10 Ways to Throw a Belated Birthday Celebration

Getting together for birthdays can be tricky, especially when it means coordinating calendars with family or finding a time to meet up with your friends. For any number of reasons, birthday parties always seem more difficult to organize as we get older, but that doesn’t mean you have to stop celebrating altogether. If you or someone you know missed out on a birthday party this year, check out these ten ways to throw a belated birthday celebration to help get the party started!

Belated Birthday Party Ideas You’ll Love

Maybe commemorating your birthday on time isn’t an option, but don’t be afraid to host a belated celebration instead. If you’re struggling with ideas for what to do on your birthday, we’ve come up with ten ways for you to have the best belated bash ever!

1. Enjoy a picnic in the park.

Wherever you live, there’s probably a park close by that’d be a nice spot for your family and friends to gather together. If the park doesn’t have picnic tables, make sure to bring your own blankets or lawn chairs to lounge in. Treat yourself to a fancy charcuterie board, and sip on some fizzy drinks or sparkling wine while you’re at it. This is a great way to enhance the party’s ambience, allowing guests to graze and mingle without sitting down to a full meal.

2. Set up a backyard movie theater.

One of the greatest places to celebrate a birthday might be your own backyard! A backyard movie theater is an awesome belated birthday party idea to implement in the spring, summer, or fall. Ask around to see if anyone owns a projector you could borrow for the evening. If not, look into potential rentals or inexpensive options to purchase. Play a double feature that follows a theme (classics, comedies, musicals), or re-watch your most-loved flicks.

3. Host a progressive dinner or potluck.

A great way for guests to get involved with the party planning is to arrange a progressive dinner or group potluck. For a progressive dinner, choose homes of friends or family to host one leg of the meal (appetizer, salad or sides, main course, and dessert). With a potluck, you’ll all gather together in just one home, but each person can contribute their own dish. Create a signup sheet ahead of time so you don’t end up with all desserts and no dinner.

4. Go on a food truck crawl.

Does your city have a cool food truck community, but you’ve never paid them a visit? A belated birthday might be the perfect time for a taco crawl! Food trucks are likely most active on the weekends, but be sure to check online for their whereabouts. Choose a handful of trucks you’d like to try, and plan a route for your group to walk, bike, or carpool.

5. Throw a lawn game extravaganza.

A little friendly competition can make for a great belated birthday, so utilize your backyard or public park to set up your favorite lawn games. Consider playing classics like cornhole, ladder ball, bocce, or giant Jenga. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can purchase a piñata and fill it with treats or party favors guests can take home. Lawn games are an easy and inexpensive way to celebrate while keeping the party fun!

6. Get active or explore somewhere new.

Few things feel better than enjoying the great outdoors with the ones you love, so why not incorporate some fresh air into your birthday as well. Is there a new trail you’ve been wanting to hike or a local arboretum you’ve yet to explore? What about going horseback riding or floating down a nearby river? There are limitless ways to spend some time outside with your crew, so get creative with it!

7. Create a fantastic sundae bar.

What’s a birthday celebration without some ice cream? Supply a few staples like vanilla and chocolate to serve as the base, and then get as wild as you want with the topping selections — colorful sprinkles, caramel sauce, fresh fruits, the works! Form a line guests can follow to fill up their bowls, and have some light-hearted fun by offering everyone a verbal award like, ‘Craziest Use of Chocolate Chips’ or ‘Tallest Whipped Cream Sculpture.’

8. Book a private event at Painting with a Twist.

Booking a group painting party at Painting with a Twist allows you to pull off an amazing event everyone raves about without requiring a crazy amount of your time or energy. When you host a private party at your local studio, the team will handle all the details — so you can focus on your friends, family, and your amazing artwork. And while Painting with a Twist is one of the best places to celebrate adult birthdays, it’s truly something that can be enjoyed by all ages. Kids birthdays are always a hit, too!

9. Bring on the backyard water games.

If your birthday lands during the summer months, take an opportunity to beat the heat and celebrate with some water games. Activities like sprinklers, water balloons, and baby pools are a chance to let loose, cool off, and inevitably laugh a whole lot. For those who want to go a little more extreme, look into renting an inflatable water slide for the ultimate backyard experience.

10. Take a day trip to a neighboring town.

Who says you have to stay put to celebrate? Take your belated birthday festivities on the road with a day trip to a neighboring city or small town. Use this as a chance to discover any number of hidden gems, like cute cafes, antique stores, historical landmarks, or other local goodies you happen to stumble upon. Head out with whoever wants to tag along, and make sure to take plenty of photos to remember the day.

Hopefully these birthday celebration ideas have made you excited to host a belated party of your own. Belated birthdays can offer just as much joy and enjoyment as celebrating on the actual day — all you need is a solid game plan and the company of your favorite people! Whether you watch movies in the backyard, try out a few new food trucks, or book a private event at Painting with a Twist, there are ample ways to throw the fabulous belated birthday you deserve!