Turning 13 is a huge milestone because this is when your child is officially a teenager! This special birthday deserves an unforgettable celebration, whether they want a big bash with friends or a low-key gathering with close family. If you’re looking for inspiration, here are some of the best 13th birthday party ideas to make their day amazing.
13th Birthday Party Themes and Ideas
1. Glow-in-the-Dark Party
Set up black lights, neon decorations, and glow sticks for an epic night of glowing fun. Guests can wear neon outfits, and you can add glow-in-the-dark face paint or accessories. You can host this birthday party in your backyard at night or in your basement!
2. Outdoor Movie Night
Transform your backyard into a cozy movie theater with a projector, blankets, and lots of popcorn. Let the birthday teen pick their favorite movie or host a double feature. Make sure to be conscious of neighbors and to not be too loud with the movie speakers!
3. Escape Room Challenge
Take the party to an escape room or create your own at home with puzzles and clues leading to a prize. It’s a great way to get everyone working together. You can probably find an escape room business near you, but you can also create your own at home by designing one yourself or by buying a kit online.
4. Visit an Amusement Park
For thrill-seekers, spending the day at an amusement park or water park is the ultimate birthday adventure. Get a group together and let them ride their favorite attractions all day. This birthday party idea is better for smaller groups because it can be difficult to look after a large group.
5. DIY Spa Day
Perfect for a chill celebration, set up a home spa with face masks, manicures, and cozy robes. Add some fun music, snacks, and mocktails for an ultimate relaxation day.
6. Sports Party / Backyard Olympics
Book a local sports facility or head to a park for a game of soccer, basketball, or even a fun obstacle course. You can also host a tournament for extra excitement. If you have a basketball hoop in your driveway or a large backyard, you can easily host this party at home!
7. Camping or Backyard Campout
Whether you head to a campsite or pitch tents in your backyard, a campout party with s’mores, ghost stories, and a stargazing session makes for a memorable experience.
8. Karaoke Night
Rent a karaoke machine or use a karaoke app and let the guests sing their hearts out! You can find lyric videos for almost any song on YouTube. Add disco lights and a small stage area for a real concert vibe.
9. Themed Costume Party
Pick a fun theme, like the ’80s, superheroes, or favorite movie characters, and have everyone dress up. You can then use this theme for everything in the 13th birthday party including cake, decorations, and activities.
10. Mall Scavenger Hunt
Create a list of fun challenges and send the birthday teen and their friends on a mall scavenger hunt. Set a budget for a small shopping spree as part of the game! If the teens have phones, they can use the camera to get proof of finding the scavenger hunt items.
11. Sleepover Birthday Party
A classic choice, a sleepover with movies, snacks, games, and DIY activities is always a hit. Make it extra fun with a waffle bar for breakfast the next morning. If you don’t want people sleeping over, consider hosting a sleepunder instead! It is the same as the sleepover with the same activities, except parents pick up their kids before bedtime.
12. DIY Pizza Party
Is your teen passionate about pizza? Make that the party theme! Let the guests make their own pizzas with different toppings. Turn it into a contest for the most creative or best-tasting pizza! Everyone can try each other’s pizzas after they’re baked.
13. Art Birthday Party
If you have an artistic teen, consider having an art birthday party! Set up a painting or craft station with canvases, paints, and other supplies. Guests can create their own masterpieces to take home as party favors. You can also set up stations for the guests to make slime, if they’re not artistic but want to join in on the fun.
13th Birthday Party Ideas for Girls
1. Pop Star Party
Have a dance-off, a playlist of favorite songs, and dress-up fun inspired by their favorite artist. If your daughter and her friends have a favorite pop star like Taylor Swift or Chappell Roan, use that as your 13th birthday party theme!
2. Nail Design Party
At 13 years old, many girls start taking interest in makeup. Use this interest to throw a nail design party! Get a bunch of different colored nail polish and decorations to build nail design stations at home!
3. French Tea Party
Host a Paris-themed party with French treats, fancy outfits, and a photo booth with Eiffel Tower props. This theme is great because it covers the visual decorations as well as the food and snacks.
4. DIY Photoshoot Party
Set up different backgrounds, props, and accessories for a fun, fashionable photoshoot. You can set up an iPad on a tripod to function as a photobooth. The nice part about this is that the pictures can be used as party favors!
13th Birthday Party Ideas for Boys
1. Nerf Battle Party
Nerf blasters are a huge hit among teen boys. If your son and his friends already have a lot of nerf blasters, consider setting up an organized battle! Set up an obstacle course and let guests battle it out in games such as capture the flag.
2. Survival Challenge
Do you have an outdoorsy son? Teach survival skills, have a campfire, and do outdoor challenges for an adventurous party. This is a great way to learn new skills and enjoy some time away from screens and digital devices.
3. RC Car Racing
Set up a race track and let guests compete in remote-controlled car or drone challenges. You can use chalk on your driveway to design various tracks. Use the stopwatch on your phone to track lap times. Hotwheels cars would make the perfect party favor for this birthday party theme!
4. Game Truck Party
Rent a mobile video game truck, so guests can play the latest games in a cool, high-tech setting. This is a hit with gamers who want an exciting but relaxed celebration. If you don’t want to rent a game truck, you can still have a super fun game party at home with your own consoles!