10 Fabulous 30th Birthday Party Ideas

A 30th birthday is a fantastic reason to celebrate! It’s the year you get to officially shed your roaring 20s and start “adulting.” The third decade is exciting, full of promise and opportunity. Following are 10 fabulous 30th birthday party ideas to celebrate your independence and bring in the new year with a bang.

Remember that no matter where you are or what event you’re planning, Peerspace is a great resource for finding the unique venue of your dreams. Between these ideas and an epic party space, you’ll be welcoming in a new decade beautifully. Now, let’s get on to the list!

1. Party in style at a Peerspace

Have a straight-up bash at a unique venue of your choice by using Peerspace. As the largest online marketplace for hourly venue rentals, we make it easy to help you locate and book a dream venue for all your personal and professional events.

Here are some of our favorite 30th birthday-worthy venues that you can book today:

• This ultra-modern high-end luxury waterfront cottage on Lake Ontario in Mississauga (pictured above) with space for 50, multiple balconies, a 20-foot fireplace wall, a floating staircase, and more
• This Midtown eclectic industrial venue with a private bar in NYC with space for 100, an A/V system, optional in-house catering, and plenty of comfy seating
• This tropical boho beach bungalow in San Clemente, CA with space for 30 guests, indoor and outdoor space, and ocean views
• This hidden enchanted forest mountaintop venue in Mableton, GA with space for 100 guests, indoor and outdoor space, and stunning views of Atlanta
• This spacious party home in Tomball, TX with a pool, a covered patio, a game lounge, and more

As you can see, there is a huge variety of spaces in every location that can make your 30th birthday an all-star event. Search for the perfect venue near you and see what the host offers. Some spaces include catering, games, A/V equipment, and other amenities that make celebrating your birthday in syle easy. Hello, 30!

2. Get cooking

A person should have eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems, and a recipe for a meal that makes their guests feel honored. Mac & cheese with sliced hot dogs does not fit the bill! College-era cuisine serves an important purpose, but at age 30, it’s time to expand one’s horizons.

Arrange a cooking class of any kind. Then, add your closest friends and a couple of bottles of wine for an interactive 30th birthday party idea that is practical and delicious!

3. Good things come in threes

Schoolhouse Rock said it best: three is a magic number! Decorate with primary colors — red, blue, and yellow — and serve food and drink as trios: sliders three ways, three-cheese mac and cheese bites, three-layer cocktails, and three kinds of chocolate bites. Give your gifts favors of three chocolate coins for luck! 

Wondering what’s like an Airbnb for birthday parties? We answer all your questions here!

4. Decade party

The ’90s are a virtual gold mine of interesting, party-ready themes: grunge, hip hop, preppy, or punk. Each brings with it an opportunity for fashion, music, and decor! 30th birthday party ideas like this allow you to re-live the decade in which you were born and spent your formative years.

Create a menu of adult versions of your childhood favorite foods: wine in pouches a la Capri Sun and champagne gummy bears, handmade versions of Hot Pockets and Lunchables, and serve chicken salad in tiny portions.

5. Alice in Wonderland

Things are never what they seem! Have a whimsical and fun grown-up tea party. Decorate with endless numbers of patterns and buckets of bright color, topped with suspended accents of garland and paper lanterns.

Order a Party in a Box from PartyHats.org to allow guests to do their best Mad Hatter impersonation! Serve the meal on mismatched china and elaborate, tiered trays filled with finger sandwiches, mini quiche, fruit, and truffles. Don’t forget a candy bar! Party favors? Why, mini bottles of wine and individually wrapped pies, of course, adorned with ribbon and a note indicating “Drink Me” or “Eat Me.” 

6. Dirty thirty

Interpret it how you will, but we picture Mad Men-themed dress and design. This 30th birthday party idea is perfect for a themed photo booth, complete with vintage wallpaper backdrop. Stock the bar with the ingredients for a perfect gin Martini and Brandy Alexander, and give guests themed charms for their glasses. Serve retro foods to include updated versions of ambrosia salad, mini beef wellington, deviled eggs, and cheese fondue.

Don’t forget frill picks and cocktail stirrers! Entertain guests with throwback games of Twister and Charades. The later the hour, the funnier it will be.

7. Color run

A 30th birthday party idea for runners and non-runners alike: a marathon that is accessible to everyone. Put the whole group in costume and get ready to celebrate. When it’s all over, and you look like a rainbow, enjoy a Tex-Mex tailgate in the parking lot: barbacoa beef tacos and a nacho bar featuring tortilla chips and fresh salsa, queso, veggie chili, and fresh avocado. Hydrate with sparkling water and hard seltzer.

8. Craft beer pairing

Visit your local brewery and create a tasting menu that showcases the brewmaster’s favorites. It will inevitably include cheese and pretzels in some fashion. Add to the hum of great conversation with background acoustic guitar. Favor your guests with custom bottle openers or beer steins.

Venues like Central District Brewery in Austin, TX, are perfect ideas for your 30th birthday party and can be easily found on Peerspace!

Does your birthday fall in the colder months? Make it sizzling by using our awesome winter birthday party ideas!

9. Progressive evening

In our 20s, we would have called it a bar tour. Begin your evening with champagne and tiny amuse bouche in your home; progress to a pub for appetizers, dinner in your favorite restaurant, then dessert and coffee at the cupcake shop down the street.

As an added treat, plan for little surprises at each stop. The surprises can be as simple as flowers and balloons or as elaborate as a Mariachi serenade at dinner. Constant movement keeps people engaged and ready for the next course!

10. Slumber party

Get your very best friends together for a 36-hour sleepover. Cabin or beach house? Who cares? Don’t let the season sway you — there’s nothing sweeter than the beach or a ski resort in the off-season. Decadent comfort food and drink are a must!

Assign each person a meal period during which they can run wild and hope that someone decides to make buffalo chicken dip and a Crock-Pot hash brown casserole. Greet everyone with themed fuzzy socks and a lavender sleeping mask, then spend the evening having snacks, watching movies, and playing Truth or Dare.

30th birthday party ideas: conclusion

We hope these 30th birthday party ideas have you inspired and ready to plan an epic bash befitting the milestone. Start by booking an incredible Peerspace party venue near and then utilize these ideas to bring the whole event together. In no time, you’ll be well on your way to hosting an amazing party that ushers in a fabulous new decade.

Find unique birthday party venues on Peerspace