18th Unique Birthday Party Ideas

I’m not a girl
Not yet a woman
All I need is time
A moment that is mine
While I’m in between
I’m not a girl!

Yes, you are not a man/woman yet, but not for a very long time as well. The time has flown by. Teenage life is almost over. Soon, you will a grown-up person.

But hey, you need “a moment that is yours while you are in-between”. And that moment is an astonishing and unique 18^th birthday party.

What to do for your 18^th birthday? I guess that question was traveling through your neurons long before you started reading this article. Luckily, hereby we will present you with the best 18th birthday party ideas. Not just that we will present your unique birthday party ideas, but will give you the steps on how to turn them into action as well. So, let the organization process begin!

Active 18^th Birthday Party Ideas

If you or the celebrant is a person who prefers action and loves spending time in nature, some of these 18^th birthday party ideas might be ideal! We will put a particular emphasis on the conditions that this type of celebration requires! Have good organization management and do not let small mistakes ruin the marvelous adventure that is coming!

Outdoor camping

If you want a celebration that will last more than one day, this could be a good solution for you. Outdoor parties usually last two days or more. Inform yourself about camping areas. You might stay in a cabin or a tent. Also, inform yourself about additional activities that the camping area might offer (like hiking, mountain climbing, zipping, rafting, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, horseback riding…). Be aware of the season as well, since the camping activities and organization might depend on the weather.

During the night, you might light up a campfire, prepare food, and sing a birthday song around the campfire. As the flames are reaching the stars, so will your wishes come true! In the morning, while the sun is rising you may drink your first adult “cup of coffee”! Watch the sunrise and think of the new day as the new beginning for you!

Must-have

• Camping equipment
• Camping permit (if it is required)
• Food and drink (a few tips to make it more in nature outdoor spirit: You can turn pretzel sticks into branches if you dip them in milk chocolate or white chocolate. The cheese might be turned into a pine cone if combined with almonds and rosemary. The good theme drink, apart from beer, for this celebration is Texas tea).

Decoration

• This theme is ideal for DIY decoration. You may write the large name of the celebrant in the ground with sticks and rocks or with candles on the nearby hill.
• Add some jars (which may serve for both drinking or candles), slabs of wood (for serving food and drink), and an 18^th wooden cake topper.

Water party

Another active birthday party idea is the day at the poll. Again, like the previous theme, you have to inform yourself about the weather and special pool conditions and requirements. Especially if you are planning to bring a larger group of people, you have to inform the facility to check whether it is possible just to bring people or you have to reserve a pool (which is a more expensive option but will give your party a more intimate and private tone).

Must-have

• Facility with a pool that can host your party
• Enough pool activities and games planned

Decoration

• Paper pennant happy birthday flags
• Food and drink pool holders (if you find a good holder, you may even put a cake on it and blow a candle in the pool)
• Pool floats in color and shapes that you choose (focus on them to be in tone, that will make birthday theme more harmonious)
• Beach balls
• Tumbler drinks with lids

Go-cart party

You’ve always dreamt about becoming the new Michael Schumacher! Did you like to drive a go-cart at the amusement park when you were a child? Maybe not it is time to do it again, symbolically at the day when you are becoming an adult.

Turn your 18th birthday party into a go-cart race party and who knows what you might attract in the future. „I always thought records were there to be broken”, Schumacher himself said. You might not break the record at your 18^th birthday party, but it does not mean that it might not be a good starting point for the future that is in front of you. Think of your 18^th birthday party idea as the starting track forever-lasting race of your life! Imagine it as one of the many races that you will have to take in your life. While driving a go-cart, think of the words of great Schumacher who said: “You win a race, the next race it’s a question mark. Are you still the best or not? That’s what is funny. But that’s what is interesting. And that’s what is challenging. You have to prove yourself every time.”  In other words, that is life. But also, don’t forget to have fun all time during your 18^th birthday go-cart party! That’s what life should be as well!

Must-have

• Carting facility that can hosts as many guests as you want to invite (in case of a larger number of guests, reservation is in majority of cases obligatory, even if it is not your case we would suggest you make the reservation as soon as possible to prevent birthday fiasco)
• Carting facility that offers food and beverage

Decoration

• Race Car Birthday Banner Pennant
• Racetrack Floor Runner Party Decoration
• Other thematic related decoration (including cups, plates, etc.)

Paintball party

Every day is like a start, ups and downs, tears, and laugh, we will never stop – just fight!

Do you see yourself as a true warrior/warrioress and see your life as a struggle for your goals? Action and war movies are your passion! Or you just like when the active party gets a little bit upgraded. Then paintball is the right choice for you! Call your friends, divide into teams, and let the battle begin!

Must-have

• Paintball company that offers you paintball arena and equipment
• SAFETY FIRST – inform yourself whether the safety conditions of the facility you’ve chosen are fulfilled
• Paintball company that provides you with food and beverages

Decoration

• Paint Splashes Paintball Banner decoration
• Paintball Splashes table clothes
• Cups, plates, and other basic party staff decorated with color splashes or other paintball theme decoration

Intriguing puzzle 18^th birthday party ideas

Here we offer you another set of active 18^th birthday party ideas! Unlike previous ones, this one has focused more on the brain than muscles. If you and your friends are more brain-active than body-active, then some of these might be good options for you! Just imagine yourself being Harry Potter and his best friends on a giant chess table in Philosopher’s stone.

Race party theme

If you are fun of the American TV reality shows, this could be an ideal choice for your 18^th birthday party. Divide your guests into two groups and send them different party invitations. Do not mention the location of the party. Instead, give each group a set of clues on how to reach the spot. Let the party invitation be the first clue, which will lead them to the next one. On the second clue, they have to find the third and so on until they reach the location. The first group who reached the location won. In case both lose, you send them locations. To make the game more interesting, you may think of the award for both first and second place.

Must-have

• To imagine and create various checkpoints, clues, and riddles
• Contact phones of all participants, if you are creating WhatsUp or Viber groups for this party inform guests that at least half of them in the group should have internet
• Check the weather forecast! Heavy rain or storm may ruin the party!
• Awards for first and second place! Think of something that all of them can share!

Party decoration

• Cups, table cloths, plates, and other party supplies! The most common color for race parties is blue and gold, but you may choose the theme of the reality show that inspired you most to pick this 18^th birthday unique theme!

Scavenger hunt party theme

“My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other people do not know.”

Do you want to try yourself as the detective!? Then this is the ideal unique 18^th birthday party theme for you. How to solve puzzles and find missing things? That’s what you and your guests are going to face on your birthday! Make the number of missing things 18, symbolizing 18 years. If you can find 18 things that are somehow related to every year of your life (e.g., an alphabet book for the year when you started school), even better. Hide them somewhere in your house or your neighborhood and give every guest the clues printed on the paper. To make the event more competitive, you may add that the one who collects the biggest number of missing objects wins.

Must-have

• 18 missing objects and clues towards them
• SAFETY FIRST – check whether the places you have chosen are safe (not too deserted, adequate lighting, etc.)
• Check weather forecast

Party decoration

• Detective themed party items

Escape room party theme

The Escape Room as a game reached its popularity in the 2010s. In this game, the theme of players discovers clues and solve various puzzles as tasks to reach the final goal. The final goal is usually to leave the space where the game is taking place. As these games evolved, the variety of rooms and mysteries that you can choose according to your taste has grown up as well. Thus, if finding an exit through the maze is something that intrigues you, this unique 18^th party idea is perfect for you.

Must-have

• Escape room facility that can host as many invitees as you would like
• In case that escape room does not offer food and beverage, you should think of something after you escape as well

Party decoration

• Party supplies according to the escape room theme that you have chosen

Entertaining thematic birthday party ideas

All around the world, we are rocking and rolling like crazy eh all the way!

And now something for people who like to turn their activeness into partyness or just fun! On this list, you want to find active 18^th birthday party ideas that do not require body or mind, just good energy and positive vibes and above all, lust for entertainment! On the list above you’ll find a variety of suggestions for una fiesta loca. Regardless if you imagine your 18^th birthday as Comic-Con or in the style of Mariah Carey Its like that music video, some of these suggestions will be your cup of tea!

Superhero costume party theme

From Superman to The Game of Thrones, superheroes’ popularity is not falling. Apart from old heroes like Superman, Batman, or Spiderman, each year the popular culture is bringing us, new heroes and heroines. You don’t have to be a geek or comic book guy to enjoy this theme 18^th unique birthday party, since you must have at least one superhero that you liked as a kid. So, depending on the level of your geekiness, you can turn your home into Comic-con or you can just make a marvelous masquerade party, where every guest will have a task to take a look back at his/her childhood and remember his/her favorite hero/heroine. Some therapist suggests that our childhood idols are symbolic representations of our true values and goals that we should follow on our path to self-realization. So, give yourself a shot to make this unique 18^th birthday party idea into the base for your future.

Must-have

• The costume of your superhero
• Superhero themed food (make some appetizers with superhero names (like supermanwhiches for a sandwich, batwings for chicken wings, etc.) or/and some cookies cover in superhero symbols)

Decoration

• Superhero themed plates and cutlery party set
• Put a label sticks like BOOM! SMASH! or POP! at drink bottles/cans or glasses)
• Superhero themed label welcome sign
• Superhero photo backdrop and a birthday banner

Splendid limousine theme

Poppin’ champagne, livin’ my life, In the fast lane and I won’t change, for the glamorous, oh the flossy!

Being a Hollywood star for a day seems like a good way to spend your 18^th birthday. Although it is not budget-friendly at all, maybe it is worth it if you are the type of person that is into glamorous things. For this unique 18^th party theme, you have to rent: 1) limousine, 2) restaurant or hotel hall, and 3) if you are a girl, make a term at the salon to do nails and make-up. Organize a limousine to pick you up at your home/salon and then go straight to the restaurant/hall. Make a grand entry to the main dining hall. Imagine that you are a prince/princess and that your 18^th birthday celebration is the Oscar ceremony where you won the best actor/actress award.

Must-have:

• Limousine rental company
• Salon and restaurant reservation

Decoration:

Glamorous masquerade party

His/her majesty, the 18^th birthday celebrant

Another glamorous 18^th birthday party idea, but with more traditional taste. Instead of Hollywood shine, hereby we emphasize the glamour and elegance of Venetian palaces and balls. That is going to be made by two steps. First, instead of red-carpet dresses and smart suits, think of classic macaroni fashion or in other words, royal Europe haute couture. It might be an interesting history project (not the boring one that you’ve done at school, don’t worry) to research fashion history a little and dress according to the Epoque style that you like the most. Second, pick a mask (a classic Venetian mask is the best). It will give your elegancy a mystique tone. Finally, make your celebration space looking as elegant as possible. Like in the previous theme, use your imagination and think of your 18^th birthday as a coronation ceremony where you will be declared king/queen.

Must-have:

• Local costume rental shop
• The decoration that matches the Epoque you have chosen

Decoration:

• As in the previous glamorous party theme, black/white or black/gold is always a winning combination. Make napkins and other accessories into those colors. If you are making the celebration at your own home, you will have to add some extra details to make the space more antique looking (like some masks as decorations, some antiquities if you have, etc.).

Foam party

Now it is time to skip elegancy and get crazy. Why try to fight it we were made to be wild! If that is your line of thinking, then this unique 18^th birthday party idea is ideal for you. When we were kids, we liked to play with the bubbles in the bath. Now here there is a wild party, dance floor, and adult bubbles. When you were a child, it was Five little ducks went swimming one day. Now it will be your happy 18^th birthday song while the foam is going to fall from above and accumulate from the floor up to your waist. Regardless of how adult you are, your inner child of yours must always be loved and nurtured. So, give it what it wants.

This type of party requires a lot of organization so start organizing it on time. Think of a song list, DJs, surround-sound system, color of strobe lights, and cocktails/drinks list. One of the additional ideas is to make a white party. Then the whole celebration will look like an ocean of white.

Must-have:

• The local club that offers foam parties
• Good budget management (as we guess you are aware, this isn’t a very budget-friendly party)

Decoration:

• All white decoration, if it is not already being offered by the club
• Glow in the dark neon party supplies (plates, cutlery, etc.). It might look like a jellyfish in the white ocean. Alternatively, you can use white party supplies.

Relaxing, fun, and creative party ideas

Finally, there is a group of ideas for people who are neither brain nor body-active neither party maniacs. These unique 18^th birthday party ideas are for people who just like to sit, relax and spend some quality time with their friends. So, let’s get started.

Spa party

Do you want teenage life stress to simply go away on your 18^th birthday and to enter adulthood stress-free? Well, we cannot guarantee that all stress will disappear but certainly, it is good to start a new Epoque of your life relaxed and calmed. For that purpose, the spa party is an ideal choice.

The spa centers may offer you a variety of services, from hot bathtubs and saunas to massages and various body and hair treatments. What matters the most is to check the availability of spa centers, since some of them might not be able to accept a large number of guests. Also, beware that this idea may not be budget-friendly at first sight, so it is important to agree with spa center management. Maybe they will give you a special offer since it is your birthday and according to the number of guests you will bring.

Must-have:

• Local spa center available to accept the number of guests that you are planning to invite
• Good negotiating skills
• Potentially some after-spa celebration space (regardless if it is your home or space that you will rent)

Decoration:

• Apart from the price and set of services, you may negotiate with spa center management about center decoration for your birthday. That decoration may include, for example, a happy birthday sign made of wood, leaves, or spa towels.

Movie theme

You may or may not be a movie freak, but there must be at least one movie that you loved. Or a series of movies where each one is connected with certain periods of your life. Or maybe you have a movie genre (e.g., romance, thriller, horror, SF, etc.) that you are crazy about?

If none of these mentioned above is your case, you may just find the newest blockbuster on Netflix (or any other online platform) and play it with your friends. If you are the type of person that imagines an ideal party with a group of friends binding together, then this is the ideal unique party theme for you.

Nothing brings people together more than a good movie and a bunch of popcorns. You may organize a movie marathon or you may just play one movie and then make a classic gathering later. The choice is yours. You must have in your mind that this type of party requires good technical support, so read carefully the must-have section below.

Must-have:

• Projector and a big screen set up (if you don’t have one, there is a possibility to rent)
• Bunch of pillows and comfortable seats
• Popcorn and drinks
• Appetizers, in case you are making a post-movie party

Decoration:

• Movie posters and similar items that will make the celebration space look like cinema
• Movie or Hollywood themed party items (plates, cutlery, etc.)

Make-your-own-pizza theme

Originated in 18^th century Napoli, pizza is one of the Italian dishes that keeps dominating the global kitchen scene. Also, it is a food-star of the evening of many parties.

In the beginning, every part of Italy had several authentic varieties of pizza. As it became a globally known dish, every part of the world made its version. Therefore, the number of varieties enormously rises.

Thus, if you like cooking and you are a creative person, make-your-own-pizza might be the right type of 18^th birthday party for you. Encourage your guests to be creative and to make a quest on the internet for the most unique pizza taste. It is up to you to provide basic pizza material, while each of the guests will bring the specific one for its choice.

Must-have:

• Basic pizza ingredients in enough quantity for all guests (pizza base, cheese (mozzarella), ketchup/undrained peeled tomatoes, oregano, salt…)
• Italian themed party items (plates, cutlery, etc., if you own some Italian artifacts additionally decorate with them celebration space)
• Refreshments (a lot of pizza easily makes you thirsty)

Decoration:

• Anything Italia themed (from Italia-colored plates, glasses, and cutlery to souvenirs or other artifacts from Italy)

Make-a-mocktail party

When you are 18^th, you are still not allowed to drink alcohol. Even though, it does not mean you can not have fun. Luckily, the mocktail has been invented. Like their “elder siblings” cocktails, they exist in various colors and forms. So, encourage your guest to be creative and to make their mocktail. Like in the previous theme, all you have to do is to provide enough quantity of basic mocktail ingredients.

Must-have:

• Basic mocktail ingredients (juices, sodas, infused waters…)
• Appetizers
• Club-themed decoration

Decoration:

• You may still not be allowed to enter many clubs, but it does not mean you can not make the club atmosphere at your home (or any other celebration space). Provide yourself with disco-balls, lights in various colors, smoke, and club-themed plates and cutlery.
• Cocktail glasses decoration (e.g., small sun umbrellas)

Fireworks party

You just gotta ignite the light and let it shine, Just own the night like the Fourth of July!

You may not still be allowed to drink alcohol, but you are allowed to set off the fireworks. Therefore, celebrate your freedom by making art in the sky with different shapes and colors. Ancient Chinese believed that fireworks will cast out bad and attract good luck. And we believe that it is exactly the way how you want to start adulthood!

Must-have:

• Outdoor space to celebrate
• Fireworks in different colors and shapes
• SAFETY: Those who work with fire always takes the risk to be burnt! Inform yourself about safety conditions for setting off the fireworks.
• LEGALITY: always buy fireworks at legal stores. The products that are part of legal trade have passed security control and therefore are less dangerous and more risk-free.
• Appetizers and drinks

Decoration:

• Firework themed party items
• Alternatively, since the fireworks have their origin in ancient China, you may decorate with a Chinese party theme (in this case, Chinese appetizers might be a good compound). Also, you may inform yourself which year according to the Chinese zodiac is the first year of your adulthood and put that animal in the decorations as well.

Photo session party

Since the late 2000s, social networks became an irreplaceable part of our culture, especially of the life of young people. We use them to send our image to the world and also to make our memories eternally carved into “cyber stone”. Why not make a cocktail (not a mocktail like in the previous theme) of these two with fun? Provide yourself and your guests with boas, hats, and quote signs that say “Happy 18^th Birthday (Name)”, prepare decorative background and lighting, and hire a photographer. You will have fun, make memories, and say to the whole world that you are an adult now.

Must-have:

• Photographer to hire
• Boas, hats, quote signs, and other session requisites
• Decorative background and lighting
• Appetizers and drinks

Decoration:

• Already provided with photo settings

As you are growing up, so are we finishing this article!

Why don’t they just let me live
I don’t need permission
Make my own decisions
That’s my prerogative

With these lyrics of teenage pop icon Britney Spears, we would like to finish this article about finishing your teenage age. Soon you will be leaving your life and your prerogative will become your lifestyle. Don’t worry, it is not as scary as it sounds. The best way to destroy the fear is like the famous movies franchise is suggesting, saying “Ridiculous” and turning it into something funny and entertaining. We hope this article proved to you that the funniest and entertaining that you could do is to make a remarkable 18^th birthday party that you will always remember!

But before ending, we would like to give you a few additional tips that might help you organize your party even better and not turn into a “birthdayzilla”. Don’t forget, it depends on you whether the process of turning your 18^th birthday party ideas into action will be fun and creative or it will be the worst nightmare. To avoid a nightmare, you have to follow certain steps. Those steps are:

• Think of the idea and party theme – go through the list we gave you and think of the ideas that fit you best. If you are undecidable, you may make the top three or top-five and then ask your friends and family to help you
• Create a guest list! The guests are the soul of the party! So, decide cleverly who you would like to be there. Also, think of the number of people! Your personal choice between a large party or intimate gathering of closest friends is, of course, most important, but you also have to think of your budget and the number of persons that facility you’ve chosen allows.
• Finally, there is an organization. Think of drinks, food, music and of course, the cake. You may even make a small speech that you will read after you make a birthday wish and blow a candle!

Happy 18^th birthday and happy adulthood! May life bring you joy, happiness, and may all possibilities that exist open for you. Always remember: “The world is my oyster, I am the pearl”!

Image source: https://unsplash.com/photos/T_hZdw3Pzek