13 Unforgettable Going Away Party Ideas
- Date: May 13, 2025
- Topic: Parties
- Contributors: Written by Nina Gunther-SegalEdited by Alexis Shiraki
Source: Pexels / Cedric Fauntleroy
While saying goodbye to someone you care about can be difficult, their going away party doesn’t have to be somber. Instead, you can make it a celebratory gathering filled with laughter and great memories, both new and old.
Whether you’re saying goodbye to a colleague, a family member, a loved one in the military, or a child heading off on a new adventure, why not send them off with an amazing celebration?
In this guide, we’ll share thirteen going away party ideas tailored to various groups and settings. Draw on our list of unique themes, activities, and tips to plan a send-off that the person you’re saying goodbye to will always remember. As you plan, check out Peerspace to discover a wide range of party venues that’d be ideal for a going away celebration.
Table of contents:
- Going away party ideas for coworkers
- Going away party ideas for family
- Military going away party ideas
- Going away party ideas for kids
- At home going away party ideas
- Virtual going away party ideas
- Finding great going away party ideas
- Peerspace can take your party to the next level
Our top going away party ideas
No matter what kind of send-off you’re organizing, a going away party is an opportunity to celebrate your connection to someone while marking a new beginning in a meaningful way.
The feel of the party and the activities you decide to incorporate will depend on who you’re celebrating, where you’re doing so, and other factors, so we’ve broken down our going away party ideas into categories—for coworkers, family, kids, and more.
Going away party ideas for coworkers
1. Have an office roast and toast
If your departing coworker has a good sense of humor, celebrate them with a combination of a lighthearted roast and a series of heartfelt toasts. Invite your colleagues to share funny and fond memories or words of appreciation.
The hardest part about this idea might be the challenge of balancing humor and sincerity—you don’t want to make things too serious, but you also don’t want to turn their departure into a joke. But if you can achieve that balance, it’ll definitely be a memorable gathering, so it’s worth the added effort.
Make it happen:
Ideal spaces: Rented event space, office break room/conference room
Book a venue to set the stage for laughter and memories
2. Plan a memory lane scavenger hunt
Since a big part of saying goodbye to your coworker is about reflecting on your best memories together, creating a scavenger hunt that represents key moments and memories is a great way to do that. Each clue you use can represent specific inside jokes, projects, or funny experiences that you and your coworkers can recall.
As your coworker follows the scavenger hunt, they’ll be reminded of their journey working with you all—a meaningful opportunity for reminiscing. At the end, reward them with a custom gift or a heartfelt message from their team.
Make it happen:
Ideal spaces: Spacious loft, coworking space, or (if weather allows) a nearby park
Find the perfect space for a memorable scavenger hunt
Going away party ideas for family
3. Help them out by throwing a packing party
Why not get something useful done at your loved one’s going away party? Sometimes the best gift is showing up to take some of the stress out of packing for a cross-country move or long-term trip.
If they’re leaving their home or apartment, organize for friends and family to get together to assist. Help them pack the U-Haul, clean out the garage, and donate any unwanted items to charity.
After you finish packing, break out a few bottles of champagne and boxes of pizza for a low-key celebration.
Make it happen:
Ideal spaces: Friend’s home, community space for large gatherings
Help your loved one move on to their next adventure
4. Make a photo album to make reminiscing easy
No matter what the theme, making a photo album or guest book for your family member to take with them is a must. While you can present a slideshow of your favorite memories at the event, we think sending them off with a hard copy of photos and handwritten notes is best! For those whose love language is receiving gifts, this is one of the most thoughtful going away party ideas.
If your family member is short on luggage space, load a thumb drive with tons of thoughtful, sentimental digital photos. They can look at them on their laptop anytime they feel homesick and remember their loved ones.
Make it happen:
Ideal spaces: Patio, garden, casual home venue
Celebrate them with a gathering they’ll cherish forever
5. Have a fundraiser in their honor to help with initial expenses
If the going away party is for someone joining the Peace Corps or going on a humanitarian trip overseas, make it a charity fundraiser. Invite local musicians and other artists to perform, and raise money for a good cause in honor of your friend’s departure.
Find a cool space that can accommodate live music by searching on Peerspace for a venue near you. Ask your venue’s host if they can help arrange photographers, videographers, and performers to help raise those funds while putting on a good show for guests.
Make it happen:
Ideal spaces: Community center, cafe, dance studio, outdoor venue with performance space
Host a fundraiser to ease their transition
Military going away party ideas
6. Throw a deployment care package party
How about a gathering where friends and family create personalized care packages for the person who’s heading off to serve? Everyone in attendance can pitch in with snacks, personal items, heartfelt letters, and more to include in the package. Before they go, send them off with a care package and they’re sure to feel supported and loved.
Make it happen:
Ideal spaces: Community center, family home, church hall
Gather loved ones to pack a heartfelt send-off for their journey
7. Plan a bootcamp challenge party
This can be a fun and playful interactive “bootcamp” experience that mirrors some of the training exercises your military friend or loved one has gone through. Plan a series of lighthearted challenges, like obstacle courses, timed relays, team-building games, and other fun (but not too strenuous!) tasks. It’s a fun, energetic way to celebrate your loved one’s strength and resilience while involving everyone in a truly memorable send-off.
Make it happen:
Ideal spaces: Park, sports field, gym
Put together an epic military-themed send-off
Going away party ideas for kids
8. Throw a college-themed event for a college-bound kid
If your guest-of-honor is going off to college or studying abroad, throw a going-away party that’s themed to match their new school or destination. Decorate the venue with the school’s mascot, logo, sports jerseys, and other recognizable items from their soon-to-be home. It’s a fun way to make them feel more excited about leaving while letting them know you support their choices.
Make it happen:
Ideal spaces: Local venue decorated with their school colors, backyard, community hall
Plan a college send-off filled with school spirit
9. Go camping for a final bonding trip (for a while, at least!)
Another option is to throw an outdoor event, such as a camping trip. If your guest-of-honor loves the outdoors, surprise them with one last trip to their favorite hiking spot or campground. A group of old friends might enjoy a trip to a cozy cabin in the woods before one of them leaves town.
You can end the night at either cabin by gathering around the campfire or fireplace and sharing your favorite memories about the person who’s going away. It may be a tearjerker, but those will be cathartic celebratory tears. Most importantly: don’t forget to bring the food and drinks for campsite noshing!
Make it happen:
Ideal spaces: Cabin, cottage, lake house, campground
Make lasting memories on one last adventure together
At home going away party ideas
10. Host your own escape room game
Put together a DIY scavenger hunt or escape room game based on your friend’s travel itinerary. Each clue should take them closer and closer to their destination, with the final discovery being (pretend) plane tickets to their new home.
To personalize it, create clues that pertain to your relationship with the going away person. That helps make it amazing on so many different levels!
As you can see, you can book a unique escape room in just about every town and city across the globe. No matter where you book, yours will be different by making it distinct to the person you’re celebrating. Talk to your venue’s host about how the escape room experience is part of a larger going away party and see how they can help maximize your gathering.
Make it happen:
Ideal spaces: At home
Send them off on an adventure with a custom escape room
11. Set up a “party favors” table to help get rid of things
For those who are actively downsizing as they move away, why not incorporate a “party favors” table into the going away party? Simply set up a table where guests can take home items that the departing loved one no longer needs—old books, clothes, kitchen gadgets, decor, etc. It makes it easier to clear out more space and those in attendance will appreciate the free treasures.
Make it happen:
Ideal spaces: At home
Let guests help with downsizing
Virtual going away party ideas
12. Have a hybrid party for those who can’t attend in person
You don’t have to choose between a virtual and an in-person going away party—instead, combine them with a hybrid party. Whatever party you decide to plan IRL, incorporate a livestream or video call where remote guests can join in on the fun, too. Consider incorporating interactive games and inviting participants to give virtual toasts to make it easier for them to participate.
Make it happen:
Ideal spaces: Home, rented venue with tech setup
Create a hybrid party experience with the right tech setup
13. Organize a virtual game night goodbye party
Turn your virtual going away party into a fun-filled event with games that everyone can participate in, regardless of where they’re located. These days, there are so many virtual games you can play at a distance, so choose one (or a few) that sound most appealing to you. Incorporating games into the party helps to keep everyone engaged as you celebrate.
Make it happen:
Ideal spaces: Home, rented venue with tech setup
Bring everyone together for a virtual game night
Tips for finding great going away party ideas
Struggling to find the perfect inspiration for your going away party planning? Start by thinking about what your guest of honor and planned guests enjoy, and then build from there.
You can start with something simple and familiar, like a game night or a picnic, and add a personal touch that’s related to their upcoming journey. You should aim to create an atmosphere that’s fun and meaningful, focusing on celebrating the guest of honor and their next adventure.
Using Peerspace to take your going away party to the next level
Finding the right location for your going away party can set the tone for an incredible celebration. With Peerspace, the search for the perfect venue is simpler than ever.
You might be hosting a family-friendly farewell, a casual gathering with close friends, or a professional send-off for coworkers—whatever your going away party style, Peerspace makes it a breeze with easy-to-use search features, instant booking options, and transparent pricing. That means you can put your energy into making your party memorable, rather than wasting time stressing over venue-related logistics.
Answered
Event venues on Peerspace typically cost $80 — $220 per hour.
Make amazing memories at your going away party
A meaningful farewell deserves more than a basic backdrop. Peerspace can help you discover one-of-a-kind venues that reflect the guest of honor’s personality, from a cozy loft for heartfelt toasts to a spacious rooftop for one last big bash.
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