62 Things to Do on Your 18th Birthday: Party Ideas & More (2024)

Co-authored byCheyenne Main

Last Updated: January 29, 2024Fact Checked

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   Throw a costume party. A costume party can be a great way to celebrate your 18th. Ask your guests to come dressed as a meme, their favorite albums, their favorite sports player, or a character from their favorite movie or TV show. Serve food and drinks inspired by the theme and give prizes to the best dressed.

   • If all your friends come dressed as their favorite video game characters, try serving cupcakes with little plastic controllers in the frosting.

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   Create a beach-themed pool party. Break out the beach balls and plastic leis to celebrate your special day. Head to your local community pool, go to an open beach or turn your backyard into an oasis with plastic palm trees and ocean-printed tablecloths.

   • Invite your friends to wear their best swimsuits and serve tons of tasty snacks like potato chips, fruit, and grilled chicken skewers.

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   Host a pizza party. Who doesn’t love a hot cheesy pizza? Buy a ton of fresh hot pizzas from a local pizzeria or purchase all the ingredients, prepare the dough ahead of time, and set up a DIY pizza bar. Put down a red and white checkered tablecloth and play some Italian music to make it feel like you’re at your hometown pizza place.

   • Set up the bar outdoors and play outside games like cornhole or bring it inside and play board games or watch a movie together.

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   Have a fun mocktail party. Although 18 isn’t the legal drinking age in countries like the U.S., you can always flex your mixology skills by creating a fun mocktail bar.^[1] Purchase all the ingredients ahead of time, set it all up on a table or bar, and turn your home into a makeshift dive bar. Here are a couple of recipes to get you started:

   • Virgin mint mojito
   • Virgin Piña colada
   • Ginger lime mocktail
   • Alcohol-free amaretto sour
   • Coconut lips mocktail
   • Mulled apple juice

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   Set up a selfie studio and throw a thumping club party. Turn your house into a nightclub with flashing lights, glow sticks, and the perfect party playlist. Hang up a few confetti garlands, put up a nightclub backdrop, and provide tons of photo booth props so you can take fun selfies with you and your friends.

   • Serve traditional bar snacks like pretzels, popcorn, buffalo wings, loaded french fries, and cheeseburger sliders.

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   Throw a Hollywood-themed sleepover party. Treat the birthday person and their friends like celebrities for a night. Roll out a red carpet, set up a celebrity photo booth, have everyone come in costume, and dance the night away or watch a stack of award-winning films.^[2]

   • Provide popcorn, movie-theater candy boxes, sodas, slushies, and other snacks for guests to enjoy.^[3]

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   Turn off the lights for a glow-in-the-dark party. Buy a huge pack of glowsticks, fill your home with tons of glow-in-the-dark birthday decorations, hang up a few black lights, and fill a table with glowing utensils, plates, and napkins. You could even get luminescent paint and have a painting contest or play some party music and pretend you’re at your own private rave.^[4]

   • You could even make your glow party a sleepover or go out and play some glow-in-the-dark miniature golf with your friends.

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   Plan a murder mystery party. Murder mystery parties are classic events that can be fun for everyone. Pick out a murder mystery box with everything you need or choose a theme, write your own story, and set up all the decor. Assign your friends a character and ask them to come in costume, then follow the story!

   • You could even turn the party into a murder mystery dinner by serving foods that match your theme.
     • If you’re throwing a 1920’s 1920s-themed mystery party, try breaking out old 1920’s recipes and serving non-alcoholic sparkling cider for the champagne.

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   See Also

   18 Party Themes For Your 18th Birthday | Encore Blog5 Tips To Planning An Awesome 18th Birthday Party16 Best 18th Birthday Party Venues for Hire in LondonWhat you should actually be gifting 1-year-olds, according to experts

   Throw a potluck with all your friends. A potluck is a great way to keep party costs low while you’re celebrating your big day. Send out a simple sign-up sheet to assign a category of food to each of your friends, set up a couple of tables to hold it all, and you can provide the drinks or the plastic utensils.^[5]

   • Whether you’re planning your potluck inside or outside, you can set the mood by hanging string lights or planning the perfect party playlist.

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   Have a movie marathon night. Plan a line-up of your favorite flicks or make your movie night themed with a Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter marathon. Set up tons of comfy pillows, make a blanket fort, wear your comfiest clothes, or set up a projector to turn your living room into a DIY-theater.^[6]

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   Throw an outdoor picnic in your backyard or a local park. Invite your friends, grab a comfy blanket, and pack a wicker picnic basket with all your favorite foods for a relaxing summer lunch outside. In between bites of food, you can watch the clouds, toss around a ball, or play a few playing card games.

   • If the weather ruins the possibility of an outdoor picnic, take it inside and eat in front of one of your favorite movies.

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   Give you and your friends tarot readings. Tarot card readings can be a great way to find out others’ motivations and set the mood for the year ahead, even if you’re skeptical of the supernatural.^[7] Grab a deck of tarot cards and give your friends an insight into their past, present, and future.

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   Have a video game night. If you’re looking for a cheap birthday idea that requires little effort, invite all your friends to play video games at your place. You can provide a game system where you can compete with each other or have everyone bring their own laptops for a fun LAN party. Grab a couple of chairs and game on!

   • Serve gamer-themed drinks like Mountain Dew or Gatorade and snacks like popcorn, candy, cupcakes, and pretzels.

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   Follow a Bob Ross painting tutorial. Wear big curly hair wigs, set up a couple of easels, turn on Chill With Bob Ross, and paint happy little trees alongside animal-loving artist Bob Ross. All you need is a set of paintbrushes and a set of basic oil paints to throw the perfect Bob Ross painting party.

   • There are also Bob Ross painting classes you can take with certified Ross instructors.

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   Attend a glassblowing class. Looking for a unique way to spend your 18th birthday? Glassblowing is a fun, creative activity to do with a small group of your closest friends or family members. Plus, you might get to make an amazing glass piece you can show off to all your friends afterward.

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   Attend a cooking class. Adulthood can sneak up on you, which is why a cooking class might be the perfect activity for any person turning 18. Learn how to cook a specific dish, or find a cooking skills class where you can learn all the basics. Most classes also allow you to eat anything you make, so it’s dinner and entertainment all in one fun event!

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   Rent a party bus or limo and ride around in style. Fill a limo or party bus with all of your best friends and stop at the places that offer free food and gifts on your birthday. Stock your ride with all the coolest snacks, drinks, and a playlist of all the greatest hits.^[8]

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   Go skydiving. Most places allow you to sign a waiver all by yourself and go skydiving without parental consent once you hit 18.^[9] If you’re an adrenaline junkie or you’ve always dreamed of falling amongst the clouds, sign up for a skydiving class with your friends, family, or all by yourself.

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   Get a tattoo. One of the benefits of turning 18 is you can get a tattoo without your parent or guardian’s consent.^[10] Pick a design, search for shops in your area, check out their reviews, and set up an appointment to get your first (adult) tattoo.

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   Get a piercing. Once you turn 18, you can get a piercing without parental consent.^[11] Whether you’re itching to get an ear, nose, lip, or facial piercing, your 18th birthday might be the perfect opportunity to revamp your look.

   • Not sure what to ask for? Try our “What Piercing Should I Get?” quiz!

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   Buy a lottery ticket. Feeling lucky? When you turn 18, you can go out and purchase your own lottery ticket in some countries and in most states in the U.S. Make sure to bring your ID and check the laws in your state or country before you go to ensure that you meet the requirements.^[12]

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   Change your name. Ready to reinvent yourself before heading out into the adult world? You can legally change your name without your parent’s consent when you reach the age of 18.^[13] Legally changing your name can be a serious decision, so try having a few people close to you call you by that name first to see if you like it.

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   Adopt a dog or cat from a shelter. Most shelters require you to be at least 18 to adopt a furry friend. If you’ve always wanted a furry life-long friend, now might be your chance!^[14] Depending on the shelter, you might have to complete adoption paperwork, complete an interview, and/or pay an adoption fee in addition to showing your ID.

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   Show off your bowling skills at an alley. Bowling is a timeless activity for a reason! It’s not only easy to learn, but it can be a fun way to spend time with friends and celebrate your 18th trip around the sun. Some bowling alleys also serve pizza and other refreshments, so you can easily turn a trip to your local alley into a fun bowling party.

   • Bring your own cake, candles, and bowling-themed birthday decor to turn your lane into a birthday extravaganza.

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   Jump around at a trampoline park. Trampoline parks are filled with trampolines, foam pits, and tons of other activities for teens to enjoy. Many of them also have rooms you can rent out for birthdays and other activities like mini golf, bumper cars, laser tag, rock climbing walls, obstacle courses, and arcades.^[15]

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   See Also

   First Birthday Party on a Budget

   Set up a relaxing spa day. Depending on how much you plan to spend on your birthday, you could take your friends out to a professional spa and get the whole nine yards—massages, manicures, and maybe even a facial or two.

   • If you’re looking for a cheap alternative, you could stay and home and make a foot spa, try a steam facial, and give you and your friends a night of good old-fashioned pampering.

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   Visit a paintball field. Paintball is a competitive team shooting sport that’s fun for all skill levels—which makes it a great activity to celebrate an 18th birthday. There are tons of different variations on the game, but typically, you and your friends are split up into teams and have to eliminate the players on the other team to keep them from completing a specific task.

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   Go to an escape room. An escape room is an immersive 60-minute adventure game that might be perfect for any almost 18-year-old who loves finding clues and solving puzzles. Escape rooms come in a variety of different genres, from pirate-themed rooms to zombie apocalypse scenarios, which can make them fun for everyone.

   • There are also virtual escape rooms you can play online with your friends over a video conferencing platform like Skype or Zoom.

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   Get your adrenaline running at your local amusem*nt park. This activity might be perfect for anyone turning 18 in the warmer parts of the year. Not only can you spend a whole day with your friends and family on roller coasters and other exciting rides, but you can also try all the food stands, buy a couple of souvenirs, and celebrate your birthday in style.

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   Spend a few hours at a laser tag arena. Laser tag is another awesome activity that can be tons of fun, especially with a group of friends and family members. In some arenas, you can get a discount when going with a large group of people or rent out an entire space if you’re thinking about turning it into a full-on birthday party.

   • Some laser tag arenas are inside arcades, which means you might be able to keep playing even after the laser tag portion of the day is over.

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   Host a board game night. If the birthday person is a board game fanatic, consider throwing a fun game night with all their friends and family members. You could have everyone bring their favorite game or set out 4 or 5 of your own. Make sure to bring the snacks and drinks!

   • Set the mood with a fun playlist and set up cozy chairs and blankets so everyone is comfortable.

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   Attend a concert or music festival. Have a favorite band or music genre? Consider pooling your money and buying tickets to a concert or music festival for your special day. Afterward, you can treat yourself to a special meal at your favorite restaurant.

   • If the event is out-of-town, you can transform your musical outing into a mini staycation and book a night or two at a hotel or Airbnb.

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    Book a private karaoke room. Spend your special day showing off your singing skills with a group of your closest friends. You could go out to eat afterward or save some room for snacks at the karaoke place if they serve them.

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    Go to a roller skating or ice skating rink. Skating can be a great way to connect with your family and friends and make your birthday memorable and magical. Even if you don’t know how to skate, it can be fun to stumble through it and (hopefully) learn how to glide on the rink like a pro.

    • To turn this activity into a party, consider renting out the rink and bringing cake, birthday-themed decorations, and of course, tons of presents.

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    Head into the great outdoors for a short camping vacation. Learning how to set up a tent, building a roaring fire, roasting marshmallows, and sleeping under the stars can all be fun, memorable ways to connect with nature and celebrate another trip around the sun.

    • Make sure to bring the right amount of food for the number of days you’re spending in camp, pack a first aid kit, and check the weather before going out!

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   Treat yourself to a meal at your favorite restaurant. With each passing year, it can be easy to get caught up in work and life and forget to appreciate the little things. Celebrate this amazing milestone you’ve reached by booking some alone time and treating yourself to a delicious meal at a place you love.

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   See a new movie at the theater or at home. Whether you’re interested in seeing a new film that’s just come out or you want to watch a bunch of movies that have been on your list for a while, your birthday might be the perfect opportunity to treat yourself to a good story. Don’t forget the popcorn!

   • If you’re more into stage theater, consider buying tickets to a musical or play you’ve been dying to see.

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   Bake yourself a birthday cake. It’s still your birthday, after all. For some people, there’s just something relaxing and fun about baking something yourself. Buy a few fun decorations like sprinkles and frosting, then bake a cake using a box starter mix or following a recipe you’ve just been dying to try.^[16]

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   Go on a short weekend getaway. Traveling alone can be a great way to explore the world around you without worrying about entertaining anyone else. If you’ve had the travel bug for a while, your birthday might be the perfect opportunity to book a hotel and explore a new city or town.

   • For safety, consider giving your parents or guardians your phone number and the name of the hotel you’re staying at.^[17]

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   Donate to a cause you care deeply about. Whether you’re passionate about animal welfare, cancer treatment, environmental protection, medical research, disaster relief, or some other cause, donating your birthday money to a charity can help make a difference in someone’s life.

   • Donating not only helps those in need—it can also help infuse you with a sense of purpose and lead to greater life satisfaction.^[18]

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   Redecorate your room. If you’ve been itching to give your home a little bit of a makeover, your birthday might be the perfect excuse. Whether you’re looking to add new pillows, lamps, and other decor or you’ve just decided that your bed might look better against the other wall instead, redecorating your room might be the perfect activity to celebrate your budding adulthood.

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   Visit a local museum. Whether you’re a history, art, or nature nerd, a museum might be a great way to spend your special day. Museums are not only an informal educational environment that can expand your knowledge, they can also just be a fun way to self-reflect and spend some time with people or ideas that inspire you.

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