18 Fun 30th Birthday Ideas for the Best Milestone Celebration

Turning 30 is a big milestone. It’s that time in your life when you really become an adult (or pretend to) and grow into who you are as a person. Use this moment to throw an epic 30th birthday party and ring in the best decade yet, surrounded by all of your friends and family.

Plan your way to success with these 30th birthday ideas. We’ll share how to prep for the event, including fun theme ideas, venue inspiration, and menu planning tips. Plus, we include plenty of wonderful 30th birthday invitations you can customize and send to get guests excited for the big day.

18 Fun 30th Birthday Ideas for an Epic Party

Want to celebrate your 30th birthday, or that of a loved one, in style? Take a look at some of these creative 30th birthday party ideas to help you plan a birthday celebration that’s truly unforgettable. 

1. Choose a Fun Venue

The perfect venue for your 30th birthday celebration really depends on what you like to do! A relaxed yard party is great during the day and the perfect way to celebrate if you like to be low-key. A karaoke party is the perfect nighttime celebration, and you can sing your heart out to your favorite tunes.

Consider an escape room if you want to get competitive and test your thinking skills, or head to an amusement park if you want some thrills as you kick off the best decade yet. Plan a game night at home, or choose a luxury wellness center if you want a spa party.

2. Send Stunning 30th Birthday Invitations

Design: Claudia Owen

Invitation inspiration: So Happy I’m Thirty Invitation

Want all of your loved ones and best friends eagerly anticipating your big day? Send out stunning invitations that are sure to turn heads and have guests marking their calendars with excitement.

Take a look through our collection of adult birthday invitations for a design that feels like it suits you (or the guest of honor) and your theme perfectly. From there, you can customize your birthday invitation template with different wording, colors, and images if you’ve chosen a photo card.

It’s also a good idea to mention if you’re not expecting any gifts or if you want to collect charity donations instead. Otherwise, expect someone to bring along an amazing 30th birthday gift for you! 

If you’re hosting the party as a surprise in honor of someone else, make this super clear on your surprise party invitations. If you don’t, there’s a risk that a well-meaning guest will let the surprise slip before you’re ready for the big reveal. 

One of the most challenging things about planning a 30th birthday party is chasing people for their RSVPs. With Greenvelope, your invited guests can RSVP in just a few clicks and you can manage your list from one easy place — so you can spend more time on the fun side of party planning.

3. Host a Bubbly Brunch

Design: Lisa Travis

Invitation inspiration: Champagne Brunch Invitation

Treat yourself and your guests to a delicious brunch party with some champagne to celebrate this milestone birthday. Go ultra sophisticated with a luxury brunch experience, or keep it relaxed with a homemade spread featuring pancakes, fresh fruit, cupcakes, and homemade cocktails. 

4. Plan an Arcade and Karaoke Night

Design: Becky Nimoy Stationery

Invitation inspiration: Record Player Invitation

If retro and throwback are some of your favorite themes, this is one of those 30th birthday ideas you’ll love. Scout out the best arcade location. Head there to play some retro games, and enjoy a burger and fries. After, book a private room at the best local karaoke bar and sing the night away. 

5. Go Glamping in the Forest

Design: Signature Greenvelope

Invitation inspiration: Outdoors Adventure Invitation

For a really special experience with a hint of nature, go glamping at a luxury retreat with your closest friends and family members. This is a great way to blend pampering with the outdoors, so choose somewhere that you can sign yourselves up for wine tasting, scenic walks, spa experiences, and delicious dinners. 

Consider including some fun outdoor party games — like limbo, giant snakes and ladders, and obstacle courses. Don’t forget classic camping favorites like making s’mores and playing trivia or sharing ghost stories around the fire. 

6. Cozy up with a Get-Together at Home

Design: Anna K Design

Invitation inspiration: Happy B-Day Invitation

Sometimes the best way to celebrate becoming a 30-year-old is in the place you’re most comfortable. If that’s at home, host a low-key house party to celebrate with your loved ones. Ask friends to bring their favorite board games for a fun game night, open a bottle of wine, and order your favorite takeout for a relaxed night in. 

7. Plan an Escape Room Adventure

Design: Becky Nimoy Stationery

Invitation inspiration: Mystery Escape Room Invitation

If you’re looking for a way to use your problem-solving skills, try an escape room adventure. This is one of the best 30th birthday ideas for curious pals. It works well either in person or as a virtual experience. Plus, you can break the news with a fun-themed birthday party invite like the one above. 

8. Throw It Back with a Roaring ’20s Party

Design: Loree Mayer Design

Invitation inspiration: Misbehave Invitation

For a fun way to enter a new decade, look back at a past one for inspiration. Host a Great Gatsby-themed party inspired by the roaring ’20s as you make your way into your 30s. Think lots of decadent gold and black decor, a sophisticated menu, personalized cocktails, and lots of partying. 

9. Get Creative with an Arts and Crafts Party

Design: Annie Montgomery Design

Invitation Inspiration: Modern Fringe

Your 30th birthday party doesn’t have to be all singing and dancing. Sometimes a cozy crafting get-together is the ideal way to celebrate. Gather your friends for an evening of crafting, watercolor painting, greeting card design, pottery, chalkboard sign-making, or anything that inspires you. If you’re about to host a DIY crafting extravaganza, order plenty of supplies, and let your guests know via your online invitations so they can start thinking of ideas. 

10. Host a Murder Mystery

Design: Jen Montogmery

Invitation inspiration: Murder Mystery Invitation

If you love to watch scary movies or read novels about crafty murderers, plan a haunted event your guests won’t soon forget. Book a spooky venue for a hosted murder mystery experience, or download a murder mystery package online and host the event at home. 

After the dinner party, make it a movie night and binge some of your favorite horror films. Don’t forget to add in some spooky party decorations like skeletons, headstones, and a fog machine.

11. Plan a Dinner Party

Design: Jessica Williams

Invitation inspiration: 30th Circlet Invitation

Celebrate your bday at a fancy birthday dinner party with your closest friends. Book a table at a Michelin-starred restaurant, check out the latest trendy restaurant in town, or visit one of your favorite spots to order everything on the menu.

Choose an elegant invitation like the one above to ask guests to attend. The moody black-and-white theme on the 30th Circlet Invitation and metallic accents make it ideal for a luxurious dinner or a late-night party. You can also customize the colors to suit your party theme. 

12. Make It a Surprise Party

Design: Signature Greenvelope

Invitation Inspiration: It’s a Surprise! Invitation

Plan a surprise party for your bestie, and go all out to celebrate her best year yet. Invite all of your close friends, and be sure to let everyone know it’s a surprise so they don’t say a word. Make it a tropical-themed yard party, or take it back to the college days with a good old-fashioned costume party. There’s endless choice when it comes to party themes, so find or create something the birthday honoree will love. 

13. Plan a Spa Sleepover or Getaway

Design: Claudia Owen

Invitation inspiration: Thirty & Thriving Invitation

Plan a spa birthday party that pampers the birthday guy or gal and all of his or her friends. Decorate the space with colorful pastels, relaxing tunes, and soft fragrances to set the scene for the spa day. 

Splurge by hiring a professional masseuse to give massages, or bring an esthetician to provide skincare treatments. Make your slumber party extra special by giving guests gift bags to enjoy the event — some great gift ideas include monogrammed robes, comfy slippers, and face masks.

14. Host a Glamorous Tea Party

Design: Claudia Owen

Invitation Inspiration: Milestone 30 Invitation

Pinkies up! Plan a sophisticated afternoon soiree complete with a full afternoon tea spread of scones, macarons, and croissants. Serve the delicious treats on tiered platters, add fresh flowers to the tables, and display loose-leaf tea in glass jars for a stunning tea party atmosphere. Decorate the space in gorgeous rose gold tones, and use elegant typography on place cards for each of the guests. 

15. Get Down with a Disco Dance Party

Design: Owl and Toad

Invitation Inspiration: Disco Dance Party Invitation

Dance the night away at a disco-themed party that will keep the fun going all night long. Get your groove on with a curated playlist on Spotify, or hire a local band to deliver dance-worthy tunes as you boogie with your besties.

16. Do Something Adventurous

Design: Signature Greenvelope

Invitation inspiration: Fly Fishing Grid Invitation

Cross something off your bucket list as you celebrate heading into the next decade. Consider a new outdoor sport like fly fishing, rock climbing, or kayaking. You can even try a once-in-a-lifetime activity like skydiving or bungee jumping. Do the activity yourself, or get a group of friends together to join in on the fun.

17. Attend a Cooking Class

Design: Becky Nimoy Stationery

Invitation Inspiration: Pizza Peel Invitation

If you love cooking, celebrate by taking a culinary class where you can learn to make a new dish. Sign up for a virtual cooking class to celebrate with friends near and far, or book a class at a local restaurant to get techniques straight from the chef. Make the night more special with a flirty craft cocktail mixing experience where you can create a namesake beverage to sip on as you whip up the special dish.

18. Book a Brewery Tour or Wine Tasting

Design: Laura Bolter Design

Invitation Inspiration: Party Brewing Invitation

Celebrate your big three-oh with a tour of a local brewery — or a trip to check out your favorite one. Head out to Northern California to check out famous breweries like Lost Coast and Russian River Brewing Co., or head to the East Coast where you’ll find Dogfish Brewing, Allagash, and The Alchemist. 

You can also just plan on renting out the local brewery for your big bash. If vino is more your speed, consider a wine-tasting trip to Santa Barbara or Napa, or grab a few bottles at a local shop and taste-test them at home with a couple of your friends for a casual celebration.

Have Fun with These 30th Birthday Ideas

You only turn 30 once, so make it count with a celebration that feels uniquely you. Surround yourself with your friends and family members for the perfect get-together — whether that’s at a late-night karaoke bar or cozy on the sofa playing board games. Use this guide to help you find the perfect 30th birthday ideas and plan your event. 

Once you know how you want to celebrate, invite everyone on your guest list with festive 30th birthday invitations from Greenvelope. Upload your own custom design, or choose one crafted by an artist and customize it to fit your theme, personality, and party style. Easily add your guest list contact information and send the invite in seconds via SMS and email.

Want more ways to celebrate birthdays in style? Continue browsing our Stationers blog where you’ll find everything from party themes to planning tips and decor.