30th birthday party ideas for a celebration to remember
Your 30th birthday is a significant milestone and an opportunity to celebrate the person you’ve become with the friends you’ve made along the way. The right 30th birthday idea can help you ring in this major year your way while entertaining your guests at an event they won’t soon forget.
Whether you’re keeping it low-key or partying all night long, we have a variety of 30th birthday suggestions just for you. Choose one of our unique activity ideas or go all out with 30th birthday party themes, complete with food and drink suggestions as well as decoration ideas from Paperless Post Party Shop. And of course, matching customizable 30th birthday party invitations to make it easy for you to throw a loved one—or yourself!—an amazing birthday.
Table of Contents
Things to do for a 30th birthday party
Trying to decide what to do for a 30th birthday? Whether you’re into getting dolled up or dressing down, we’ve got 30th birthday ideas for every taste.
Welcome your era of thirty, flirty, and thriving with customizable invitations.
1. Go for a hike
When you spend a 30th birthday hiking, the only hill you’re heading over is a mountain! Ask your outdoorsy friends to lace up their hiking boots and fill up their packs for an unforgettable walk through nature. Find a path that leads to a waterfall or swimming hole for a special treat!
2. Visit an arcade
Revisit your youth with a trip to the local arcade. Whether it has old-fashioned pinball machines or it’s an adults-only arcade bar, you and your guests are sure to have the time of your lives. And no one needs to call their mom for a ride home afterward—probably.
3. Get wild at a country western bar
Boot scootin’ boogie on down to a local saloon or rodeo bar for a 30th birthday get-together with oodles of down-home charm. Y’all can fuel up on peanuts and wings before toasting to 30 with whiskey and beer. Don’t forget the bull riding and line dancing to make your country western night complete!
4. Host a trivia night
How much does everyone really know about the guest of honor? Find out with a birthday-themed trivia night, where guests work in teams to answer questions all about the person of the hour. Favorite sports teams, first crush, most hated food—it’s all fair game!
5. Have a casino night
Odds are good that everyone will enjoy a casino-inspired birthday party with a few rounds of poker, blackjack, or even Crazy Eights. We’re talking games, prizes, cheesy favors, and all the bragging rights you can earn.
For a larger event, consider renting a party space and hiring dealers to keep the games going all night long.
6. Host a wine party
Would you rather have a quiet night with the besties than a huge shindig? Host a wine-tasting party at home and ask everyone to bring their favorite bottle of vino to share. For a special touch, provide notepads so guests can remember their favorites.
You could also have everyone meet up at a local wine bar for a sophisticated event for the ages. Reserve a table several weeks in advance, and see if the kitchen will prepare something special—or store a birthday cake that you bring.
7. Throw a slumber party
Take it back to childhood with a slumber party. Keep the dress code comfy but playful, and choose movies and music that are favorites of the guest of honor—or from their birth year. Popcorn is a must, no matter what’s on the agenda—as well as pizza and cake, of course!
8. Give a slideshow presentation
A slideshow party is like if a business meeting and a party had a really fun baby! Ask friends and family to create a slideshow about the guest of honor (think of a 21st-century “This Is Your Life”). They can each bring their own full slideshow, or send you one slide they’ve created with photos and memories—both heartfelt and embarrassing—and each give a presentation about their slide when it comes up.
9. Sing karaoke
If the guest of honor is the type to perform in front of a crowd—or laugh and sing along with those who are—it’s got to be karaoke. Find a karaoke bar, or set up a machine at home so guests can belt their hearts out. Host an unofficial contest for best performance—note that “best” in karaoke does not always mean “most talented”—and boldly enter your 30s with your fearless friend group!
10. Tackle a bucket list
Have you always wanted to jump out of a plane? Go bungee jumping? Sleep in a tent outside (hey, some ambitions are smaller than others)? Your 30th birthday is a great occasion to cross a few items off your bucket list. Bring willing friends and family along for the adventure, and if you’re feeling especially bold, try crossing several items off in one weekend!
30th birthday party themes and décor
30 only comes around once, so make it extra special with a theme. Not only does a party theme inform the décor, but it can also help guests get a little playful with their attire and attitudes. Plan a birthday party that guests will remember with one of these birthday party themes.
11. Dirty Thirty
Usher in the new decade by getting a little sloppy—literally—with dirty 30 birthday ideas. Invite your adventurous crew to a day of mudslides, river tubing, or corn hole. If you’ve got a mud run or Tough Mudder in town, spend a few weeks training before the big day!
- Food and drink: Serve a lineup of aptly named dirty martinis to share with friends and family, and then enjoy a slice of Mississippi mud cake by I Am Baker.
- Decorations: If you’re heading to a venue, there may not be much to decorate—except yourselves! Don a hat or crown with the rest of the group so everyone can spot members of the Dirty 30 squad.
12. The 1930s
What better way to celebrate the beginning of your 30s than a party theme based on the 1930s? Evoke old Hollywood with fedoras and finger waves, play big-band music, and serve stiff drinks to the swingers and dames—just make sure your party is set after the end of Prohibition!
- Food and drink: Serve classic 1930s drinks, like Brown Derby cocktails by Epicurious, before cutting a vintage Art Deco cake.
- Decorations: Choose gold and silver birthday party decorations for that mid-century glam vibe.
13. Take it back to the year you were born
Look to the era that defined your earliest years with a ‘90s party! Take cues from the “Clueless” cast’s fashion, and show off your moves to songs like “Macarena” by Los Del Río and “Bye Bye Bye” by *NSYNC. For the ultimate flashback, hang pictures of the guest of honor from the ‘90s—bonus points for neon scrunchies and denim vests!
- Food and drink: Take a trip to the Max from “Saved by the Bell” with burgers, fries, and the best milkshakes you’ve ever had (recipe by The Kitchn). Then, serve up a ’90s throwback cake from Ready, Set, Eat!
- Decorations: Bring the ‘90s into the 21st century with neon bright birthday decorations adorning your party space and refreshments table.
14. Gothic murder mystery
Tell partygoers to put on their petticoats, lace up their corsets, and prepare for one magnificently macabre evening with a murder mystery party. Decorate in black and red for the ultimate mystery vibes and strategically place clues around the party space. Enjoy the show—or join in as the next “victim”—as guests work together to figure out whodunnit.
- Food and drink: Choose appropriately dark cocktails, such as black cherry bellinis by Kitchen Sanctuary, and a cake dripping with Victorian piping by Southern Living.
- Decorations: Decorate with tapered candles and candle holders to feel like you’re inside a pre-Industrial Victorian castle.
15. Saturday Night Fever
To celebrate “Stayin’ Alive” yet another year, get down with a disco-themed party—complete with ’70s garb, platform shoes, a disco ball, and “Saturday Night Fever” playing in the background. Everyone will enjoy taking a break from their daily hustles to do the hustle at your party.
- Food and drink: Add some disco vibes to your bar with a Tom Collins recipe by Cookie and Kate that feels straight out of the ‘70s. When it’s time to blow out the candles, pass out handmade disco ball cupcakes by A Beautiful Mess!
- Decorations: Find wigs, disco balls, and all types of sparkling specialty party supplies at Paperless Post Party Shop.
16. Prom party
For ultimate nostalgic vibes, throw a prom party for your 30th birthday. Clear space for a dance floor or rent a banquet hall, invite a few dozen friends who love to dance and play your favorite songs from high school—and beyond. (No one says you have to wear your old prom dress or suit, but no one’s saying you can’t either.)
- Food and drink: Adult proms require adult punch bowls, and you can’t go wrong with a yummy sparkling pear punch recipe from Food & Wine.
- Decorations: Embrace the prom theme with hanging decorations and balloons, and don’t forget to set up a spot for prom pictures!
17. Pop culture party
If the guest of honor is a major boy band fan, knows every comic book superhero, or can’t wait for their favorite team’s next home game, you have your party theme in the bag. Choose their favorite pop culture elements—whether it’s music, movies, TV shows, or sports—and style your party for the best fan you know.
- Food and drink: Use the guest of honor’s favorite team’s colors, or favorite singer’s song names to inspire the food and drinks (like this blue margarita by Dishes Delish or an orange hurricane by The Spruce Eats).
- Decorations: Find posters of their pop culture faves to put up along with decorations from Party Shop’s party must-haves.
Surprise 30th birthday party ideas
If the guest of honor loves a good surprise, host a surprise birthday party for their 30th! It’s a theme on its own—all you have to do is get your guests in on the secret, find your venue, pick party supplies, and follow these surprise party tips for the best night ever.
- Add clear invitation wording: Make sure your surprise party invitation is clearly labeled “SURPRISE!”. Include the exact time that everyone (except the guest of honor) should arrive. Add in parking instructions so guests aren’t out front or milling about in plain view of the entrance.
- Swear everyone to secrecy: Make like the Go-Go’s and keep those lips sealed. You don’t want the soon-to-be 30-year-old overhearing friends discussing what to wear to a party and wondering who the guest of honor is!
- Pick a partner in crime: While you’re finalizing details and tracking RSVPs from attendees, you’ll need someone else to summon the guest of honor. Recruit a co-conspirator or two to help develop and execute a plan for getting the guest of honor to the venue.
- Go all out on decorations: The “Surprise!” moment may throw the guest of honor for a loop, so make sure your space creates no doubt that there’s a party happening right here.
- Include their favorites: You’ve already invited their favorite people—now you need their favorite foods, drinks, and music to make this a party tailor-made for the guest of honor.
30th birthday party invitation ideas
If you’re planning the party of the decade, your friends won’t want to miss it! Consider sending a party save-the-date early while you work out the exact event details, especially if there are out-of-towners on your list.
When it comes to birthday invitation timing, 30th birthday invitations can go out about a month before the big day. If you’re having a themed party, make sure to include suggested attire in your birthday invitation wording.
Once you pick an invitation design, it’s easy to organize your event with Paperless Post invitation features like:
- Add a co-host: If you have some help planning the big event, add that person as a co-host on your invitation so they can help track RSVPs and answer guests’ questions.
- Guest Questions and Surveys: Ask about dietary restrictions so there’s something for everyone at the event.
- Send it your way: Send invitations via email, text, or shareable link on social media or a messaging app—perfect for parties where you need to get the word out to a lot of people.
Get started on the next decade with Paperless Post
Ready, set, plan! Whether you’re planning the big 3-0 or you’re on to the next party of the year, Paperless Post has the 30th birthday invitations and party supplies you need to make all your events great. Designed with you in mind, Paperless Post is a one-stop shop for all your party needs. We’ve also tapped the experts for their party insights, including Cheree Berry, who shared her tips for hosting a milestone birthday party, and Derek Blasberg, who explained his high-low birthday philosophy. No matter what fun things you do on your birthday, Paperless Post is here to make it an event to remember.
