Fun 50^th birthday party ideas, gifts, and trips to commemorate a milestone.

Turning 50 is nothing to sneeze at. That’s half a century of life experience. That’s five decades crossing paths with so many people that you’ve lost count.

The richness of 50 years of life begs the question: who’s planning this 50^th birthday party? 50-year-olds have a mix of friends, coworkers, family (older and younger), and countless contacts in their lives, all of whom look at the birthday star through a different lens.

For unique 50^th birthday party ideas that fit any mold — whether a surprise party a spouse is planning, a 50^th bash at work, or a major trip in honor of the milestone — study this list well. You’ll find birthday ideas that usher the golden years in with style.

50^th birthday gift ideas for those near and afar.

By the time someone reaches 50, their contacts are spread out all over the globe. Whether you’re looking for 50^th birthday gift ideas for someone in town or someone far away, this list has clever options to think about.

After all, turning 50 is about more than hitting a milestone. It’s about living through half a century of world events, too. The world has changed, and so has the birthday VIP. 50^th birthday gift ideas celebrate those achievements and capture some of that 50-year wisdom to push into the next decade burning bright.

Whiskey or wine aged 50 years.

There are some exquisite wines or whiskeys that have been aged 50 years. Any one of them could serve as a symbolic gift. Remember to include on the card, “aged to perfection, just like you.”

Custom certificates to be redeemed for new experiences.

Since a lot of 50-year-olds have a home full of stuff already, instead of gifting something material, consider making a certificate that guarantees a day together for the birthday star to cash whenever he or she wants.

A photo collage depicting 50 years of memories.

Make a photo collage with images that capture and commemorate achievements and memories of the birthday star’s 50 years.

50^th birthday ideas for women’s “golden years.”

Since turning 50 casts people into the “golden years,” 50^th birthday gift ideas for women can include gold pieces of jewelry.

Personal timeline poster.

Make a timeline on a poster, each milestone captured with a key photo or piece of memorabilia. What are the “stops” on the timeline of the birthday VIP’s 50 years?

50^th birthday ideas for men to stir reflection.

50^th birthday ideas for men can include a little gold to usher in those “golden years,” too. Encourage a little reflection with a custom leather-bound journal with gold embossed print on the cover. Customizing it shows that forethought went into this gift.

World event timeline banner.

Instead of making it all about the birthday star, show off what that person has witnessed with a custom world event timeline printed on a banner. A lot has happened in the last 50 years.

50 years, 50 photos.

To commemorate 50 years, collect or crowdsource 50 photos that capture memories from decades past. Put them all together in a digital frame or in a slideshow to share at the big birthday party.

50^th birthday card ideas for the perfect sentiment.

Over five whole decades, people move around. As a result, those who want to wish the birthday star a happy birthday aren’t always around to do that in person.

Turn to 50^th birthday card ideas to capture the perfect sentiment — whether that’s a memory, a little humor, or genuine respect and awe. Use these birthday card ideas to start you off, and then stuff the cards with a personal letter for good measure.

Gold and silver birthday card.

Both to recognize the coming “golden years” and the growing number of silver hairs, stick to a gold and silver theme on a custom card for an elegant touch.

50 letters from 50 people.

This one takes some foresight, but organize 50 people to write letters to the birthday star. The impact on delivery is tremendous.

“Speed Limit 50” road sign card.

Play off the classic “Speed Limit 50” yellow road signs on the front of a birthday card.

Half a century of awesome.

Reminding the birthday star that he or she has been around for half a century is a cheeky way to make him or her feel old. Turn it into an accomplishment instead with a card that says, “half a century of awesome.”

Timeline card.

Turn a world events timeline into a card design that features the astonishing number of things the birthday star has been around for.

Golden interior card.

Since the milestone maker is entering the “golden years,” why not gild the interior of a card? Once the birthday person opens it, the message could say: “you’ve arrived.”

“50 and still fabulous” pop-up.

Pop-up cards are fun to make and just as fun to receive and open. Use a short message like “50 is fabulous” for your own custom pop-up.

“50 reasons” card.

Fill a card with 50 reasons why the birthday star is loved. They might be your reasons, or you might get contributions from other people, too.

Unique 50^th birthday party ideas around the magic of the number “50.”

The number 50 is more than a milestone birthday. It’s also a significant number in politics, geography, and science. There are 50 states in the U.S., and 50º C marks the middle point between boiling and freezing. We’ve all had a 50/50 chance of something, too.

Looking for unique 50^th birthday ideas requires thinking about the number and everything it represents. Between the lines, you’ll find these unique 50^th birthday party ideas.

Memory sharing session.

Send out a mystery invitation to the birthday star with nothing but the letter L. (L, in Roman numerals, represents 50.) Have the birthday star show up at a gathering where friends and family are ready to share memories. Sit together over snacks and drinks and reminisce on what encapsulates the last 50 years.

Go on a yoga retreat.

It might be the start of the “golden years,” but there are also challenges that come with aging. Stay limber and by kicking off 50 with a yoga retreat with friends, a partner, or solo.

Golden cake.

50^th birthday cake ideas can be unique to the occasion, too. Play off the golden era with a gold-colored cake. Add a little filigree on top for good measure.

50-day countdown.

Butter the birthday star up with a 50-day countdown to the big day. Make 50 small cards, one to deliver each day, each with a memory or words of encouragement. The anticipation by the end will be immeasurable.

Try a progressive dinner party.

Go out for a progressive dinner party. Start at one restaurant for hors d’oeuvres, then move to another for the main course. Wrap up at a third restaurant for dessert, and the night will feel three times as successful.

Throw a disco extravaganza.

Since the person turning 50 was born in the disco era, you can throw a disco extravaganza.

Go out for some dive bar nostalgia.

If the birthday VIP’s favorite dive bar is still open, why not go back for a visit?

Run a 5K.

Running a race sounds a little brutal to some, 5.0 kilometers wouldn’t be too bad, would it?

Elegant 50^th birthday party idea to celebrate in style.

By the time someone turns 50, it’s common to want the finer things in life. Elegant 50^th birthday party ideas come with a refined sense of who we are and what we like.

Based on the birthday star you’re celebrating, look at these elegant 50^th birthday party ideas and find the one that fits the ambience you’re aiming for.

50^th birthday centerpiece ideas for added opulence.

Collect memorabilia (like framed photos, treasured keepsakes, and souvenirs from trips) to use as centerpieces at a formal 50^th birthday party dinner.

A posh restaurant reservation.

Schedule a night out at a posh restaurant, especially one you’ve always wanted to go to. If it’s five stars, that’s one star for every decade.

In-home silver service.

Instead of going out, hire a chef to come prepare a luxury-level dinner at home. This could be for several guests or for a romantic dinner for two.

50^th birthday outfit ideas.

For the perfect 50^th birthday outfit ideas, why not visit a tailor and get something custom-made? Celebrating half a century of life is no small matter, so it’s only right to go big.

Black tie attire.

Make the 50^th birthday dinner a black tie event. This could be part of an outing to a swanky restaurant or just to see how well loved ones clean up.

Casino night (locally or as a trip).

Plan an outing to a local casino or a destination one.

Intimate can be elegant, too.

Intimate can be elegant, too, like in a “50 stories” bonfire with hot chocolate and a group of family and friends. Guests take turns telling stories and reminding the birthday star of years past.

50^th birthday invitation ideas: all things gilded.

Since 50 ushers in someone’s “golden years,” it makes sense for 50^th birthday invitation ideas and party themes to be gilded. Think of gold leaf birthday cards, golden cakes, and shiny gold decorations.

Fun 50^th birthday ideas to prove there’s still fun to be had.

Kids in their teens or twenties might think that their parents turning 50 are ancient. It’s true that 50 isn’t as springy as 15, but there’s still fun to be had in our golden years. Turning 50 is a worthy occasion for some fun 50^th birthday ideas that also cross experiences off your bucket list.

Try a new class or activity.

Trying new things can be fun if you pick the right class or activity. Have you learned how to scuba dive in your 50 years? Could you have fun learning to play the ukelele?

50 video messages.

This requires a little organization in advance. Connect with friends and family to ask for video messages for the birthday VIP. They can be memories, well wishes, advice, or even a little razzing. See if you can collect 50 for the 50^th birthday celebration.

Throw a cocktail party.

Throw a party with the expectation of some fine drinks to usher in the next decade. Cocktail parties are extra fun when you set up a bar of ingredients and additions for people to invent their own.

Learn how to cook something you’ve always loved.

Think back to all the delicious things you’ve enjoyed in 50 years, and pick something you would love to know how to cook.

Golden champagne jubilee.

Playing off the “golden jubilee” celebration of any 50^th anniversary, serve champaign (since it’s close enough to gold, anyway), hang golden décor, and invite everyone to come in gilded attire.

1970s theme birthday party.

For more fun 50^th birthday outfit ideas, consider a 1970s theme to harken back to the decade when the birthday star was born.

Board and card game night.

Board games don’t jump off the page as something “fun” to everyone, but those who do like games see the value of a 50^th birthday board game party. It makes it easy to include multiple generations and spend time with those you love most.

Rock and roll 50^th birthday.

Trow a rock and roll 50^th birthday party where rock songs from your childhood are played all night.

50^th birthday trip ideas worthy of the milestone.

Instead of a 50^th birthday party, you could use 50^th birthday trip ideas for an adventure worthy of the occasion. The world is big, and in 50 years you haven’t seen it all. Even going to the next town over is an adventure if you haven’t been there yet.

The memories you make on a 50^th birthday trip could be more valuable than any other gift. Look for the perfect way to celebrate in these 50^th birthday trip ideas below.

The Gold Coast.

In honor of your “golden jubilee,” visit the Gold Coast in Australia.

Golden Gate Park.

San Francisco has a golden site to see, too.

Patagonia region of Argentina.

The Patagonia region of Argentina and Chile sits right where the 50^th parallel south crosses.

See the “big five” animals on a safari.

Celebrate 50 with a safari trip to Africa. You could see what are called the “big five,” with one extraordinary animal representing each decade. (The “big five” are the lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and cape buffalo.)

Spain and Italy.

Travel places where the local population ages especially well, and it could serve as a lesson and an inspiration. Italy and Spain are two countries known for their high quality of life for older community members, as is Japan.

Cross off the last of the 50 states.

If you’ve been to many states but not all of them, consider taking trips to cross the remaining states off your list.

50-mile radius road trip.

For a 50^th birthday trip idea closer to home, set a 50 mile radius and explore places you haven’t seen yet within that circle.

Hawai’i.

Hawai’i was the 50^th state in the union, so why not make the islands your 50^th birthday destination?

How to include others near and far.

By the time we turn 50, there are a lot of people in our lives.

To include those friends, family, and colleagues who live far away or who won’t be at the official celebration, reach out to collect more birthday greetings.

For example:

• If the birthday star uses a social network, encourage friends and family to post memories, photos, or anecdotes.
• 50^th birthday card ideas can play off any of the party ideas above, too.
• Collect letters from people for a personal touch.

Remember to think about all the people the milestone maker has treasured in each chapter of life. Find school friends from childhood, reach out to college buddies, and tap into friends at work.

Exercise: It’s time to write out that bucket list.

Turning 50 is a reminder of how much time has passed and how quickly it can keep on passing.

It’s likely that the birthday VIP already has a mental bucket list of things he or she wants to do with the years to come, but writing them out in a list is something a 50-year-old is wise to do.

You can make a bucket list in different ways, like:

1. Solo, with or without ideas or feedback from others later.

2. With friends or family while others simultaneously write out their own.

3. Or by letting friends and family crowdsource the bucket list they think you ought to have.

A bucket list isn’t a contract, either. If you go for the fun crowdsourcing idea, that doesn’t mean you ultimately have to do what everyone suggests.

Still, the time is ripe to write out your bucket list ideas now.

Adobe Express can help.

Adobe Express has templates and customization tools to put your favorite 50^th birthday ideas to work. If you want to use these 50^th birthday ideas in cards, letters, posters, banners, collages, flyers, announcements, or other creative projects, Adobe Express makes it as simple as picking a template and personalizing it, or making your own idea with easy-to-use tools. Whatever message you want to transmit, Adobe Express brings it to life, no experience required.

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