The "Big 5-0" Birthday. Celebration ideas?

[onomatopoeia]

DH is turning 50 in a few months and I'd like to plan something special.  It needs to include 3 teenagers and a set of in-laws (parents, sister and her husband), at least for part of it.   I was thinking a harbor dinner cruise then a night out on the town, or even a night away somewhere.  I'm curious about how other people have celebrated because I have no imagination about stuff like this.  

[shauni27]

budget? travel involved?

[shauni27]

if you want to stay local, maybe a nice dinner out with the people you mentioned at your favorite restaurant? Is a fun city within driving distance that you could all go to and stay at a hotel?

For my 40th birthday, H will also be turning 40, we are going on a trip. We started saving for it now, 10 months to go, lol. I will also do a splurge spa day for just me.

[tacokick]

For my husband’s birthday we recreated his 10th birthday party and went roller skating then made pizza and ice cream sundaes. It was a big hit with everyone! We do know a lot of very good roller skaters lol

Our friend had a catered party when he turned 40 in his home which was fun. Fancy food and everyone really dressed up.

[CrazyLucky]

I have the same question, with DH turning 50 next year and me the year after. He really likes soccer, so I looked into getting a suite for a game. For 28 people, it's almost $7k, and that doesn't include food. So that's a no. He loves camping, so we could do a big camping trip, but a lot of people we know don't like camping. I like the idea above of a big dinner out.

[litskispeciality]

We went to a casino for one of my SIL's 50th, however it was Thanksgiving weekend so it was extra $$$. DH and I ended up staying off resort due to the cost. Anyway, in theory as a non-gambler it was a fun idea. We had dinner, we went to a dance club. SIL had a suite we could all go to to drink and enjoy at a cheaper rate.

DH and I happened to vacation in the DR on his 40th b-day by accident/when our schedules worked out, but we don't travel with family. I think a 50th b-day is worthy of a big trip, but maybe just for you and your H, kids if they can go.

I had my 40th at a brewery, mostly because of schedules and still coming out of COVID. At first I was kind of meh, but it worked out really well. Plenty of space, live music, food and drink, and nothing to plan. We later returned to our house for a small BBQ and sleep over for OOT friends. I've since seen a few other 40 or 50th b-days at the brewery as well. One of DH's good friends had a surprise 40th at a club they belong too that had a bar and they had food catered. It was a big hit and seemed rather easy to plan for a big group.

I love tacokick, idea, especially as it seems like skating is making some what of a come back. Really anything that's fun for the guest of honor to relive good memories.

[EvieEthelGarland]

What about renting a house on a lake/at the beach/in the mountains for a weekend for a family getaway?

I'm turning 50 this year and my sister 40, so we're going to Europe in the fall--no boys allowed. Our mom is bummed she can't go so now I'm thinking about renting a bigger lake house and inviting my parents for our Labor Day weekend.

I do like tacokick's retro suggestion. My dad's 50th was a surprise party at Chuck E. Cheese and my uncle's was at McDonald's.

[onomatopoeia]

Mar 28, 2024 10:49:40 GMT -5 shauni27 said:

budget? travel involved?

Budget is around or under 2K-ish.  My SIL is coming from very far away and so my lovely in-laws have offered to "host" whatever we do as it will be a small family reunion of sorts as well.  Sp basically to get to spend other people's money.  We don't want to travel far as SIL is already traveling quite a distance to get here. My MIL is also not very mobile so it can't be anything too active.

ETA: I'm really just curious as to what other people have done! 

[waverly]

I mentioned to DH that we could rent a room at a restaurant and his response was that he would not be here. Where are you going, I asked. He told me that he will be on a trip somewhere, so I guess we are going on a trip, location TBD.

[spindle92]

Well 2 weekends ago I went back to IL for my good friends 50th bday.
She threw it herself and it was actually quite amazing.

She has never been married and has no kids, so she has never had a big party (think wedding recption or baby shower....) for herself so I think that was the driving force for going all out like this.

She rented a venue that hosts pickle ball. (we all side eyed her for this but it ended up being a blast.)
There is a huge bar with 36 self pouring wells, a DJ and dance floor in the middle of the building.
On each side of that was two large mezzanines that overlooked 9 pickly ball courts.

She rented out one of the mezzanines and went to town.
Had a huge balloon arch, a professional photographer, catered food, an amazing custom cake and speciality cupcakes....and then after 2 hours of eating and drinking, a professional pickle ball player took those who wanted to, down to the courts where thye played drunk pickle ball.

I was joking on here before hand because I was assigned as the person to check everyone in. To play that part up, we found a velvet rope and I had a clip board and everything.
It was a lot of fun.

[dancingnancy]

One of my favorite bands ever will be playing nearby on my 50th birthday so that’s what I’m doing. When my brother turned 50 his gf rented a private room at a bar and ordered a bunch of food, cash bar. When one of my girlfriends turned 50 we did a party at a friends house with games, karaoke and a bonfire. For my 40th a group of my friends and I went to CA wine country.

[leahcar]

We had a "block party" for MH. He wanted a big party- at home- post-COVID.

I set up a bounce house obstacle course in my backyard. Kids went on it earlier- drunken adults had great fun on it later in the night. We had a gourmet hot dog vendor bring their cart and set up outside (curb by front yard) for 2 hours. We had slushy machines (with booze that could be added for the adults) and then coolers of beer/water/soda. We sat up other favorite foods of MH's inside along with cake. Oh- and a band came for an hour. We just played music for the rest. My FIL hired the band. My SIL did the hot dog cart and some decorations. I did the rest of the food/drinks, more decorations, and rented the obstacle course along with extra tables & chairs. It honestly wasn't that expensive (the whole thing was less than 2K) and everyone had a blast.

[shauni27]

onomatopoeia, with that update I love the idea of renting a house for the whole family somewhere nearby but still special. Big birthday party.

When my husband turned 30 we did a pizza hut birthday party to recreate one of his childhood parties. it was fun!

[meanie]

My H is very anti-party so I did a small gathering at his dad's (big farm in NH with an attached apartment for us to stay in). The core group of childhood friends stuck around to sleep over and he stayed up with them around a fire all night while I fetched them drinks.

We have friends that did a really cool thing - the husband is big into baseball so she planned a big trip to see games in a bunch of different cities. She had people surprise him at some of them, we met them in Philly. His last game at Fenway had a huge group show up for a party. 

[litskispeciality]

I think all the Pizza Hut's near me have closed, but now I totally want a PH party, lol.

Add me to the rent a place and just have a nice couple of days party. That seems to be a great medium of not having to go too much further, but if it's the right location those who want to go do more can leave and come back. I agree to make sure you check with your spouse that they're ok with this even if their parents are paying for it.

[rubytue]

My plan for my 50th was to bring in my favorite singer and host a house show. I need to get on booking him, as it’s in 4 months.

edit: I also have this dream to go to Paris and take a weeklong pastry class. 

[rosiebear]

These are all great ideas but I saw a woman on TikTok who does ridiculously bad and loud and over the top singing telegrams so I’m gonna go with that.

[spindle92]

Mar 28, 2024 14:36:01 GMT -5 rosiebear said:

These are all great ideas but I saw a woman on TikTok who does ridiculously bad and loud and over the top singing telegrams so I’m gonna go with that.

We just learned that my boss is petrified of Dolly Parton.
who is scared of this national treasure?

Well his bday is in June and I found a lookalike who does singing telegrams.

She is already booked.

[spindle92]

Mar 28, 2024 14:36:01 GMT -5 rosiebear said:

These are all great ideas but I saw a woman on TikTok who does ridiculously bad and loud and over the top singing telegrams so I’m gonna go with that.

Is it the lady in the red costume (I think it might be a pizza but I'm not positive)?
She is amazing!!!

[definitelyO]

Our friend group primarily does trips - either weekends in state or not...

My 50th was in 2021 and still a bit covid-y (as in we had a friend cancel as she tested positive) We rented a house on a lake about 5 hours away with me and 5 girlfriends and also spent a day at a hotsprings.
Here is what we've done for other friends:

1) Girls trip to Napa for 4 nights (12 of us)
2) trip to Key West
3) pontoon boat on the lake with a luau theme (2020)
4) surprise party at friend's house (2020)
5) champagne pairing dinner in for 13 and then a trip to Costa Rica with 6 of us a few months later
6) weekend away to ski resort - 3 hours away with spa day
7) trip to local (45 min away) fancy hotel/resort
8) themed dinners in /out

My 40th we had at a local cooking place and they did a mini cooking class but mainly everyone just hung out and the chefs did the cooking

[definitelyO]

if you do rent a house somewhere to all hang out and celebrate (which I love) maybe you can have a personal chef come in one night to make dinner. We did that for MIL's 80th and she loved it. In our area it was around $80 pp for a 4 course meal.

[redheadbaker]

H turns 50 later this year. I'll probably do a surprise party at my parents' (bigger house, and more accessible for my cousin who uses a wheelchair) with a "Cold One for the Old One" theme (basically, beer. Lots of beer.)