Fun ideas for 60^th birthday parties, gifts, cards, and more.

Turning 60 merits a memorable event. That might mean a big birthday party with friends, something more intimate, or even a solo 60^th birthday trip. The important thing is to recognize this milestone year.

For many people, 60 is the final milestone before retirement. 60 is also a significant number in many Eastern cultures, considered a full “life cycle” according to the zodiac and to the ancient Sumerians.

There are also 60 seconds in a minute and 60 minutes in an hour, which offers a deep symbolism of time and its passage.

Turning 60 is when six decades of experience, growth, and wisdom officially come together. How will you show up for the big day?

Remember, if you want to make cards, flyers, banners, or anything else for a 60^th birthday, it’s all easy in Adobe Express — no experience required.

60^th birthday gift ideas (for someone who already has a lot).

By the time people turn 60, it’s likely that they already have a lot of material stuff. There are still plenty of gifts that can hold significance for a 60^th birthday, though, if you know how to use the milestone in a meaningful way.

When you look through 60^th birthday gift ideas, think about what gifts cherish the past while still looking toward the future. Some sexagenarians dread welcoming in “the big 6-0,” but with a balance of excitement for both past and future, these gifts can ring in the new decade with an unforgettable feeling.

60^th birthday shirt ideas.

You can make your own cute 60^th birthday shirt ideas, for example with a cheeky phrase like “vintage 1964.” Insist that the birthday star wear it for at least a couple of photos.

60 surprises.

Plan sequential surprises (big or small) for 60 days starting with the sexagenarian’s birthday. These surprises could be short letters with random memories or 60 days of interesting flavors to try (like new cheeses or wines).

Custom “60 years of wisdom” journal.

Give the gift of a little introspection with a custom journal with the title, “60 years of wisdom.”

60 seeds garden kit.

Put together a garden kit with 60 seeds to encourage the birthday VIP to fill some time in retirement with a new hobby.

Mathematical gag gifts.

Make more gag t-shirts, cards, or posters with mathematical facts about the number 60. The more technical they are, the funnier they’ll be. Did you know, for example, that 60 is a twin-prime sum of the fifth pair of twin-primes (29 and 31)?

60 quotes for 60 years.

Write down 60 quotes or words of encouragement on 60 slips of paper, then mix them in a jar.

Framed sexagesimal map.

The ancient Sumerians invented and used a number system based on 60, which is still used today in measuring time and angles.

60 memories scrapbook.

Collect 60 photos and pieces of memorabilia to turn them into a “60 memories scrapbook.” Get other family members or friends to contribute stories, too.

60^th birthday gift ideas for Dads of all sorts.

Whether it’s your biological dad, a stepdad, or a father figure you hold dear, these 60^th birthday gift ideas for men take certain “dad gift” ideas and give them a new twist to celebrate the special milestone.

Whatever your father figure is into, and however well (or not) he fits the “dad mold” of typical gifts, these ideas make a play on the age itself to say something special about the milestone that he’s reached.

Chinese zodiac lifecycle poster.

Since the Chinese zodiac operates on a 60-year cycle, you can make a beautiful poster with the 12 animal and 5 element signs in honor of his 60^th birthday. This full life cycle is significant in Chinese culture, Japanese culture, and elsewhere throughout Asia.

60^th birthday adventure board game.

If your dad is into board games or wants to include the kids (or grandkids) in this birthday celebrations, make a personalized 60^th birthday board game. Base it on trivia from Dad’s life and be sure to include the really funny memories, too.

Elevator pitch videos from family and friends.

Reach out to friends and family members and ask them to think up and record 60-second elevator pitches about the experience or skills your dad has. See how everyone sees and admires him in the resulting videos.

60 memories photo collage.

Collect 60 photos with a mix of shots from every decade, then make a massive photo collage.

Timeline banner.

Make your own banner with a timeline of all the world events that have occurred so far during the birthday star’s 60 years.

60 reasons why I admire you.

Write a letter with 60 reasons why you love or admire your dad.

Custom engraved watch.

Since there are 60 seconds in a minute and 60 minutes in an hour, a custom engraved watch is a symbolic gesture as a 60^th birthday gift.

“60 minutes of calm” spa visit.

Spa visits aren’t just for Mom. Give Dad a 60-minute spa package for whatever services he needs most.

60^th birthday gift ideas for Mom that are worthy of the celebration.

It’s nice to give your mom flowers for special occasions, but turning 60 is a big deal. What 60^th birthday gift ideas for Mom really say something about the milestone and everything it represents?

Whether you’re looking for 60^th birthday gift ideas for women you hold dear or the very matriarch of your family herself, these options get the wheels turning. Commemorate the new decade with one of these gift ideas, and you’ll give Mom more than the gift; you’ll deliver lasting smiles.

Make your own bouquet of something else.

If flowers have been done too many times, make a bouquet out of citrus fruits or shaped marshmallows instead.

60 letters with 60 memories.

Whether they’re letters you write or emails you set to send automatically, shower your mom with 60 memories you share over 60 days.

Diamond jewelry.

A 60^th wedding anniversary is called the diamond anniversary. Applied to birthdays, that means that some diamond jewelry could be the once-in-a-decade gift for Mom.

Custom “60 adventures” travel journal.

Gift mom a journal with a title like “60 adventures” to encourage trips or new experiences. Though turning 60 usually falls around retirement age, that means Mom will have even more time to cross experiences off her bucket list.

Custom vanity lighting for the bathroom or bedroom.

As an unexpected treat, help Mom get her bathroom or bedroom vanity lighting updated to say, “you’re still beautiful.” Proper vanity lighting should go all the way around a mirror, point directly at the face, and use white light.

A photo album with 60 years scrapbook.

Make a scrapbook to represent the 60 years that made Mom who she is today.

“60 years of fashion” poster.

Make a fun poster to show off the many shifts in fashion over the last 60 years while your mom has rocked every style.

Crowdsourced slideshow.

Get friends and family to share favorite photos of your mom, or record videos with messages for her. Turn them all into a slideshow that Mom can watch again and again.

60^th birthday party ideas for every imaginable vibe.

Fun 60^th birthday ideas can be big or small, wild or relaxed. The purpose is to make them memorable, because it’s not every day you turn 60.

The best 60^th birthday party ideas also capitalize on what the number 60 represents. Leveling up to a new decade is no small feat, and these birthday ideas hit every note for the 60^th birthday parties you could have.

Dance party with ‘60s music.

Why not put on a playlist of 1960s classics and keep moving to kick off the next decade?

Boardgame party.

To include older and younger generations together, a boardgame night could be a great option. Depending on how competitive the birthday VIP’s friends and family are, this party idea could get a little raucous.

News personalities theme.

60 Minutes was one of the most famous and beloved TV news programs of all time. Turn a 60^th birthday into a costume party of news personalities (or of some newsworthy personalities).

1960s flower power theme.

Someone who’s turning 60 right now was born in the 1960s, so why not have a flower power ‘60s-inspired costume party?

60^th birthday cake ideas.

For another reference to the 60 seconds and 60 minutes on a clock, a 60^th birthday cake could sport a clock design in the frosting.

60^th birthday party announcement ideas.

60^th birthday party announcements can easily be a spin-off of any other idea on this list, or they can be an opportunity to use a cheeky one-liner like, “60: experienced, not expired.”

Try a new class or activity.

No 60-year-old is too old to learn something new. Celebrate 60 by trying a new class or learning a skill you always wanted to develop. By the next milestone birthday, maybe you’ll be a pro.

60-second challenges.

Set up party stations with 60-second challenges that everyone can play. In one corner, see how many cups people can stack in 60 seconds. In another, see how long people can make chains made of paper clips.

60^th birthday trip ideas for new, milestone-worthy experiences.

Sometimes, fun ideas for 60^th birthdays require getting out of town. Consider the locations you already have on your bucket list or peruse these destinations that cleverly celebrate the milestone in unique ways.

These can be solo adventures or trips you share with friends or family. Don’t let it be the last, either — turning 60 should empower us to travel more, not less.

Route 60 through Northern Ireland.

Visit Northern Ireland to traverse Route 60, a scenic stretch that passes through historic and stunning landscapes. Castles, cliffs, and coastal towns are a good recipe for a great 60^th birthday.

All-inclusive cruise.

If you’d like a break from the vacation planning, take a cruise to celebrate 60 with relaxation top-of-mind.

Go on a yoga retreat.

Go on a yoga retreat as a gift for body and mind.

60-minute beeline.

Choose any direction and drive that way for 60 minutes. See where you end up and what you discover along the way.

Walking tours.

Take walking tours where you live or in a city you want to visit. It’s important to keep moving after 60.

Visit the 60^th parallel north.

The 60^th parallel north marks the boundary between Canada’s northern and southern provinces. Visit several sites near the 60^th parallel as a symbolic 60^th celebration.

Bucket list destinations.

Make sure your bucket list is up to date with everything you want to do and everywhere you want to go, then pick one of those destinations in honor of your 60^th.

Multi-day spa experience.

Book a spa overnight to indulge in some much-deserved pampering. You choose whether to go solo or bring someone to share the experience with.

60^th birthday card ideas filled with memorable messages.

By the time people turn 60, there are innumerable friends, colleagues, acquaintances, and family members whose paths they’ve crossed. The number of people wanting to wish the new sexagenarian a happy birthday, therefore, can be colossal.

Different people want to send different messages, though. A friend from grade school will have something separate to say than a partner searching for 60^th birthday card ideas.

This collection of ideas is designed to get the wheels turning. Peruse the list and see what it inspires. Maybe you’ll complement a card with a personal letter, or can instantly picture the artwork for one of these card’s designs.

Fill-in-the-blank bucket list card.

Pressure the birthday VIP to commit to bucket list items for the new decade with a fill-in-the-blank bucket list card.

Clock themes.

Since clocks have 60 seconds and 60 minutes, you can make a cute custom card with clocks.

Geometry puns.

In geometry, an equilateral triangle features three 60-degree angles. Draw a triangle on a card with each of the angles marked, and tell the birthday star, “you’re perfect.” (Equilateral triangles represent perfect balance.)

Handwritten letters.

Write a personal birthday letter, especially if you’re celebrating your partner’s 60^th. (You’re never too old to write love letters, by the way.)

Diamond-themed cards.

Since a 60^th anniversary is the diamond anniversary, you can carry the idea forward in a sparkly diamond-inspired birthday card.

Latitude and longitude drawings.

Latitude and longitude are measured in degrees, minutes, and seconds, each broken down by 60. Make a card with a world map showing latitude and longitude, adding the message that 60 is the perfect age to travel with pinpoint precision.

“Speed Limit 60” road sign.

Since 60 is a common speed limit, you can make a card with a “Speed Limit 60” road sign.

Timeline card.

Make a “through the decades” timeline card that folds out to show key milestones of the last 60 years (from the birthday person’s life and popular culture).

Stuff you can easily make to celebrate a 60^th birthday.

Most of these 60^th birthday ideas are even more fun with custom banners, posters, and more. For example, think about:

• Cheeky flyers to hand out as a gag at the birthday party.
• Instagram or social media posts to celebrate (or razz) the birthday VIP in front of a wider audience.
• Banners with funny or loving messages strewn across them.
• Posters or big photo collages to put up at the party.
• Memorable letters written out by hand.
• Custom cards that hit all the right notes.
• Invitations that get even bigger birthday party turnout.
• Announcements to get others on board with a collective 60^th birthday idea.

Exercise: How to make 60^th birthday ideas even more memorable.

When you organize a 60^th birthday party, trip, or gift, you want to fit a lot of feelings in. You want to pay tribute to the 60 wonderous years leading up to the big day. You also want to talk about the future and what comes next.

Above all, your 60^th birthday ideas should be memorable.

Try this exercise to see if the 60^th birthday plans you have will be as memorable and meaningful as you want:

1. Ask: how personal is the idea you chose? It should reflect something about the birthday person (like an achievement or a passion).

2. Ask: will it create special moments? To make it memorable, your idea has to create significant moments of laughter or reflection.

3. Ask: Does it celebrate the past and the future? Honor the milestone maker’s accomplishments while stirring excitement for what’s next.

If your idea isn’t personal enough, doesn’t have built-in memorable moments, or doesn’t celebrate both the past and the future, make tweaks to the idea to cover all these bases.

Adobe Express can help.

Adobe Express has templates and customization tools to put your favorite 60^th birthday ideas to work. If you want to use these 60^th birthday ideas in cards, letters, posters, banners, collages, flyers, invitations, 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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