A 50th birthday is quite a milestone, and one that deserves to be celebrated. In this article, we’ve listed a range of party ideas that are perfect for the occasion.
We’ve made sure to include something for everyone, whether you’re planning your own party or organising one for someone else, and whether it’s a small gathering or a full celebration. If you’re hosting a mix of ages, you may also find our guide on how to host a multi-age party helpful when choosing activities and entertainment.
Let’s dive in.
50th Birthday Party Ideas
The first thing to think about is the overall focus of the party. What will be the main activity or central theme of the celebration?
Barbecue party
Why not host a barbecue party for your 50th birthday? It’s a great excuse to spend the whole afternoon together, and even continue into the evening.
One of the benefits of a barbecue is that it can easily be adapted to different group sizes, whether it’s 10, 20, or 50 guests. As long as you have the space, you can make it work.
Pro-tip: For larger groups, ask your guests to bring some food, potluck style. This makes preparation easier and helps ensure that guests with dietary requirements, such as vegetarian options or allergies, have something suitable to eat.
Hire a chef to cook at home
Depending on where you live, you should be able to hire a chef to cook a restaurant-quality meal in your own home. This works particularly well for smaller groups.
It’s worth noting that this is different from hiring a catering company, where food is often partially prepared in advance. In this case, the chef cooks everything fresh on-site, adding a more personal and interactive experience for you and your guests.
Brew your own beer
If you’re a beer connoisseur, why not spend the day brewing your own beers? You can either find a kit to do it at home or at a nearby brewing venue.
The only downside is that you’re going to have to wait a couple of weeks to taste the results of your hard work!
Fancy cocktails
Making cocktails at home is a fun activity and can be done successfully with minimal equipment.
If you want to go the extra mile, you can hire a professional mixologist for the occasion, giving you expert tips and a more polished experience.
Alternatively, you can plan a list of recipes in advance and purchase all the ingredients yourself. Just make sure everything is organised ahead of time so the activity runs smoothly.
If you’d like to include non-alcoholic options too, you can explore our guide to mocktail recipes for parties for some creative ideas that everyone can enjoy.
A cooking class
Want to learn something practical? Why not take a cooking class for your birthday party? You get to make the meal, learn a few tips, and eat your amazing hard work afterwards. It’s always great fun and is ideal for smaller parties.
Depending on where you live, you might be able to book a cooking class at home. Otherwise, you’ll most likely have venues near you that offer this service.
Karaoke
If you’re ready for a laugh, why not plan a karaoke party for your guests? This works great both for small groups and larger ones. Just make sure you have enough volunteers who want to participate.
You can easily plan this yourself, but if you don’t want to go through the hassle, you can book a karaoke party directly through our PartyWizz website.
50th Birthday Party Theme Ideas
You can’t have an epic party without a party theme. Below we’ve listed a few ideas to get you started. But for an exhaustive list of ideas, check out our article on adult party themes.
Disco party
The 70s are the perfect era to take inspiration from for a 50th birthday party, making a disco theme hard to beat.
Costumes are easy to find or make, think bold collars, bright colours, and statement outfits. Bonus, they make for great photos.
When it comes to decorating your home or venue, you can go all out or keep it simple. At the very least, a disco ball is a must.
If you’d like more inspiration, take a look at our blog on how to throw a 1970s-themed party for ideas on music, decorations, and styling.
Costume party
If you want to challenge your guests, why not plan a fancy dress party? You can make the theme as specific, for example 70s films, or keep it broad, such as something colourful.
It works best when your guests are up for the challenge, but with a good group of friends, that’s usually not a problem.
Pro-tip: you’re never too old for prizes 😉 Consider giving an award for the best costume of the night.
If you need a bit of inspiration, take a look at our fun fancy dress ideas to help your guests get creative.
Casino night
If you’re up for some social gambling, why not plan a casino night? It’s a fair bit of preparation, but it’s great fun for everyone.
We recommend playing with chips rather than real money. You can set a fixed buy-in amount, for example £10, and give each guest the same number of chips to start.
The person with the most chips at the end wins the pot, which keeps things simple and gives the evening a clear finish.
Pro-tip: If you’d prefer not to make it about money, you could offer a prize for the winner and donate the collected amount to a charity.
Golden Jubilee
A golden jubilee marks a 50th anniversary. In the United Kingdom, the term is most commonly associated with the 50th year of a monarch’s reign.
This makes it a perfect theme for a 50th birthday party. All it really requires is plenty of gold decorations to create a stylish and celebratory atmosphere.
50th Birthday Entertainment Ideas
The key to any great party is entertainment. Below, we’ve listed a few ideas to help keep your guests entertained throughout the celebration.
Hire a DJ
Hiring a DJ is a classic choice, especially if you’re planning on dancing during your party.
If you’d prefer to keep things simple, you can also hire a DJ to take care of the music and atmosphere for you.
Live music
Music comes in all shapes and styles, so you can choose something that suits the atmosphere you want to create. Whether it’s a solo singer, a band, or a mix of performers, live music can add a really special touch to your celebration.
Photographer
Although a photographer is technically not an entertainer, they’re still a key part of any event.
If you don’t have the budget for a professional, select a dedicated photographer among your guests. Put them in charge of taking pictures during the party, but also of collecting pictures from various people after the event. You don’t want to leave this up to the luck of the draw.
You can hire a photographer, or choose a photobooth for something more informal!
Book a Magician
If you’re looking for something fun and unique, why not book a magician for your 50th birthday party? It’s guaranteed to be memorable for all of your guests (Old and young!) Hire a magician directly on our website.
Wine Tasting
If you’re looking for a more sensory experience, why not plan a wine tasting? It’s a great way to learn something new while enjoying a relaxed and social atmosphere.
Depending on where you live, you may be able to hire a wine expert to guide you and your guests through different wines, sharing tips and insights along the way.
PartyWizz helps you book the best entertainers and party services in UK and Ireland. From magicians and face painters to DJs and photographers, you’ll find those in your area on our easy-to-use platform. Whether you’re planning a corporate event, a wedding, kids or other private party, go to PartyWizz to find the perfect service providers in just a few clicks!
