Top 30 Ways to Celebrate Your 30th Birthday

Birthdays come around every year, but you only turn 30 once! Your 30s are an exciting time full of growth, new adventures and meeting personal goals. Quoting one of my favorite characters Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City: “Your thirties are to learn the lessons.” And yes, during your 30’s you do truly grow into adulthood and learn who you are and where you’re going in life. But for myself, the 30’s have been the best so far. You can appreciate this special shift in your life by planning an awesome celebration.

In the last few years, one by one my friends and I have turned 30. We all found fun and unique ways to mark the “Dirty Thirty” occasion. In this blog post I share all kinds of ways to plan not only your 30th birthday, but this next decade of your life. It’s so exciting to consider the potential changes and possibilities in the upcoming years. While you anticipate what the future will bring, make the most of the present with a fun celebration.

30 Fun Ways You Can Celebrate Your 30th Birthday

You may only turn 30 once, but you can select multiple ideas from this list to celebrate all month long. It’s your party and there’s no judgements when it comes to honoring this milestone.

Host an Epic Birthday Party Bash

Invite friends and family over for a special birthday bash. Pick a theme that fits your personality and spend time reminiscing with loved ones. Bring the party to the next level by renting out a favorite venue. Make this party extra special with foodie approved bites, elegant charcuterie boards, cocktail drinks, games and maybe even a photo booth. You can also design your own party themed items such as custom stickers, keychains and custom pins on GS-JJ.com. They are inexpensive and can be fun decorations for your party or great gifts for your guests.

30th Birthday Party Decorations

Whether it’s a small gathering or a big blowout birthday bash, you’ll need some fun and whimsical party decorations to liven up the venue and get the party vibe going.

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More 30th Birthday Themed Party Ideas

Plan a Fancy and Sophisticated Dinner Party

Create a dress code and send out fancy invitations. Use real flowers and vintage glassware to celebrate in style. Classical and instrumental music will set the mood and help you celebrate your birthday with style and sophistication. Either cook the meal yourself, have a friend volunteer to be the chef, or cater from a favorite restaurant. No matter the source of dinner, make sure its fine dinning you'll really enjoy.

True Crime Fans Can Book a Murder Mystery Dinner Party

A murder mystery dinner party will make you and your friends part of a captivating crime story. You can either order the game and host it at home, or book tickets to a murder mystery dinner show in your town (check your city on Viator to get local tickets). Make sure to follow the themed dress code for even more fun!

Karaoke Night at a Punch Bowl Social Near You

If you’re jonesing for a fun night out, visit the nearest Punch Bowl Social on your birthday. They have a wide range of fun games, plenty of food and craft cocktails. The list of activities includes bowling, karaoke, billiard games, giant sized board games and arcade games. See photos from our visit to the Sacramento Punch Bowl Social location.

Host an Afternoon Tea Party

A tea party is totally another great excuse to dress up in themed outfits. Copy the characters in your favorite historical drama or plan a low-key party that turns traditional afternoon tea on its head.

Fans of the show Downton Abbey can really get into this tea party idea. If you add booze to the party, it can become more of a Mad Hatter style tea party.

Either way, make sure you have lemon curd, Devonshire cream and plenty of tea party approved finger foods such as scones and tea sandwiches. And of course tea cups and tea pots!

Book an Escape Room with Friends

If you like adventure, problem-solving, and working against the clock, head to the nearest escape room to celebrate turning 30. Take along the best and brightest people you know to beat the time limit! You can find a local escape room in your city on Viator.

Keep it Low-key with a Board Game Night

Board games are ideal if you’re a little competitive and love to laugh. Invite some gamers over and play board games for several hours to celebrate your birthday. Plan themed snacks and cake!

I especially love old-school retro board games such as Clue, Scrabble and Monopoly. I'm also a fan of TV show trivia games such as the FRIENDS and The Office board games. See who amongst your friends is truly the biggest fan!

Host an Old-Fashioned Pajama Party with Movies and Cocktails

This is the perfect excuse for wearing your pajamas and inviting people over at the same time. Pull out an old favorite movie and have everyone bring their preferred snack. You can even build a sheet tent to really bring those nostalgic and childhood fun vibes. If you have children, this is an especially fun experience when you include the kiddos.

Host a Luau Backyard BBQ

You can opt to go tropical for this year's birthday with a backyard luau. Serve dishes with a Hawaiian theme, make your own leis, and create a playlist that’s perfect for dancing. You can even pull out a ukulele for singing around a bonfire. See my guide with top ideas for your tropical themed charcuterie board and grazing table.

If you’re really craving an authentic Hawaiian experience, see my travel guide to Oahu, Hawaii.

Travel Themed 30th Birthday Ideas

Take An Epic Trip for Your 30th Birthday

If you’ve been experiencing wanderlust, your birthday is the perfect excuse to plan an epic trip. Whether it's with friends or a significant other, now is the time to splurge on that bucket list destination you've been dreaming about for years.

Make life-long memories with someone special, and be sure to take lots of travel photos and videos to share with friends. See my top 30th birthday travel destinations in this blog post. Hint, I went to Santorini on the Greek Islands with my husband for my 30th birthday trip!

Wine Tasting in California Wine Country

Wine tasting is a fun yet refined way to spend your birthday. Invite a group of friends or take your significant other on a wine tour through the beautiful Northern California destinations of Napa Valley and Sonoma County. During your visit learn more about the wine-making process and learn how to perfect wine tasting like a novice sommelier.

Plan a Camping Trip Inside a National Park

Love being outside? Spend your whole birthday under the open sky exploring a beautiful National Park. When the sun goes down, you can set up camp and stargaze to finish out your twenties. Our favorite California National Parks are Yosemite and Joshua Tree.

Plan a Girls’ Trip to Disneyland

Whether you’re reliving nostalgic memories or making new ones, Disneyland is the perfect place to celebrate your birthday. If you haven't been to the magical kingdom in recent years, there's many of rides and experiences designated only for adults including wine tasting, spa retreats and fine dining. For my ladies who are mamas, experiencing Disneyland with your kids truly makes this the happiest place on earth.

If you’re planning a girls’ trip to Southern California, my recommendation is that you book your hotel stay in either West Hollywood or Venice Beach, and then plan a day trip to Disneyland. These two Los Angeles neighborhoods are more fun to explore and have really great trendy hotels. But if you have plans to visit one of Disney’s international parks, this review of all Disney parks around the world can help narrow down your options.

Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip from San Francisco to San Diego

People visit from all over the world to drive the Pacific Coast Highway. This is an epic way to celebrate turning 30 – with the windows down, music playing, and gorgeous ocean views, all for the cost of gas and snacks.

I have several California Highway 1 road trip guides including how to map your route, hidden gems and a comprehensive guide to all my favorite spots with ocean views. I grew up in Half Moon Bay which is located on the Pacific Coast Highway in Northern California.

Go Sailing on a Boat with a Dinner Cruise

If you enjoy finer things, consider booking a romantic dinner cruise on a yacht or smaller cruise boat. Watch the sun set over the ocean while you eat a gourmet meal onboard. This experience is definitely something you’ll remember. Search for a dinner cruise in your local city on Viator.

Gifts to Give Yourself on Your 30th Birthday

Book a Spa Day

It takes a bit of effort to set aside time for yourself. Plan to relax this birthday by heading to a world-class spa. Let your muscles relax and all the tension melt away with a deep tissue massage. By the time you leave, you’ll feel completely refreshed and pampered.

Take a Creative Class to Learn a New Skill

It’s never too late to learn a new skill. What’s something you’ve always wanted to learn? Take the first step to celebrate your birthday and plunge into a new hobby. This could be the beginning of something amazing! Check your local community college classes or try online classes on Skillshare.

Get a Tattoo

It can take a long time to come to the decision to get a tattoo, there's so many things to consider. It could be that by the time you turn 30 you're ready to make the commitment. Hopefully at this point in your life you'll have a solid idea on a design you'll love for life.

Choose a quote or symbol that’s special to you and place it carefully. You can even experiment with realistic looking temporary tattoos to see if you like the design and the placement on your body. I also highly suggest you do research beforehand on reputable tattoo artists in your area.

You can also browse Pinterest for tattoo designs and make a board with your favorites. See my own Pinterest board with feminine dainty tattoos I'm loving lately.

Buy Yourself an Expensive Gift

Now’s the time to splurge. Go ahead and get that expensive thing you’ve been eyeing for months. At this point, you know yourself well enough to make conscious purchasing decisions. Spend your hard earned money on a thing or service that will elevate your life and bring you joy. For myself, I always wanted a luxury designer purse. I finally took the plunge and bought myself a brand new Burberry purse.

Go Skydiving

If you’re a thrill seeker looking for your next adrenaline rush, maybe skydiving is something you can cross off next on your bucket list. To experience this extreme sport in your local city, search for skydiving schools on Viator.

Adopt a New Pet

If your living situation is stable and you feel ready to let more love into your life, it may be the perfect time to welcome a little furry bundle of joy into your home. Expand your family with a new puppy or kitten or something more exotic. Pets are investments that continually enrich your life.

If you are a new parents and feel hesitant to introduce a new dog to your home, check out my guide on how to adopt a dog when you have small children.

Clean Out Your Closet and Give Your Wardrobe a Makeover

If you’ve never had a capsule wardrobe before, now’s your opportunity. Often times the clothes we wore in our twenties are no longer our vibe when we enter into the thirties. Sort through your clothing and invest in a few quality pieces to become the best-dressed version of yourself.

Book Tickets to a Major Concert or Music Festival

If you’ve ever looked into purchasing concert or music festival tickets to events such as Coachella, you may have experienced some sticker shock when you saw the admission prices. If attending an epic concert is on your bucket list, now is the time say YOLO and do it.

There’s nothing like going to a concert and dancing it out with friends. Going to a fun outdoor event is the perfect way to celebrate your birthday – and it’s something you’ll remember for years to come.

Have Your Fortune Read with a Tarot Card Reading

Do you wonder what’s just over the next horizon? Do you have a question about a life situation or seeking guidance on a course of action to take? Buy an inexpensive deck of cute tarot cards and play with some friends over dinner and drinks. Get some perspective on the year(s) to come in a fun and whimsical way.

Enter a New Phase of Spirituality with New Age Crystals and Moon Ceremonies

Moon ceremonies are an ancient tradition that persists today. Why? Because loyal followers say these rituals help them look inward and set their intentions. You don’t have to literally worship the moon like in ancient times; the point is to center yourself, meditate thoughtfully – with or without crystals and candles – and decide what future to manifest for yourself.

Big Life Moments in Your Thirties

Buy a House to Call Home

Knock out two major milestone out in one year - buy a house at the same time you turn 30. What better way to enter a new era of adulthood than finding a new place to call home. While renting and apartment living may have served you well this far, nothing beats having your own space to relax as you settle down in life.

Redecorate Your Space

New decade, new home decor style. Whether you're renting or a homeowner, sometimes our decorating scheme can use some refreshing. This can be as simple or expensive as you want. Move some furniture around, bring in fresh flowers, or invest in the pricey rug you’ve wanted for years. Just a few adjustments can make your space feel brand new!

Start Planning Your Family

Have you always wanted kids? Now could be the right time to start planning for the future. As a professional who works in the infertility and surrogacy industry, I can tell you that your fertility is fragile and you shouldn't put off having kids for too long.

I know many women like to wait for "the right time" to try and get pregnant. But as a parent myself, I can honestly tell you that there's no such thing as the perfect time to start your journey towards parenthood. It will always be a bit messy and challenging, but it's always worth it in the end.

If you haven't found the right partner for parenthood, or it's just too early to decide, I recommend considering freezing your eggs as a safety backup. You never know what the future holds and at least this way you'll have options.

Reevaluate and Assess Your Career Path

If you’re needing some change in your life, take the first few steps toward a new career. Milestone birthdays are a great time to assess your career and course correct your path if necessary. Even a very small change can make a big difference – like asking for a promotion or taking night classes on a subject that interests you. Small baby steps can ultimately yield big changes over time, as long as you commit to the process and give it your best effort.

Practice Self-Care and Let Go of Anything that no Longer Serves You

Enter this new era of your life fresh and ready for growth. Take inventory of your life. What’s causing stress or frustration? Your time is limited, so focus on the things that help you become a healthier and happier version of yourself. There’s no better way to prepare for turning 30 than dropping the baggage that is holding you back and weighing you down.

For some people, birthdays are a reflective time that can feel heavy. You may wonder if you’ve done enough with your life or feel regretful about the past. The good news is that you’re starting a fresh year full of possibilities and unknown adventures. If you need to, take some time to reflect. But don’t forget to celebrate too – turning 30 is a once-in-a-lifetime event!