Stumped on how to celebrate your teen’s birthday this year? Celebrating a milestone? Need teen birthday party ideas? We asked parents on our Facebook page for your tweens’ and teens’ favorite birthday party ideas and over 100 great suggestions. Here are some of our favorite birthday party ideas for teens!
Has your kid already planned their birthday party?
Lots of parents advise that before you plan a birthday party, ask your kids how they want to celebrate. Some kids get really excited when you give them the chance to plan an event and to figure out what they want to experience. They might even surprise you with a list of ideas they’ve been saving for this very occasion!
If you and your teen can’t think of anything, keep scrolling for inspiration! You can also go through this list together and brainstorm birthday party ideas.
1. Movie Theater Birthday Party
Is there a movie premiere that weekend or a favorite old movie your teen wants to share with friends for their birthday? Ask your local cinema about renting a theater for a private screening—some theaters even offer discounts on popcorn, candy, and soda or let you skip the concessions line. For a fun birthday party idea, research local theaters for pricing, policies, and how far in advance you need to reserve. You’ll also want to get a headcount early on. On the day of the party, arrive early to ensure everything is set up and ready for the movie to start on time. If renting the whole theater isn’t an option, consider reserving a row of seats for your teen and their friends, as many theaters now allow seat reservations in advance.
2. Watch a Movie in Your Backyard
If the weather cooperates, hosting an outdoor movie night in your backyard can be a perfect birthday party idea for teens. All you need is a projector, a white sheet or inflatable screen, snacks, and seating. Start by deciding how you’ll project the film—whether it’s a sheet pinned to the house or an inflatable screen—and gather your supplies. Many affordable projectors connect to phones or computers, making setup easier than you might think.
Test everything beforehand to avoid technical issues, and remember that darker conditions are best for a clear picture, so plan for a later showing. On the day of, check the weather and have a backup plan in case of rain to protect both your guests and your equipment. Also, be mindful of the movie length, noise levels, and set a curfew to respect your neighbors.
3. Go to a Drive-In Movie
For a fun birthday party idea, take your teen and their friends to a retro drive-in theater. Though not as common, you might find one within driving distance. Pack the car with snacks, bug spray, and something fun to do while waiting for sundown. Bring blankets, pillows, and beach chairs to set up a cozy viewing spot. Research nearby drive-ins ahead of time, as they often have limited film options and schedules. Choose a larger car to fit everyone comfortably and minimize the number of cars you bring. Arrive early to snag the best parking spots and don’t forget a radio, as the movie’s audio comes through an AM frequency. You can bring your own snacks, though the concession stand’s treats may be hard to resist.
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4. Host a Birthday Movie Marathon
No drive-in? No problem! Host a movie marathon sleepover instead. Use your streaming service or borrow DVDs from the library for a fun-filled night (though don’t expect much sleep). Gather your movies in advance—make sure they’re available for streaming or reserve them from the library. On the day of, set up a cozy viewing area with space for sleeping bags, comfy seating, and a table for snacks and drinks. To ensure some rest, talk with your teen about noise levels and set expectations, like keeping the TV volume down and having a quiet time.
5. Give Your Teen’s Bedroom a Makeover for Their Birthday
Let your teen redecorate their bedroom as a fun birthday activity! Give them a budget and the freedom to express themselves, whether that means painting the walls black, adding song lyrics, or hanging posters of K-pop idols. Start by brainstorming ideas together, maybe even creating a vision board. Clean the room ahead of time, getting rid of things they no longer need, which will make the makeover easier. Cover or move furniture before painting and gather all necessary supplies. If painting, be sure to ventilate the room, and consider setting up a temporary sleeping space until the fumes clear.
6. Have a Bowling Birthday Party!
Bowling is a classic birthday party idea, perfect for smaller groups of teens. Drop your teen and their friends off at the bowling alley, making sure everyone has socks and some cash for snacks. To ensure the group can bowl together, reserve lanes ahead of time. Arrive early so they can maximize their time on the lanes—once the game starts, no one can be added! Bringing extra socks is a good idea, just in case someone forgets.
7. Try Laser Tag!
Laser tag is an exciting birthday party idea for teens, especially if they enjoy shooter video games. It’s like hide-and-seek with an adrenaline boost, combining strategy and action. To set up, determine how many people will be attending—larger groups might be able to reserve an entire session, while smaller groups could be mixed with others. On the day of the party, arrive early to organize everything before the game starts, as schedules are strict. Make sure everyone dresses in darker clothes to stay stealthy under the blacklight!
8. Get Messy with Paintball
Paintball is like laser tag’s messier, more intense cousin, with a focus on strategy in broad daylight. For a fun birthday party, research local venues and make sure all parents are comfortable with their teens playing. Remind everyone coming to wear old clothes they don’t mind getting dirty or damaged, and stress the importance of following safety rules. Bring towels for the car ride home to keep the seats clean from any paintball mess!
9. Solve a Mystery in an Escape Room
Escape rooms are a popular and fun birthday party idea for teens, offering a great group activity where they’ll need to work together to solve puzzles and riddles to crack a mystery. Research local escape rooms, as some offer different themes for various age groups. Remind the group of teens to follow the rules and that it’s okay to ask for a hint if they get stuck. For horror movie fans, consider adding a movie night afterwards to watch a film like Saw, which helped inspire the escape room craze!
10. Solve a Mystery at Home!
Throwing a murder mystery birthday party is easier than it seems, you can even purchase your own mystery kits with the perfect plot. Just gather a group of teens who can stay in character, enforce a “no googling” rule, and add costumes and themed decorations for extra fun. Choose a kit and ensure RSVPs, as these games often need a specific number of players. On the day of the party, hand out character details either beforehand (if you trust them not to spoil it) or just before the party starts. A dress code can enhance the atmosphere—after all, a duchess wouldn’t wear a T-shirt! Be sure to give the “victim” something fun to do while they’re out of the game, which could be a great task for a parent or sibling.
11. Go on a Scavenger Hunt
A classic scavenger hunt makes for a fun and engaging birthday party activity for teens. Have your teen and their friends snap photos of each clue they find—perfect for proof and quick social media posts! Start by deciding on a location, whether it’s at home or downtown, and scout the area for clue ideas while checking business hours if needed. On the day of the hunt, place the clues ahead of time and keep a list of locations for easy cleanup. Ensure each team has a phone in case they get lost. If your teen loves it, consider trying geocaching next time!
12. Take Advantage of Seasonal Activities
Is their birthday in the middle of the summer? How about going on a beach trip, camping, or kayaking with a group of their friends. Looking for fall birthday party ideas? Go apple picking, or paint pumpkins together. Winter? Try skiing, snowboarding, tubing, sledding, or ice skating. You can even build snow forts, snow sculptures, or snowmen in the yard. Spring birthday? Try hiking. Pack sunscreen, water, a disposable camera, and have fun exploring nature and the great outdoors.
13. Have a Museum Birthday Party
There are many different types of museums that make for great birthday parties. Depending on your teen’s interests, you can go to an art museum, a science museum, or a historical museum. Look at what museums are near you and consider which would be the most fun for your teen and their friends!
14. Go to an Aquarium
Do you have a great aquarium nearby? If so, that can make for a great birthday party! The nice part about aquariums is that they’re usually indoors, so it cannot be cancelled due to weather. It is very easy to plan too. First you need a headcount of everyone coming and then just purchase tickets! You can also make the whole theme of the birthday aquatic, with an ocean cake and accessories.
15. See Animals at the Local Zoo!
Zoos make for an exciting and unique birthday party option for teens, offering a fun-filled day where they can explore and see all sorts of animals up close. With a variety of exhibits, feeding times, and interactive shows, there’s always something to see and do, making it a perfect blend of adventure and education.
16. Go to a Concert
Taking your teen to a concert for their birthday is an unforgettable experience, whether they go with you or a friend. Scoring tickets to see their favorite band or artist live is always a blast, so keep an eye on local venues for upcoming shows.
Buying tickets in advance is key, as popular concerts can sell out quickly. Encourage your teen to watch for tour announcements and try to snag presale tickets if possible. Don’t forget to bring some extra cash for merchandise—concert souvenirs are always a hit! And remember, smaller or up-and-coming artists can make for an equally amazing concert experience.
17. See a Show
Theater tickets make a perfect birthday gift for your teen, whether it’s a professional touring show or a local production of an old favorite. Theater has become more accessible than ever, so check the schedules of local colleges, venues, and companies—some performances might even be free, like Shakespeare in the Park! Pro tip: bring a sharpie, as many theaters offer opportunities to meet the cast afterward for autographs.
18. Buy Tickets to a Sporting Event
If your teen loves sports, taking them to a game is a great birthday idea—grab a pair of tickets so they can bring a friend. Don’t just check major leagues; minor league games can be just as fun and often have easier access to tickets. On game day, plan your commute to and from the stadium, as big events can mean long drives, or consider taking public transportation. If it’s an outdoor game, don’t forget the sunscreen!
19. Get your Thrills at a Theme Park
Treat your teen and a small group of friends to a fun day at a local theme park, water park, or carnival—ideal for older teens if you won’t be chaperoning. Cover their tickets and have them text when they’re ready for pickup after a day of rides. Research local attractions for prices, seasonal events, and the best times to avoid crowds. Remind your teen to apply sunscreen, bug spray, and charge their phone. Be aware of park policies on outside food and budget for hydration. Keep an eye out for discounted tickets through local deals or coupons!
20. Have a Field Day
A trampoline park, bouncy castle, or inflatable obstacle course can make loads of fun. Add classic field day activities like a three-legged race or water balloon toss, and you’ve got a hit—weather permitting! Work with your teen to plan outdoor games and look into renting larger items, keeping your available space in mind. On the day, serve refreshing treats like watermelon, burgers, and chips. Be sure to consider the physical capabilities of all guests, offering less intensive activities for those who can’t participate in the more active games.
21. Relax With a Spa Day
22. Get Crafty
Try visiting a local arts and crafts center, like a pottery studio, for some hands-on fun. A paint night is like the artistic version of a best friend necklace! If you prefer crafting at home, options like tie-dye, decoupage, or making flower crowns are perfect. When hosting a craft day at home, plan a budget and shop locally for supplies. Be ready to get messy on the day of, and if you’re making pottery, remember that it won’t be finished until after it’s fired, so plan how to get it back to your guests later.
23. Try a Game Night
Like board games? Card games? Party video games? Make a night out of it. Get out your game collection, or have your guests bring their own favorite games. Or maybe get a new game you’ve been itching to try. (Need game ideas? Check out our list of best games for teens.)
Bring all those games out of storage and give them a quick dusting. Tell guests to bring any game they want to play. If you’re playing a video game, make sure everything is downloaded and ready to go.
Always check how long an average game lasts before you start, and make sure you know how many people can play each game. You don’t want anyone at the party to feel left out!
24. Book a Hotel Room Sleepover
Sleepovers making your house feel a bit crowded? A great way to give your teen a bit more space and relieve the pressure of having to get your house ready to host a bunch of kids (and possibly their parents) while still maintaining a sense of supervision is to bring your teen’s sleepover party to a hotel. Check with local locations for capacity rules, put a cap on how much they can spend on room service, and get a room for yourself down the hall. Ah, nice, a mini-vacation.
25. Send Them Thrift Shopping
An eco-friendly alternative to the traditional shopping spree, going thrift shopping with a few friends is a great bonding activity and opportunity to express themselves through the wonder that is slow-fashion.
Do research and come up with a list of stores within driving distance of each other. Attendees should wear comfortable shoes and keep their phones charged for pick-up – this whole experience might take a while.
26. Give Them a Day Off
Gift your kid some cash, lift their chores and household responsibilities for the day, and let them sleep in as long as they want. Being a teen is enough pressure!
Clear the schedule as much as possible – some things can’t be planned around, like school, but they might be able to get a few days ahead on their homework for specific classes.
27. Bake-Off Party
Throwing a bake-off birthday party involves setting up a competitive yet fun environment where guests can showcase their baking skills. Choose a theme or specific item to bake, such as cupcakes, cookies, or pies, to provide focus.
Setting Up: Equip your kitchen with necessary baking tools and ingredients for each participant. Plan the event to allow enough time for baking, cooling, and judging.
The Day Of: Set up work stations for the teens to prep their baked goods
Helpful Tips: Keep a close eye on the teens and make sure that everyone is safe! You don’t want anyone eating raw foods or burning themselves with the oven
28. Organized Sports
If your teen loves playing sports, then you could coordinate sports tournaments as their birthday party! You can have various games such as around the world or HORSE for basketball. You can obtain small trophies to give out to the game winners!
Decide on what sports your teen wants to play at their party and gather all of the materials such as balls and jerseys. Grab a whiteboard and help with the organizing of games. Help them create teams and brackets!
Safety first! It is important that nobody gets hurt while playing competitive games
29. Painting Party
Gather all of your teen’s friends and have a painting party! Painting is super fun and relaxing, and everyone will have their own art piece to take home!
Gather all of the art supplies including paint, paint brushes, and canvases. Set up painting stations. Put plastic table cloths over your tables so you’re not left with a huge mess afterwards. Give painting prompts so people don’t have to come up with their own ideas.
30. Copy a Friend’s Birthday Party
If none of these ideas are hitting the mark, maybe what your kid really wants to do is copy the birthday party their friend had last month. If it works for you and your budget, then let them. Take the pressure off both of you to come up with something original by embracing that template and building on their friend’s success.
No matter how you choose to celebrate, the most important thing to remember is to make sure your teen knows just how much they deserve to be celebrated for their accomplishments in the last year. Every milestone is worth recognition, even if that’s just making it one more revolution around the sun.