15 Outdoor Birthday Party Ideas to Elevate Your Next Annual Bash

Here’s the plan: Rent an Airbnb for the night, and make sure the space is equipped with a pool. (Spoiler: This will probably have to be a more chill gathering with close-knit friends, bc many Airbnb hosts notoriously do *not* let you throw ragers these days.) Buy all of the pool floats, including a giant disco ball, and even some lil ones that let your drink float around with you. Sip, splash, repeat.

First, you need to establish the vintage aesthetic with a beach umbrella, then cross your fingers for a sunny day sans wind. Invite your friends to wear cute vintage-inspired high-waisted suits with you, and there ya have it. Don’t forget the necessities either: Pack an old-school picnic basket or cooler with spiked seltzers and snacks, ofc.

A wine passport is a real thing, you guys. Find an area where there’s a cluster of wineries so you can hop around to any and all of them. Pick someone to be a DD (Mom?) or, if you’re feelin’ fancy, hire a driver for the day. Most vineyards will have sit-down food options or will let you bring along a picnic, in which you must find and bring every block of cheese and tub of hummus that Trader Joe’s sells.

Dear reader, you are cordially invited to indulge your Bridgerton fantasies with high tea, tiny cakes, a ridiculous amount of flower arrangements, and a soundtrack with only violin covers of pop songs. No, guests aren’t required to dress in Victorian petticoats, and yes, this party will def be the talk of the town ;).

Scorpio bbs, this one’s for you! If you’re born anywhere near Halloween, you are obliged to celebrate with a very witchy, celestial party. You don’t have to summon any spirits or anything, but at least partition off part of your yard with some gauzy fabric to create a separate area for the tarot reader to work their magic. Decorate with plenty of suns, moons, stars, a sh*t ton of candles, and tarot cards too.

Step one: Meet in a park and lay out a chic picnic blanket. Step two: Everyone brings their fave wine and cheese (there needs to be a cake for you, ofc). And voila! A classy picnic for you and your crew.

We are not advising you to swindle your friends into a workout with you on your bday, but yoga with wine tasting is a different scenario. You can book vinyasa flow/wine tasting classes or parties through companies like Vino Vinyasa in a variety of cities. Heck, if there are no yoga/wine companies near you, you can all sign up for an outdoor group class and pop open a few bottles once savasana is through.

If you’re including everyone and their S.O. in your soiree, make it a more casual day at a beer garden and get some games going to break the ice. Many breweries and beer gardens have lawn games and board games for you to borrow, or you can bring some games from your own stash.

Pizza *is* the entire party right here. Prepare for every kind of pizza you could possibly imagine (it’s bottomless!) and most pizza trucks have gelato on the menu too (*chef’s kiss*). Truly, what else could you need on your birthday other than copious amounts of carbs and cheese?

If your birthday falls during chillier months, may I interest you in a cozy, flannel-clad campfire party? S’mores charcuterie boards are an absolute must (think chocolate, candy, fruit and crackers) and spooky stories are equally as welcome. Oh, and don’t you dare forget about the mulled wine.

How adorable is a flower-arranging party?! This right here is a group activity that doesn’t make a mess, and party guests get to head home with a gorgeous bouquet in hand. True, there are actual flower-arranging studios you can book for your backyard bash, but you can just as easily DIY this one with a trip to your local craft store. Provide mojitos or some kind of boozy beverage, especially for those who are ~less crafty~ than your fine self.

I am fully transported to Italy rn with this coastal celebration idea. Admittedly, lemons are super trendy at the moment, so now is the time to embrace all things citrus. Whip up some delicious lemon pasta from our birthday dinners menu, pair it with a spritz from our selection of party cocktails, and finish your birthday dinner off with some ice cold—you guessed it—limoncello.

Okay, so you don’t have to splurge on a prosecco truck, but it will provide you with free IG content so you’re absolutely getting your money’s worth. Boozy brunching on a budget? Pick up a few bottles of champagne and an array of juices to create your very own mimosa bar. Throw in some bagels, a couple of muffins, and you have yourself a bottomless brunch from the comfort of home.

Take your birthday to the high seas this year. You can book a scenic water cruise in most major cities that aren’t landlocked—many have apps and booze on deck, but some (er, the best ones) are BYOB. Dress the part with a sailor hat, and you’re ready for an unforgettable themed party.

For *big* birthdays, you need to go all out. And by all out, I mean hire a private chef to cook a glorious meal for you and all of your closest friends. Your only job is to set up a chic tablescape and solidify your guest list. HBD to you, indeed.