Dirty 30 Birthday Party Ideas: 12 Ways to Celebrate This Milestone
Good-bye 20s, hello 30! When it’s time to mark this milestone moment, you want a celebration worthy of having survived (and thrived) over the last three decades.
If you’re planning a dirty 30 birthday party, we’ve got your back. Explore our favorite 30th birthday ideas and themes, then find the perfect invite to match.
Fun Ways to Celebrate Turning the Big 3-0
Turning 30 is the perfect moment to go big with a theme and plan the ultimate party. Whether you want a sophisticated soiree or a raucous bash, here are some fun birthday themes to help you celebrate a very happy 30th birthday.
1. Cocktail Making Party
Raise a glass, you’re turning 30! And since you’re fully adulting at this point, you should at least know how to craft your own cocktail, right?
Hire a mixologist to host a masterclass at your home (or a friend’s) and amp up your drink-making skills. Or if that doesn’t work, book a private room or area at your favorite cocktail lounge. Mix drinks, laugh, and discover your inner bartender. Continue the theme with boozy birthday cake and personalized drink or shot glasses for your party guests.
2. Weekend Camping Getaway
Usher in a new decade amid the great outdoors. Plan a camping getaway to surround yourself with your favorite people and stunning views. Pack up your camping gear and ask your friends to join you for a weekend of campfire songs, smores, hikes, and whatever adventure suits your mood. If you don’t exactly feel like roughing it but still love nature, go glamping!
3. Afternoon Tea Party
There’s something sweet about turning 30 — you’ve had lots of fun so far, and there’s still so much ahead of you. Gather your loved ones for plenty of conversation over a birthday afternoon tea party.
If you’re not making rezzies at your local tea parlor or high-end hotel, you can DIY at home with charming vintage dishware, pastel napkins, and whimsical centerpieces. Hang up a party banner and bring in some 30th birthday balloons to decorate the space. You could also glam things up with rose gold accents. Plan a menu of tasty finger sandwiches and swap your birthday cake for adorable cupcakes with delicate icing.
4. Slumber Party
Take it back to your younger years and host a fun slumber party where you can act silly and reminisce about all the fabulous memories you’ve shared with your best friends.
Invite guests over for an old-school slumber party to watch movies (“13 Going on 30” is practically a requisite!), play classic party games, indulge in your favorite snacks, and catch up on old times.
Put up some 30th birthday party decorations like a 30th birthday banner and colorful balloons, create a playlist filled with hits from your school years, and line up classic flicks to enjoy together. Of course, make sure your digital invitations let people know to show up in their PJs!
5. Decades Party
Go retro for this big milestone birthday with a decades themed party. Whether it’s a funky 70s shindig, totally awesome 80s party, or other vintage birthday celebration, this is an ideal moment to walk into a new decade by celebrating an old one.
You only turn dirty thirty once, so do it in style! Plan a disco-style bash with bright clothing, neon lights, disco balls, and lots of gold glitter — or break out the scrunchies and host a 90s theme party and style your party around the TV shows, music, and toys you grew up with.
6. Game Night
Game on! For a fun (and perhaps unexpected) twist on your dirty thirty party, gather your favorite folks for some gaming.
Whether you prefer board games, video games, action games, or role-playing games, there’s no shortage of options to suit your game night celebration. This is one of those party ideas that you can truly adapt to your own interests. You could also go all-in on a casino-theme party for some swanky fun and games.
7. Travel-Themed Party
If traveling to some far-flung destination isn’t in the cards at the moment, then this dirty 30 birthday idea could be just the ticket you need.
Transport your guests to Paris, New York, or some tropical destination that you’ve visited or hope to visit. Plan your decor, menu, music, and party games around your chosen location. Whether it’s a Parisian soiree, Hawaiian theme party, or taco-centric fiesta that celebrates the cuisine and culture of Mexico, a travel-themed party theme is sure to be a hit.
8. Backyard BBQ
Go big and go home! Host a backyard party with all the fixins’ fit for ringing in a new decade. Fire up the grill and serve classic BBQ favorites for carnivores and vegans alike.
Swap the birthday cake for tasty ice-cream sundaes (you can set up a DIY sundae bar), and come up with your own signature birthday drink to toast turning the big 3-0. Bring out some lawn games like cornhole and ring toss, and end the evening with a rendition of “happy birthday” as your guests shower you with flower petal confetti.
9. Wine Tasting Party
Wine tasting parties are classic for a reason, and this is a great theme for a dirty 30 party.
Grab your favorite people and escape to a fabulous vineyard for a wine tasting experience amid spectacular views. For a more affordable option, host a wine tasting party at home or at a friend’s place. You can even choose a wine tasting theme by doing a blind tasting, focusing on vinos from a particular region, sampling Old World versus New World wines, or pricey vintages versus affordable bottles. Cheers!
10. Karaoke Party
You’re turning 30, so don’t be afraid to sing your heart out! Ask your best friends to join you for a night of singing, dancing, and celebrating the good times.
Book a booth at a lively karaoke bar or host a DIY karaoke party at home. Decorate your space with a disco ball, neon lights, and foil curtains. Those curtains could also double as a backdrop for a fun DIY photo booth for some incredible birthday photos.
11. Escape Room Party
You’ve escaped your 20s and have lived long enough to know the value of solving problems, so an escape room seems like the perfect party idea for your dirty 30 birthday!
Escape rooms are full of unexpected interactions, allow you to collaborate with others, and reward you with the satisfaction of figuring out some serious challenges. Sort of a good metaphor for this time in your life, wouldn’t you say? Book a room at your local escape room, then follow the experience with dinner and drinks.
12. Sophisticated Dinner Party
If you’re looking for a dirty 30 birthday idea that’s more refined, a sophisticated dinner party could be an ideal way to kick off a new decade. Book a private room at your favorite eatery or splurge on an extravagant restaurant for the special occasion. Be sure your birthday invitations let your besties know to dress up in their favorite flirty frocks.
A Few Favorites: Dirty 30 Birthday Invitations
Design: Owl and Toad
One of the best ways to get your party guests excited about your big celebration is with a fun dirty 30 birthday invitation. Greenvelope offers a wide collection of 30th birthday invitations in a range of styles and themes. To help you get started, here are a few of our favorites.
Talk Thirty to Me Invitation
Design: Bonjour Berry
We love this talk thirty to me invitation and you will too! The punny quote and playful font offer the perfect way to invite people to a fun-filled birthday bash that celebrates your new adventure in the 30s.
Thirty and Thriving Invitation
Design: Claudia Owen
Your 30s are a decade of growth and being a legit grown-up (science even says so), and the sentiment on this thirty and thriving invitation fits right in. With five colorways and vibrant confetti accents, this design will suit just about any birthday theme you can imagine — from a 90s-style bash to a Sundae Funday!
So Happy I’m Thirty Invitation
Design: Claudia Owen
Oh, sh*t, it’s really happening! While celebrating decade three is certainly reason to cheer, it’s also a time when reality begins to set in. Thankfully, this cheeky so happy I’m thirty invitation will have you ushering in the era with a playful nod to getting older.
Celebrate Your Dirty 30 Birthday in Style
This is a big moment, and it deserves some recognition. Whether you stay in and host a casual backyard BBQ or plan a luxurious outing with friends, it’s a time to celebrate all the amazing things about being 30.
Once you’ve planned your party theme, look for an invite that’s just as impressive. With Greenvelope, it’s easy to customize any design to match your event. Choose your colors, layout, fonts, and wording until you have something that feels completely unique — just like you! Explore our collection of 30th birthday invitations to find your favorite. Happy birthday!
