Celebrate With These Fun 70th Birthday Party Ideas (2024)

When someone turns 70, it’s a milestone birthday that deserves to be celebrated in a big way. It’s a special occasion that marks a person’s journey through the golden years of their life.

If you’re looking for ideas to organize a fun-filled 70th birthday party for your family member or friend, you’ve come to the right place!

In this article, we’ll cover some unique and exciting 70th birthday party ideas that will make the special day memorable for the guest of honor and all the party guests.

What Is a 70th Birthday Celebration Called?

A 70th birthday celebration is commonly referred to as a platinum jubilee. It’s a momentous occasion that celebrates a person’s journey through life and their accomplishments.

While it’s a time to celebrate the past, it’s also a time to look forward and make plans for the future.

No matter what type of 70th birthday celebration you plan, shows the person that has made such an impact in your life how much you care about them.

From decorations, activities, food and more – there are lots of ways to make this special day memorable for the guest of honor and all the party guests.

How Do You Organize a Fun Birthday Party?

Get ready for a thrilling adventure — you’re about to plan a spectacular 70th birthday bash!

The journey is filled with excitement and joy, but we get it, it can also feel like you’re navigating a maze, especially if you’re new to the world of party planning.

Questions might be popping like party balloons in your mind: “When’s the best time to start?” or “What should be my main priority?”

What’s the best menu for our guests? How can I make sure the party is as fun as a carnival?” It’s totally normal if these thoughts have been doing a conga line in your head, right?

But guess what? You’ve got a secret weapon — us! We’ve crafted an all-inclusive guide that will transform you into a party planning maestro. With this guide, any questions that might sneak up on you during your planning escapade will be tackled head-on!

70th Birthday Party Planning Checklist

Hosting an adult birthday party can be a fun and memorable experience for both the host and the guests. Here is a checklist of steps to take to ensure a successful celebration:

1. Choose the date: Choose a date that works best for the guest of honor and their close friends and family. Ideally, it should be over the weekend, so guests don’t have to rush after work or school.
2. Set your budget: Looking to throw an epic birthday bash without emptying your wallet? Don’t forget to start with setting a budget that works for you! A good rule of thumb is to budget around $10 per year of age, so you can plan an awesome party without overspending.
3. Pick the venue: Depending on the number of guests, pick a venue that can accommodate everyone and fits the theme. Common choices include restaurants, parks, or even the host’s home.
4. Choose a theme: Adding a theme to your party can make it more exciting and fun for the guests. Consider the honoree’s interests, hobbies, and favorite colors when selecting the theme.
5. Create a guest list: Make a list of everyone you want to invite to the party and send out invitations at least 3 weeks in advance.
6. Plan the food: Decide on the menu based on the party’s theme, venue, and guest’s dietary restrictions. You can either order food, cook yourself or have a potluck.
7. Plan activities: Keep your guests entertained with planned activities such as games, contests, or karaoke. This will keep your guests engaged and having fun throughout the party.
8. Decide on entertainment: If you want to have music, decide whether you will get a DJ or play your own music.
9. Prepare favors: Send your guests home with memorable favors as a token of appreciation for attending the party. You can personalize them by including pictures or adding special touches like a custom label.
10. Decorate: Use decorations such as balloons, banners, and centerpieces to create a festive atmosphere. The decorations should match the party’s theme.
11. Have a cake: Having a birthday cake is a tradition. Choose a cake that the guest of honor will love, be it homemade or store-bought.
12. Plan for a toast: As the party starts winding down, it’s time to plan for a toast in honor of the guest of honor. You can also have a wishes jar, where guests can write their wishes for the honoree.

By following these steps, you will be well on your way to throwing a successful adult birthday party that your guests will remember for years to come.

70th Birthday Party Theme Ideas

I would certainly recommend that you consider choosing a theme related to the birthday person’s interests and passions. This will make the event much more meaningful and memorable!

If you know that they like traveling, pick a destination for a travel-themed celebration. Decorate the space with colorful balloons, hang photos of the guest of honor’s travels on the wall or pin them to a map.

Serve food and drinks that are inspired by the chosen destination such as a margarita bar to represent Mexico or a sushi platter for Japan.

If the guest of honor is an avid sports fan, create a themed party around their favorite sport. Use team colors throughout the space. Hang jerseys, banners, and flags of the beloved team. Serve snacks like mini hot dogs, popcorn and peanuts.

If the birthday person is a food lover, create a “foodie” theme. Ask guests to bring their favorite dishes from family recipes or even go out and find new ones.

Decorate with cutlery, dishware and ingredients as centerpieces and hang up posters of famous chefs.

No matter what type of party theme you choose, make sure to create an atmosphere that celebrates the guest of honor’s life journey and accomplishments. Let them know they are truly loved and appreciated!

Here are 10 more theme ideas for a 70th birthday party:

1. Decade Party: Choose a decade that the birthday person loved or grew up in, such as the ’50s, ’60s, or ’70s. Encourage guests to dress up in period-appropriate attire.
2. Book Club: If the birthday person is an avid reader, consider a party themed around their favorite book or author. You could even have a mini book club discussion during the party.
3. Garden Party: If they love nature, consider a garden party. Decorate with lots of flowers and serve a light, fresh menu.
4. Hobby Theme: Center the party around the birthday person’s hobby, such as golfing, painting, or fishing. Decorations and activities can reflect this theme.
5. Wine Tasting Party: If they’re a wine lover, consider a wine tasting party. You can even hire a sommelier to guide the tasting.
6. Casino Night: Set up card tables and offer a variety of games like poker, blackjack, and roulette. Don’t forget to include some fun prizes!
7. Hollywood Glamour: Roll out the red carpet and encourage guests to dress up as their favorite classic Hollywood stars.
8. High Tea Party: Serve a variety of teas along with finger sandwiches, scones, and pastries. This can be especially fun with a “Downton Abbey” or Victorian theme.
9. Jazz Club: Set up a jazz club atmosphere with live jazz music, dim lighting, and classic cocktails.
10. Retro Diner: Create a ’50s-style diner experience with classic diner food, milkshakes, and rock ‘n’ roll music.

Remember, the best theme will depend on the interests and preferences of the person celebrating their birthday.

What Makes a Birthday Party Successful?

I have thrown many parties in my time and my personal recommendation for a successful birthday party is twofold:

1. Know the likes and dislikes of the honoree and the guests. Catering to what they enjoy can help to make the entire event a lot of fun.
2. Keep it simple and easy for yourself. Planning as many details as possible and getting as much help as possible can make it easy for you so that you too can enjoy the event.

As I mentioned above, activities for a 70th birthday party should reflect the honoree’s interests, but may also include some more traditional activities such as trivia or charades.

Consider including a variety of activities in order to keep everyone engaged throughout the event.

Below are some of the best 70th birthday party ideas that we came up with. We hope you enjoy them.

11 Party Ideas for a Woman’s 70th Birthday Party

If you’re planning a 70th birthday party for a woman, here are some great ideas that she’ll love:

• A Spa Day – Treat the birthday girl to a relaxing day at a spa. It’s the perfect way to unwind and pamper herself.
• Memory Lane Photo Album – For a small gathering, it can be fun for everyone to participate in creating a photo album that highlights her favorite memories of her life. It’s a thoughtful gift that she’ll treasure forever.
• Candle-making workshop – Host a candle-making workshop where guests can make their own candles with unique scents and colors.
• Beach House Getaway – A weekend getaway to a beach house is an excellent choice for some quality time with family and friends.
• High Tea Party – Organize a High Tea party with fancy tea cups, saucers and dainty sandwiches and desserts for guests to enjoy.
• Photo Booth – A photo booth is a great way to capture special moments and memories with friends and family.
• Wine tasting and painting – Combine wine tasting with a painting class where guests can create their own paintings while enjoying their favorite wines.
• Movie night – Another great idea could be to set up a cozy movie night with the guest of honor’s favorite movies and snacks for guests to enjoy. The Book Club might be a fun movie for everyone.
• A Craft Day – I went to a party once where the hostess had tables set up with craft items on each table. We spent the day making our own walking stones from a kit and decorating wreaths for our doors. Everyone took their craft item home. It was a lot of fun.
• Shopping Trip – My mother loved to shop and I know many older women who love to do that too. So, if your 70 year old enjoys it to, then take her to a special mall or outlet or maybe just her favorite place to shop.
• Historical tour – Organize a historical tour of a local landmark or museum for guests to learn about the history of the area.

Just remember, that most of the time, the best gift you can give to someone who’s reached the 70th milestone of their life is the gift of time.

For many, a gathering of the whole family can be of the of the best 70th birthday gifts they can receive.

11 Party Ideas for a Man’s 70th Birthday Party

If you’re planning a 70th birthday party for a man, here are some great ideas that he’ll love:

• Classic Car Road Trip – Take the birthday boy on a classic car road trip that he’ll never forget. Many major cities have classic and vintage car rental shops! (That’s something I didn’t know until now.)
• Outdoor games – Set up outdoor games like horseshoes, cornhole, or bocce ball for guests to play and enjoy.
• Golfing Getaway – If he loves golfing, take him on a golfing getaway to his favorite course. Or, book a day or weekend at a golf resort he’s always wanted to go to.
• Beer or wine tasting – Organize a beer or wine tasting event with a variety of different types of beer or wine for guests to try and enjoy.
• Scavenger hunt – Organize a scavenger hunt with clues and riddles based on the guest of honor’s life and interests.
• Casino Night – Organize a casino night for him and his friends to enjoy some fun games and entertainment.
• Family sports tournament – Organize a sports tournament, such as a round-robin volleyball or basketball competition.
• Karaoke – Rent a karaoke machine and let guests sing their favorite songs and have a good time.
• Live Music – Hire a live band or musician to perform his favorite songs.
• Cookout – Host a cookout with grilled favorites like hamburgers and hot dogs, along with fun sides and desserts for guests to enjoy.
• Comedy show – Hire a stand-up comedian to perform a comedy show for guests to enjoy.

70th Birthday Gift Ideas

Finding the perfect gift for someone’s 70th birthday can be challenging.

Here are some great 70th birthday gift ideas that are sure to impress:

• Personalized Photo Book – A photo book that highlights the special moments and memories of the birthday person’s life is a thoughtful and personal gift.
• LED Night Light, Charger and Lamp – This great little gadget is 3 things in one! It’s a dimmable night light, plays music via Bluetooth and charges your phone as well.
• Vintage Year Beer Glass – These beer glasses proudly show the year your 70 year old was born and that he’s (or she’s) aged to perfection.
• Rose Throw Blanket – For anyone who loves to snuggle under a blanket (I know I do!) then any throw blanket can be a wonderful gift for your senior loved one.
• 70th Birthday Shirt – A shirt that says “70 Years Of Being Awesome” is a special way to commemorate their milestone birthday.
• Customizable Puzzle – A customizable puzzle with an image of their choice makes for a fun and unique gift.

If you’re about to celebrate a woman’s 70th birthday – check out our page of great gifts for her!

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

A 70th birthday celebration is a special time for everyone involved. It’s a milestone birthday and a time to celebrate the life of the birthday honoree.

With the right planning and preparation, a 70th birthday party can be a wonderful way to create new memories and cherish old ones.

Whether you’re planning a big party or a small gathering, there are plenty of options to make the celebration a success.

Remember to keep the birthday person’s preferences and interests in mind, and you’re sure to create a celebration that they’ll never forget.