13 Special January Birthday Ideas That Are Perfect For The Season (2024)

Need a few fun and heartfelt January birthday party ideas? We get it! You’ve packed up the Christmas tree and swept up the last of the New Year’s glitter. Now that you’re in a brand new year, it can be hard to shake off the post-holiday slump. If only there were a special day to break up the grey monotony of January… Oh wait, there is. It’s your birthday!

Having a January birthday can be awkward for some. After all, people just gave you gifts for Christmas. But in a month with bleak weather and short gloomy days, your birthday can be a gift that saves your friends from the January blues. Here are 13 special January birthday party ideas to get you started. 

And if you want to get out of the house for the occasion, Peerspace can help you find rentable birthday party venues in hundreds of cities across the globe. Just input your event type, a birthday in this case, your location, and you’ll get a full list of awesome spots to choose from. If you have any questions or requests, reach out to your venue’s local host who will be happy to help you in any way they can.

Along with our January birthday party ideas below, we’ll also share information about a few must-see Peerspace birthday-perfect venue rentals. Let’s get to it!

1. Take advantage of the cold and throw an ice skating party 

Some people might lament the frosty weather. But as a creature of the cold, you embrace your birth month’s weather like a natural-born penguin. So why not spend the day ice skating with your friends on a frozen pond or lake? You’ll get to stretch your legs and enjoy some brisk winter air.

Want to book time at an incredible ice skating rink with fabulous amenities, but aren’t sure where to start? Then rely on Peerspace! Our friends in New York City can easily book this ice skating rink in Brooklyn and then enjoy a delicious meal at the on-site chalet restaurant post-skate fest. And when you’re finished, you can put our next January birthday idea to the test…

2. Indulge yourself with a gourmet hot chocolate party 

Coffee has its place, sure. But hot chocolate just hits differently, especially on a cold and gloomy January afternoon. Keep up the “chocolate birthday” vibes by hosting a cocoa party at a rentable cafe near you, where you and your friends can sip hot chocolate and warm up your souls.

You can also book an ultra-cozy cabin, like this Scandi-style modern A-frame cabin on the lake in Lavonia, GA. The host even invites you to come sip hot cocoa alongside the outdoor fire pit! It’s a space that’s tailor-made for a cozy party where you can take refuge from the usual January elements. 

3. Splash around with an indoor swimming party

Who says swimming is just for the summer? You don’t have to be a polar bear to enjoy swimming in January. You just need to find an indoor heated pool like the one at this adorable Prince Edward, Ontario cottage. Imagine swimming with your best friends while watching snowflakes flutter out the window. Sounds like a memorable birthday to us! 

Hoping to embrace the season this birthday? Then check out these festive winter wonderland party ideas for more inspiration!

4. Plan a playful snow day party 

If you grew up in a climate that gets plenty of snow in the winter, then you bo doubt remember those amazing snow days when you were a kid. Do you feel nostalgic for those wintry times when you spent the day pummeling your friends with snowballs and sledding down powdery white hills? You might be an adult now, but you can still channel the awesome vibes of a snow day by hosting a snow day birthday party full of wintery fun and games.

And when you’re all tuckered out from playing in the snow, you can retreat back to a cottage for a mug full of something warm and delicious. It gets plenty of snowy weather in the winter and will surround you with majestic vibes no matter what time of year you book it!

According to a Peerspace reviewer who booked this vintage cabin for a birthday: “This beautiful expansive (cabin sits on an acre of land) and quiet space is the perfect place to re-charge and gather with the people you love. The hosts are very informative and accommodating. It was a pleasure working with them.”

5. Warm your stomach and your soul with a pot luck party 

Are you looking for January birthday ideas that let you treat your inner foodie? If the idea of indulging in multiple homemade dishes sounds like an irresistible way to spend your birthday, than you’re in luck. It turns out January has the perfect excuse to chow down on a variety of dishes with your party guests – National Buffet Day on January 2. 

Invite your friends over for a cooking party and try your hands at the fine art of put lucking. Plus, you’ll get to spend the day in a warm kitchen snacking on all of the delicious dishes you feel like whipping up. Need a stylish, well-equipped space to cook and serve your buffet fare? Then consider booking a gourmet kitchen space through Peerspace. For instance, this fully-equipped gourmet chef kitchen studio in Norristown, PA could provide a change of setting for a birthday full of cooking and eating. 

6. Hit the slopes with a skiing party 

Want something a little more adventurous than throwing snowballs or sledding? Take your friends out skiing or snowboarding for your birthday! You’ll get to put the frosty January weather to good use and get a healthy dose of adrenaline. January birthday ideas like this are for the most adventurous souls. 

7. Consider throwing a sci-fi birthday party

Are you obsessed with galaxies far, far away? Then we’ve got one of the best January birthday ideas for you. January 2nd is National Sci-Fi Day, so why not celebrate your birthday with some spaced-out party decor? You’ve got a ton of awesome franchises to choose from for a theme, like Star Trek, Star Wars, or Dune. And you can find an interstellar venue through Peerspace to create a starry, out-of-this-world atmosphere. 

8. Celebrate Tolkien’s birthday, too

If your birthday falls on January 3rd, you just happen to share your b-day with one of the greatest literary minds of our time – J.R.R. Tolkien. So why not celebrate your birthday twin with a Middle Earth-themed party? You can immerse yourself in the fantasy by hosting at a real-life hobbit hole, like this earthy hobbit-inspired home in Austin, TX. 

9. Glam it up with a roaring 20s birthday

Have you always wanted an excuse to throw a roaring 20s party? Well, it just so happens that National Bootlegger’s Day falls on January 17th. Now’s your chance to head to an authentic speakeasy bar and lounge and spend the night doing the Charleston and sipping 20s-inspired cocktails like you’re at a real prohibition ball. Of course, if you’re celebrating Dry January, then you can always experiment with non-alcoholic 20s-inspired mocktails instead. 

10. Winnie the Pooh birthday 

Celebrating your birthday on January 18th? You share a birthday with A.A. Milne, author of Winnie the Pooh. To celebrate, try putting a Pooh-bear spin on your birthday. You can pay homage at your party with little touches, like a honey-flavored cake or watercolor-inspired decorations. You’re never too old to enjoy the magic of the Hundred Acre Wood. And if you have kids celebrating a January birthday, this would make an awesome seasonal birthday party!

Love this idea and planning a wedding? Then you need to see our woodland wedding tips and tricks next!

11. A birthday idea for all the chocoholics out there

February might have Valentine’s Day to brag about, sure. But January has two holidays for chocoholics – National Chocolate Cake Day and National Hot Chocolate Day. Celebrate these all-important holidays with your birthday by enjoying chocolatey snacks and treats.

Instead of just keeping it sweet, why not dip your toes into savory chocolate meals — like chocolate chipotle sirloin steak or a strawberry salad with a chocolate vinaigrette? It’s January birthday ideas like this that are a chocolate lover’s dream. 

12. Throw a festive Lunar New Year birthday

The Lunar New Year typically falls in Late January or early February. If your January birthday coincides with the Lunar New Year, why not combine the two celebrations? You can see if there’s a Lunar New Year celebration in your city that you can join, or celebrate a more private party with a Lunar New Year dinner.

13. Blast your favorite tunes with a music-themed birthday

Did you know that you share your birth month with some musical legends — like Elvis Presley, David Bowie, and Dolly Parton? Celebrate by throwing a musical party with a helping hand from your favorite January legend! Other famous January-born musicians include Zayn Malik, Justin Timberlake, and Pitbull.

January birthday ideas: conclusion

As you can see, a January birthday can be just as warm and inviting as a summer one! All you need is the perfect birthday party venue, some of these January birthday ideas, and your favorite people, and you’ll be well on your way to planning a heart-warming event in even the coldest month.

Find unique birthday party venues on Peerspace