100+ Things to Do on Your Birthday

I celebrated my 30th birthday in April 2020, the start of COVID in the US. Coronavirus was so new & everything was still closed. We didn't really know what was going on or how things would turn out. This was probably at the peak of the toilet paper shortage where people were just panic buying things.

I remember a little chain blocking entry to the local parks. Reflecting back, I can understand why I felt bummed. to have another trip around the sun without celebrating with my friends or family, except via phone call or if someone was kind enough to do a drive-by birthday honk in their car. It felt a bit lonely but we made it work. So I totally understand if your special birthday or a loved one's birthday just doesn't feel the same, that's why this list exists to give you some ideas!

Things are a bit more hopeful now that restaurants, small businesses, movie theatres, hair salons, thrift stores, are open & accommodating social distancing. Face masks are just a part of life now. However, this list is a general list of things to do in the years to come! There are probably some great virtual options to nearly everything on this list, including going to a concert or even a cooking class.

What should I do on my birthday? What can I do for my birthday at home? What should I do on my birthday in lockdown? What is a unique way to celebrate your birthday?

Whether you want to celebrate with friends and family or keep it lowkey, this is a big huge list of things to do on your birthday. You'll find something or a couple of ideas that you might want to do. There are even virtual options games & activities. This is your year to live your best life! These are some of the best things to do on your birthday, from virtual activities to board games to ordering take out. There are a bunch of things to do on your birthday during COVID too!

Food Activities

Bake a unique birthday cake

Take a cooking class or virtual cooking class 

Order from your favorite restaurant

Eat breakfast or brunch at a restaurant

Make your favorite home-cooked meal

Make food completely from scratch 

Cook something new

Buy a cookbook 

Have an outdoor picnic at the park

Stay inside for an indoor picnic

Go to a farmers market

Go beer or wine tasting

Food truck hop and try multiple dishes

Book a food tour

Try the top-rated restaurants in your city

Travel & Adventure Activities 

Go on a day trip

Go on a road trip 

Go on a camping trip

Do a solo trip 

Tour your own city

Explore a nearby city

Book a trip to a place you've dreamed of visiting

Activities

Use the day to go around doing things you've never done 

Go bowling

Go to a comedy show 

Go to a concert 

Go to a music festival

Go rock climbing 

Play tennis

Play billiards

Rent a karaoke machine and sing your heart out

See a musical show

Volunteer for your favorite charity organization

Attend a show taping

Visit a museum 

Visit a planetarium or observatory

Visit a theme park (Disneyland Park, Universal Studios, etc.)

Go to a water park

Go to a trampoline park

Go somewhere historic

Have a pool party 

Nature Things to Do

Buy some new plants

Go to a botanical garden

Go on a hike

Go bird watching

Climb a tree

Enjoy time in nature

Collect cool rocks on a walk

Search for four-leaf clovers

Enjoy a day at the beach

Visit a local creek, river, lake, lagoon, pond

Swim at the beach or pool

Watch the clouds go by &

Go stargazing

Go cloud watching

Build a snowman or have a snow fight

COVID-Friendly Things to Do

Host a birthday parade where friends/family drive by in their car

Host a virtual party on Zoom or Google Meet with friends, family, loved ones

Do virtual karaoke

Have a free at-home spa day using all the items you already own 

Play virtual Charades

Play virtual Heads Up!

Play virtual 20 Questions 

Play virtual Cards Against Humanity 

Go on a Zoom date

Plan a future birthday get-together

Host a virtual watch party (Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, YouTube, etc.)

Make a time capsule of your year to be opened up in 20 years (friend & family can send relevant things in the mail or dropoff)

Games to Play & Fun Things to Do

Play Bingo

Play a board game (such as Clue, Monopoly, Scrabble, Backgammon, Trivial Pursuit)

Play card games

Play Psych

Play Would You Rather

Play Truth or Dare

Chill Things to Do

Have a night out with your friends

Have a slumber party with your closest friends or relatives

Host a movie marathon of your favorite movies

Read your favorite book

Make a list of things you want to do this year

Enjoy time around family

Make yourself a music playlist of your favorite songs you discovered in the past year

Watch movies you've never seen before

Donate to charity

Things to do Alone

Take time alone to reflect on your birthday & the past year

Clean out your closet/room to refresh your space

Sell some stuff on Offerup, Facebook Marketplace, etc.

Experiment & find a new hobby

Go out to eat and then see a movie alone

Make a time capsule to celebrate and remember the past year

Learn something

Sign up for an online class

Get yourself a present 

Get lost somewhere

Go back to a place you haven't been to in years

Take a book and read outside

Write a letter to your future self

Focus on your mental health & find a therapist near you

Unique Things To Do

Get yourself a gift you've always wanted

Get a piercing

Get a tattoo

Get a room at a local hotel for a staycation

Spend the night in a haunted house 

Spend the night in a lighthouse

Spend the night in a treehouse

Go bungee jumping 

Go skydiving 

Go on a hot air balloon ride 

Go on a helicopter ride 

People often plan trips to popular destinations such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, New Orleans, Vegas, New York City for their birthday. Things to do on your birthday don't always have to be amazing, grand extravaganzas. Sometimes it's popping a pizza from the grocery store in the oven & watching something with one of your friends. Well, sometimes those simple days turn into fun memories you'll always carry with you.

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There are so many fun things you can do to enjoy a special birthday celebration or birthday party, whether it's virtually or in person. It's up to you, what you feel comfortable with, what's going on in your area, & if the people around you feel like getting together to do something fun or want to keep it digital. You can rock it either way!

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Everyone deserves an amazing birthday celebration. The best way to celebrate your birthday is to do something you love. While it may not be feasible to have a super eventful experience every year filled with good times and one-of-a-kind memories, you can still make it the best it can be. Sometimes you want some ideas to celebrate, sometimes you want a big ol' party, sometimes you simply can't think of anything fun. There are plenty of ways to experience a special day, even if you stay at home.

There are a lot of free things to do on your birthday too. You can celebrate your fun day trying to knock off as many ideas from this list as you can complete.