There’s no way around it—turning 30 feels like a BIG deal. It’s the end of an era and the start of something new. Whether you’re feeling ready to embrace a new decade or a little intimidated, a thoughtful milestone celebration will help set the tone and start your thirties strong.
Looking for some 30th birthday ideas that will feel fun, memorable, and unique? We’ve got you covered! Read on for our favorite ideas—from intimate gatherings to full birthday bashes.
30th Birthday Ideas for Small Groups:
1. High tea
If you’re looking for an elegant way to ease into your 30s, high tea is perfect for you. Decadent finger food, champagne, cute teapots… what’s not to love? You can host your own tea party pretty easily. Even easier, get all dolled up with a couple of close friends and find a local venue. Our favorite high tea in Boston is at the breathtakingly beautiful Boston Public Library.
2. Wine tasting
If tea time is a little tame for your tastes, kick things up a notch with a wine tasting. Spend the day at your local winery where you can sip on vino, snack on cheese plates, and take in the grounds. Wineries aren’t limited to California, do some research and see what’s in your neck of the woods. You may be surprised—unexpected states like Georgia have drop-dead gorgeous wineries like the Montaluce Winery & Restaurant.
3. Swanky night out
Milestone birthdays are all about treating yourself so a splurgy decadent meal out may be in order. Even better, many swanky restaurants will have private rooms or chef’s tables if you want to feel more exclusive. The venue all comes down to your taste here… you can go classic with a steakhouse, a little more modern with fancy sushi, or go your own way. Go with the restaurant that you’ve been dying to go to and get your reservation in early!
4. Weekend getaway
Nothing will have you feeling more ready to welcome a new decade than a luxurious stay at a boutique hotel. You can even keep things really simple with a staycation. After all, you’ll probably want to spend most of your time cozied up in a hotel robe with room service. We also highly recommend choosing a hotel with a delicious restaurant on-site and a beautiful rooftop bar. Check our Hotel Hugo for inspiration.
30th Birthday Ideas for Medium-sized Groups:
5. Karaoke night
If your friend group is on the livelier side, give them a fun outlet at a karaoke bar. Karaoke bars are one step below clubbing but still have a strong party atmosphere. The alcohol will be flowing, the classics will be bumping, and there are sure to be plenty of laughs. This one’s an easy crowd-pleaser for a couple dozen friends.
6. Brewery Takeover
Slightly more laidback but also very festive—why not book out your favorite brewery? Brewery celebrations are fun because they are usually pretty affordable and on the quieter side. It’s easier to mingle and catch up with multiple people than at a big sit-down meal or loud celebration. Guests can also come and go as they like which increases the odds that people will actually show up.
7. Bowling, ping pong, pool night
If your crew needs more of an activity than just drinking, you're in luck. More and more event spaces are popping up that offer fun activities. From escape rooms to bowling halls, bocce, and mini-golf, you have your pick. We love the SPIN ping pong social clubs for a fun night of activity and laughs. This is the 30-something version of beer pong—embrace it!
30th Birthday Ideas for Large Groups:
8. The 30th birthday blowout
If none of these ideas have tickled your fancy at this point, it’s pretty clear you’re looking for something major. If you want to have a 30th birthday that rivals some of your friends’ weddings, start by finding your dream venue. Next, you need a killer theme.
We’ve already done a round-up of 51 Creative Party Theme Ideas. From TV show themes to decade parties to color themes and more, we give you plenty to work with. Our best advice is to choose something both personal but still fairly easy for your guests to engage in. We’re calling it now, a whimsical and disco-heavy 1970s themed party is going to be exactly what people need in a post-pandemic state of mind. We even did a deep dive on How to Throw a Killer 1970s-Themed Party to get your wheels turning.
Ready to say hello to the big 3-0?
Congrats on the start to the best decade of your life! Get the party started right by choosing from this list of the best 30th birthday ideas. Whatever celebration style you choose, we hope your big day and year ahead is a great one.
