Awesome Birthday Party Themes for Teens They’ll Actually Enjoy
Awesome Birthday Party Themes for Teens They’ll Actually Enjoy
Your kid is finally becoming a teen! It’s a milestone birthday and possibly the first opportunity to throw a fantastic party for them. You’re excited for the chance to show them how much you love and care about them. The pressure is on to plan the best party ever!
There are many fun ways to celebrate, from simple backyard barbecues to extravagant theme parties. When throwing the best birthday party, the sky’s the limit regarding teenage party entertainment ideas.
Whether your teen is obsessed with shopping, wants to feel like a celebrity, loves to explore their artistic side, or is all about music, these birthday party themes for teens are sure to delight party-goers of all ages.
20 Fun Birthday Party Themes For Teens
When it comes to parties, everyone has an opinion on what makes for a great bash. But when it comes to throwing a birthday bash for a teen, views become even more varied. Some people prefer to keep things classy and simple, while others like to go all out with a theme fit for a king or queen. But regardless of which side of the party spectrum you fall on, there are tons of fun birthday party themes for teens to help you throw a bash that’s unique and unforgettable.
The teen years are an excellent time for party planning. The thirteenth, sixteenth, and eighteenth birthdays all demand a memorable party.
Have no idea where to start?
Make your next event one to remember with these hot teenage party ideas:
1. Spin Art Party!
Artistically inclined teens will love painting parties. Throwing a spin art teen party is an enjoyable and original way to commemorate their special day. Birthdays take on new meaning when celebrated in a spin art studio. To ensure your birthday is one to remember, we’ve assembled an extraordinary group of artists ready to put their creative skills to work for you.
A creative outlet such as paint parties can also be a great way to get your teen to relax, and research has shown that art can have many positive effects on children.
Spin Art Nation has everything you need if you’re looking for a painting party for your teen.
During each of our spin art lessons, you will be guided step-by-step by an experienced instructor. Even if you don’t think you can paint, once you start spinning your canvas, you’ll be amazed at what you can come up with!
2. Outdoor Movie Night
Do you have a teen who doesn’t enjoy going out to the movies? There are a few possibilities. Depending on the weather conditions, organize an indoor gathering or an outdoor movie night.
Consider purchasing a projector and screen. You can get a quality one for less than $100 on Amazon! Alternatively, you may hang a white sheet on the wall.
Serve popcorn and other snacks to your moviegoers: Be sure you have lots of delectable toppings or add-ins on hand to accompany the popcorn (of course). Set up a fun munching station so everyone can help themselves to whatever their heart desires.
Birthday parties at the movies would be incomplete without plenty of candy from the movies. Let your teen choose a handful of their favorite options.
Teenagers aren’t difficult eaters, so you don’t need a lot of glitz or glamor to entice them. You can use rugs or picnic blankets to create a cozy seating area with plenty of pillows amid the paper lanterns, solar stake lights, or string lights.
3. Fear Factor
Are you looking for teen boy birthday parties to make for a memorable night? Well, a Fear Factor-themed birthday party is a great idea that will get a reaction.
If this is your theme, you’ll need some challenges that live up to their billing. Teen boys’ parties should have some competition while also building camaraderie.
A point system is a great way to ensure that all your visitors participate and aren’t cut out at the halfway point as they are on the show. The winner will have the most points at the game’s conclusion. Here are a few games to include:
Egg Roulette
First, you will place a bowl of boiling eggs in front of the players in this game. All players must grab an egg from a large dish and crack it against their forehead on the count of three.
The trick is to inform the players that one of the eggs is raw before the game begins. However, there’s a catch! Unbeknownst to them, all the eggs are boiled, making this an exercise in bravery. The players who are hesitant to break the egg won’t earn any points.
Mystery Mush
Fill individual bowls with various baby food jars (make sure you know which is which). Assign a number to each bowl and ask the participants to taste them to guess what they are. For an added challenge, add a little food coloring to foods that could be mistaken for something else because of their appearance. Make sure to provide plenty of paper and pencils. The winner is determined by who has the most accurate taste and guess.
Dog Race
Dog biscuits are used in this fear factor game. Players must pick them up with their mouths and race to deposit them in a bucket on another side of the room.
To play, set up a giant bucket on the other side of the field with six dog biscuits for each player.
Instead of a communal bucket, players can use a separate bowl to place their biscuits. Using your hands to rescue a dropped biscuit while sprinting is strictly forbidden.
Regardless of your chosen theme, you and your friends will be reminiscing about it and cracking up over the amusing pictures for years to come.
4. Dance Party
Teens have a passion for dancing, and you can channel that interest into a fun party for them. Gather some glow sticks, throw some cellophane on the lights, and either hire a DJ or open up your teen’s preferred playlist on your phone. Then sit back and watch them enjoy themselves at the dance.
Also, remember to check out the playlist ahead of the party to ensure there are no explicit lyrics. Opinions vary regarding music parents are comfortable with their teens listening to, and you want to ensure the party starts on the right foot (no pun intended!).
Consider a theme and keep it basic. For example, you can go with “your favorite decade” and encourage partygoers to dress up to match that decade.
5. Game Night
Teenagers enjoy various games, which you can incorporate well into a memorable birthday celebration. A whole industry of board games is designed for groups of every size. If your teen is a gamer, consider a video game night. Tell guests to bring their own devices to encourage participation. This will ensure all players are covered. Arrange for multiplayer games where they can take turns competing against each other.
6. Baking Party
Consider this if you’re looking for more delectable teenage party food ideas. This deliciously fun party theme is perfect for everything from cookies and cupcakes to danishes and other baked goods. Invite your teens to participate in fun activities like baking, cooking mystery packs, and cupcake decoration with this flavorful theme.
When it comes to the food, the selections are unlimited.
7. Murder Mystery Party
Parties for teens centered around a murder mystery can be dangerously fun! Involve your teen in solving the mystery by setting up a “who done it” scenario and inviting some secret visitors (e.g., parents willing to dress up as suspects). It is an excellent idea to offer party treats for all of the guests who attend the party (as well as any parents you coerce into helping). Still, you should also ensure that there is a decent prize for the teens or group who discovers the name of the murderer first.
8. Movie Theme Party
You can organize a fantastic birthday party with a movie theme by basing the party’s decorations on your all-time favorite film or enthusiasm for cinema. You might even decide to zero in on a specific subgenre, like chick flicks, horror movies, 80s movies, or anime.
Once you’ve locked in the overall theme, you can include some awesome movie games, such as:
Movie Bingo
Most movie-themed parties include a film screening. You can make a movie more fascinating by turning it into a game, especially if it is a movie that most people have already seen. Print out a few bingo cards, and start filling them with famous quotes and trivia.
Give awards for the first bingo, first to get all four corners, and first to fill their card fully. As you watch the film, whoever spots a win has to call it out. If somebody has it, they can put a checkmark next to it on their card.
Movie Lampoonery
Print out a few great scenes from the script of your film (or films). Encourage your guests to form teams and reimagine such scenes as they see fit. If they like, they can even develop a scene parody. Each group is allowed unlimited artistic latitude.
Allow 30-60 minutes of practice time per “actor/actress” and make sure there are enough script copies for everyone. Have “critics” ready to vote on the greatest, funniest, most original, and so on.
Truth/Lies: Movie Edition
Are your guests movie aficionados or admirers? No matter their category, they can play this fun game.
Two index cards should have the word truth on the back, and one should have the word lie. Pick three people and don’t let them see each other’s cards until they’ve all drawn.
Whoever gets a truth card has to share an interesting fact about the movie, while whoever gets a lie card has to provide an interesting fib about the film. It doesn’t matter if the “facts” are about the film or stars; they just need to be associated with the movie.
You and the other guests must figure out who is lying and telling the truth. By the end of each round, you must reach a consensus on who among you is the liar.
9. Pizza Party
This relaxed teen birthday party idea never gets old (who doesn’t love pizza?!).
While pizza may be the main event food, don’t overlook the importance of snacks, drinks, and desserts when planning a party of this nature. Make sure to offer various options to accommodate individual food preferences (and possible food allergies).
Consider allowing your guests to make their pizza; you can turn your pizza party into a cooking event.
10. Vampire Party
In need of some inspiration for a party with a vampire theme? The fascination with vampires has remained throughout history and has only gotten stronger thanks to modern media.
If your teen likes vampires, consider the game “blood race.” You’ll love this game, so have your camera ready.
Give each guest a pair of plastic fake vampire teeth. Each player sits at the table before a bowl of cherry (or any other red-colored) jello.
Players hide their hands behind their backs and race to get the single-stemmed cherry hidden in the mix!
11. Amusement Park Party
Not all birthday celebrations have to be indoors. If your teenager wants an adrenaline rush, take them and several of their close friends to an amusement park. Next, let the rides and activities at the park do the entertaining.
During their time in the park, teens should be allowed some autonomy, but parents should still keep tabs on them via predetermined meeting points and phone calls.
Make a reservation at the park if you want to serve your cake or food in a designated party room or eating area.
12. Slumber Party
A sleepover party is a terrific opportunity for teens to bond. You have the opportunity to create lasting memories and persistent friendships with this teen party idea.
Depending on your teen group, slumber party activities can range from ridiculous to downright sentimental.
Turn the party up a notch by setting up tents indoors or outdoors. Here, teens can tell their creepiest ghost stories, exchange gossip, and laugh the night away. If you set up the tents outside, this is a great opportunity for teens to take in nature and feel like they’re on a camping trip without breaking the budget.
13. Bonfire Party
Another fun party option for a more relaxed occasion is a bonfire party with ‘smores! Roast your marshmallows over a campfire while exchanging ghost stories and songs. After the fire has died down, you can play a game of flashlight tag.
A set of glow sticks will be a welcome gift for your teen and their visitors. You’ll be able to keep an eye on everyone in the dimly lit outside area using these.
Be sure to emphasize fire safety. Even teenagers need reminders, so walk through fire protocol before the party begins.
14. ‘80s Party Theme
The ’80s was a unique age. This colorful era was full of brilliant colors, extravagant fashion, massive hair, and defining music. When planning an ’80s-themed party, incorporate as many relics of the decade as possible. There are loads of exciting ideas to assist you in making your theme party memorable and tons of fun.
For music, pull out all the ‘80s classics. Your playlist can’t be complete without a little Michael Jackson, Prince, Madonna, and Wham!
When it comes to outfits, tell your teen and their friends to go big or go home. We’re talking Members’ Only jackets, acid-washed/dyed jeans, parachute pants, leg warmers, miniskirts, and one-piece jumpers.
Take the party to the next level with an ‘80s-themed party backdrop and an old-school Polaroid Instant camera. That way you can capture the moments of the night and give everyone a picture so they can remember it.
15. A Night of Paintball
Having a paintball party is a great way to get older kids and teenagers involved in some dirty, action-packed fun. In comparison to the “capture the flag” games your teens played as kids, paintball is much more physically demanding.
Paintball is not for everyone. Make an effort to narrow down the number of people you invite. Consider inviting the teens home for more birthday fun after the paintball outing. This is a terrific opportunity to reconnect with friends who opted out of the paintballing component of the event.
16. Neon Party
Let your teen’s imagination go wild with a neon party. You may include these colors in your décor, including neon light bracelets, streamers, and paint. Add a few games like a breakdance contest and a glowing ring toss to spice things up.
You may bring magic to your food table as well. Glow-in-the-dark cupcakes, jellies, illuminating beverages, and sundaes are just a few fun options.
While selecting outfits, toss in some luminous accessories and neon body paints.
17. Mall Scavenger Hunt Party
A continual party favorite is a mall scavenger hunt in which you use your camera to look for people or objects. For this game, you don’t have to spend money or bring anything extra with you besides the camera. If you want to take a picture of someone, tell them what you’re doing so they know what’s going on and don’t become offended.
18. Backyard Music Festival
Do you have a sizable backyard? If so, create a music festival out of it! Invite your teen’s friends over to sing and dance while you rent some sound gear, grab a karaoke machine, or hire a real band.
Get your teen’s input on the kinds of music they’d want to hear at the festival.
Add comfy group seats to the yard. The young teens will be able to socialize while listening to their favorite tunes.
19. Spa Party
Do you want to spoil your teens? A spa party is undoubtedly the best option. Organize entertaining activities for the party and be sure to offer desserts such as cookies, candies, marshmallows, cupcakes, and chocolate. Treats should have a range of textures and flavors to appeal to guests of various tastes.
20. Beach/Pool Party
To have a beach party at home, turn your backyard into a Hawaiian paradise. Adding a touch of the beach to your party can be as simple as hanging surfboards and grass skirts from the ceiling or as elaborate as setting out beach-themed food and drinks in the middle of your party space. Extra points if you have an outdoor pool.
Visit Spin Art Nation for the Ultimate Teen Party
There you have it — a comprehensive list of teen birthday ideas that are guaranteed fun! The above suggestions should make party preparation so much easier.
To create the ultimate party experience, reserve your private event at Spin Art San Antonio or Sugar Hill. You can also register party-goers for one of our workshops.
Book your next event today!
