12 Fun Things to Do for Your Birthday Besides Dinner and Drinks

If I were a tad more narcissistic, I would 100 percent believe the lyrics “It’s my party, and I’ll cry if I want to” were written for me and only me. I suffer from a chronic and extreme case of the birthday blues. Every year, I lament being forced to age up against my will. To placate my aging spiral, I also have to come up with exciting birthday plans. These plans need to feel more special than a regular night without being so over-the-top that you turn into the obnoxious birthday girl (you know, the one in middle school who made their “birthday month” everyone’s problem). If you always reluctantly acquiesce to dinner and a few cocktails to celebrate your birthday because you can’t think of anything else, this year is the year that changes. Keep scrolling for 12 things to do for your birthday that are far more entertaining than dinner and drinks.

1. Embark on a bake-off or cook-off

If you grew up on shows like Cake Boss, Cupcake Wars, or Top Chef and have been secretly waiting for the day someone asks you to compete in a cook-off, consider this your call to action. Create the opportunity yourself and challenge your friends to compete. Rather than buying a store-bought birthday cake, have a face-off to see who makes the tastiest one. You can offer a prize to the winner to really up the stakes, and you’ll have a delicious treat to eat after you’re all done.

2. Throw a “funeral” for your last age

Sometimes, the only way to welcome a new age is to properly say goodbye to your old one. For the chicest way to usher in a new year, hold a glamorous funeral for your previous age. It’s just the right amount of mourning cleverly disguised as a party. Plus, this birthday party idea is especially apt if you’re entering a new decade. Ask your guests to arrive in their best black outfits, give a eulogy dedicated to your past age, and set the scene with all-black decor.

3. Host a sleepover

You might think sleepover birthday parties ended with middle school graduation, but that’s not true. Lean into the nostalgia and bring back an adult slumber party with your besties this year. Partake in all the classic sleepover activities like prank calls, movie marathons, DIY manicures, and snacking on junk food. It’s the best way to enjoy time with your friends while honoring your inner child.

4. Try a wine tasting

Sure, we all wish we could escape to the Italian countryside for the finest class of vino for our birthday celebration, but pesky things like responsibilities and budget get in the way. Instead, bring the vineyard to you and put together a wine-tasting event for you and your guests. Grab a few bottles from Trader Joe’s to keep things budget-friendly, or splurge on a few special varieties if you’re more of a connoisseur. Complete the atmosphere with a stunning charcuterie board and a fabulous playlist.

5. Have a spa day

Arguably, the biggest birthday treat is taking time to do absolutely nothing but relax. If that sounds like your dream day, consider a spa day for your birthday. This could include booking a bougie massage and facial or inviting friends over for a DIY approach. For your own spa day, gather sheet masks, nail polish, candles, lemon water, and tea. Then, queue some spa music and sit back and relax.

6. See a psychic

Birthdays always bring forth some anxiety about what the future might hold. This year, get some answers about the next year in the most exciting way possible. Rounding up your friends to face the future together with a psychic is such a cool-girl way to ring in a new year. You can go to a psychic, hire someone to do readings at a party at your place, or even buy some tarot cards and an instruction book to do amateur readings for yourself and your friends.

7. Put together a birthday picnic

If you love dining al fresco but want something more special than patio seating at your usual haunt, try setting up shop at a beautiful park. All you need is a cute picnic blanket, some flowers for aesthetics, and something to munch on. You can bring food from home or, my personal favorite, order takeout from a restaurant and avoid cooking altogether. It’s an easy way to have the aesthetic birthday of your Pinterest board dreams.

8. Act as a tourist in your city

Tourists may sometimes be the bane of your existence as a local, but you have to admit, no one is having a better time than them. Grab a friend and play tourist in your city with all the eye-rolling, laughable, and cheesiest activities. You probably haven’t done most of them before (or at the very least, it’s been a long time), and it’s always so much fun to see your own city with fresh eyes. It’s also a great way to break up your typical routine, and there’s no better day than your birthday to get out of your comfort zone.

9. Get crafty

Your craft night doesn’t need to revolve around the basic construction paper and scissors crafts from your childhood—it can be far more elevated. Make trendy charm necklaces, paint adorable ceramic mugs, design floral arrangements, or just go crazy with some paint on a canvas. This a fantastic way to get creative and in touch with your artsy side on your birthday. It’ll also leave you with a sentimental keepsake to represent your new age.

10. Host a cocktail or mocktail night

You might have seen videos on your FYP where each friend makes an elaborate cocktail (or mocktail) for everyone. For a birthday twist, host a cocktail night where everyone makes a cocktail that represents you or your friendship with them. I mean, it’s your day, after all. You will be shocked at how creative everyone’s concoctions are, and it beats the basic bar cocktail menu any day.

11. Make the ultimate girl dinner

We all remember when girl dinners took over the internet, and I’m just as obsessed with it now as when it first went viral. If you want to host a birthday dinner but don’t want to spend money out, and actually cooking sounds like punishment instead of celebration, a birthday girl dinner is the party for you. All you need to do is whip up all your favorite bites and weird combinations you typically eat for girl dinner and have your friends bring the same. The only rule is that no real entrée can be served.

12. Go glamping

There’s no need to rough it to enjoy camping. Glamping offers all the beauty of camping with just a touch of luxury. You can pitch a tent in your backyard, drive to a nearby campground, or book a glamping experience at an Airbnb or hotel. No matter how you glamp, focus on the little ways you can upgrade your camping experience, like bringing cozy bedding, hanging string lights around your campsite, or cooking something fancy instead of basic campfire food. There is nothing like getting out into nature for a grounding way to enter a new season of life.

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