foods. You’d be surprised by how many delicious dishes you could discover!

22. Spend the Day at an Arcade

No matter your age, arcades are a great deal of fun. However, if possible, rent out the entire arcade for you and your guests so that you can play any games you want.

23. Have a Campfire and Tell Horror Stories

Instead of a typical party, you could have a toned-down, chilling get-together with your friends and share horror stories. Bring marshmallows to roast, and don’t forget about the cake!

24. Volunteer at an Animal Rescue

On a slightly more unconventional note, you could celebrate your birthday by giving — give love, care, and attention. Devote your special day to animals in need, and you’ll get an unbelievable sense of fulfillment and joy.

25. Make a Self-Improvement Plan

It’s never too late to set new goals and aim higher. You could begin by writing a list of goals you plan to achieve until your next birthday. The following year, you can check the list and see where you stand.

26. Buy Yourself a Gift

What better day to treat yourself to a much-desired gift than your own birthday? However, the trick is to decide on a budget and stick to it. Make a list beforehand to have plenty of options to choose from.

27. Host a BBQ or Rent a Food Truck

A BBQ in your backyard is never a bad idea. Still, if you want to go one step further, you can straight up rent a food truck. In other words, you and your guests can enjoy your favorite street food without having to go to a different part of town!

28. Attend or Create an Online Workshop

In my opinion, taking part in online workshops seems like a great way to learn new skills. For example, you could attend an online workshop that teaches you how to bake or decorate cupcakes. On the other hand, you could even plan and host your own if you’re particularly skilled at something.

29. Host a Wine-Tasting Party

If you and your friends love wine, then the best way to showcase that is by hosting a wine-tasting party. You could pair the wine with various foods to enhance the flavor and even make grab bags with mini wine bottles for the guests to take home.

30. Enjoy the VR Experience

Throwing a VR-themed birthday party can be one of the most ingenious ways to challenge your friends or even test their fear of heights. Besides, it’s super-easy to set up. All you need is a VR set and a computer to link it to.

Final Thoughts on Things to Do on Your Birthday

Whether you have a fortune to spend on your birthday party or not, there are a plethora of fun activities you can opt for to celebrate the day you were brought into this world. I hope that with this list of 30 things to do on your birthday, I’ve inspired you to take a different approach and surprise your guests (and yourself!) with some unique activities.

Nicole Middleton
Nicole calls herself a typical millennial girl and thrives on her share of social media, celebrity gossip, and all things viral content. She’s a big fan of pop music and plays the guitar as a hobby.