We’re usually the go-to source for grownups when they’re looking for places to have a birthday party for their kids. By now, a lot of us have had COVID birthday parties for our children, we’ve driven our vehicles in birthday parades and serenaded loved ones via video, but what about when it comes to the adults who are having Coronavirus birthday parties? We’ve been planning out and participating in social distancing birthday parties for adults and they’re even more fun than those kid birthdays!
Looking for date ideas with social distancing?
Adult Birthday Party Ideas During COVID Pandemic
We have no shortage of ideas when it comes to social distancing birthday parties for adults, but send us yours if we left a good one out.
Stock the Bar Birthday Parade
Birthday parades are all the rage right now and we think that it’s a shame if they’re only for children. Plan an epic Stock the Bar Birthday Parade. Invite friends and family to drive by the home of the birthday honoree and bring items to stock their bar. Hand it out the window and parade on! Don’t forget to wear party hats and decorate cars!
Also, you can plan a reverse parade and have the birthday guy or gal parade by their friend’s homes and they can be on the curb, handing your gifts through the window.
39 Bottles of Wine on the Porch
39, 29, 50, Whatever your age is, that’s the name of the game. I most recently saw my friend Laura as the recipient of this for her 45th birthday. Her friends dropped a tote off on her porch with a card that read:
45 bottles of wine on the porch,
45 bottles of wine.
We love you the most,
so let’s make a toast
with 45 bottles of wine on the porch.
One of Laura’s friends coordinated to have everyone who knows Laura to make a no-contact wine drop at some point throughout the day. “Guests” were to leave the wine in the tote and sign the card to let her know they were there. What a fun gift!
Learn Something
We’re loving all of the opportunities to learn something from your home. There’s no better time to engage with the pros from around the world that you might not normally have access to. Learn to make mozzarella cheese, bubble tea, cocktails and more in live, interactive classes. Some class prices include a supplies kit and others are set up for a group to learn. The options are endless!
Yard Letters Birthday Sign
We’ve seen a huge rise in popularity with the yard letter signs and we’re not complaining. They look crisp and fun and they make a wonderful photo opp! Our favorite business to work with is Gina with Sign Dreamers. We’ve used her for several family birthday greetings.
Carryout Picnic
Whatever your favorite meal may be, grab it to go. If it’s from a restaurant, easy enough, if it’s home cooked, pack it up. Relocated to your favorite outdoor space and enjoy your meal. I’d like to enjoy my birthday picnic on the stairs of Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis. My husband would likely pick Crown Hill Cemetery or Holliday Park. A change of scenery is good!
Outdoor Movie Party
Grab a projector of your own or shout out to your social media friends to find one to borrow. Project your favorite movie on the side of your house, or garage and settle in to your lawn chair for an outdoor movie night. If you feel so inclined, invite some friends to sit six feet away to share your special day. We have some more great ideas for setting up an outdoor movie theater.
Virtual Karaoke Party
You’ll need to send everyone two links for this one. Set up a Zoom meeting or other video platform and then set up a room on Watch2gether. The host of the Watch2gether room is responsible for making the playlist. Everyone messages their song requests through chat on Zoom and mutes their microphones until it’s their turn to sing.
Dessert Delivery
The birthday guy or girl should never have to bake their own birthday cake, and maybe you don’t even like cake. Donuts, anyone? Send a friend or schedule a delivery of your favorite dessert through Grub Hub, Door Dash or any other delivery service.
Potluck Meal Drop Off
Plan a potluck meal drop off for your birthday friend. Arranged the perfect menu and assign elements of the meal to different people: wine, cocktails, table-setting, appetizer, salad, main course, sides, starch, dessert.
Video Tarot Card Readings
Try something new and have your tarot card reading done online. This fun activity is available virtually, not just on the side of the road or at parties.
Virtual Game Night
We spent the early part of quarantine playing Jackbox with our friends online and then moved on to virtual Cards Against Humanity. There are so many games that have moved online and allow friends to play with one another remotely. You’ll probably want to open up a Zoom room or Facebook room while you play so you can chat in real time. There are so many video chat ideas out there and we’re just learning all of the ways we can enhance our lives with these services.
Adopt a Pet
Share your birthday with a “gotcha day” for a new furry family member. Check with your local humane society for adoptable pets.
Go Camping
Check out local campsites or drive a bit further, set up a tent or camp in the back of your vehicle. You can also set up a tent in your backyard for a change of scenery…also to make sure you get on that work Zoom call by 8am.
Visit the Drive-In Theater
Drive-ins were designed for social distancing, they just didn’t know it! Visit your local drive-in for a night of movies, we recommend Tibbs Drive-in Movies.
Go Fishing
Have you ever wanted to give fishing a try? Grab a fishing pole, purchase a license, pick up your bait and get to it! You can even invite friends to fish six feet away!
Take a Hike
Sometimes we just need a little fresh air and space, a hike is perfect for that. Celebrate a new year with making memories and setting new goals as you explore the beauty of nature.
Video Greetings
Services like Tribute.co and Vidday make it easy for friends and family to create a video tribute or video card. Send out a link and friends and family can create a video clip to be added to a compilation for the birthday person.
How are you celebrating your quarantine birthday party? There are so many ways you can have fun and make the best of the situation while we stay safe and protect others in our community. Share your ideas in the comments below.
61 thoughts on “17 Birthday Party Ideas for Adults | COVID Social Distancing”
Great ideas we’re going to do a drive-by for my husband he has ALS and he had his birthday but he was quarantined in the hospital so now that he’s home we’re going to have em in the front door and have friends and family drive by I like your idea about dropping off a gift or food we like to give everyone a plate of food as they drive by and maybe exchange that for a gift for so your ideas are great thank you
Did you have the drive by parade yet? If so, do you have any suggestions? My husband is turning 80 in oct. would love have the drive by Parade. If you did have it for your husband I hope it was fun.
Judi V. Jurade01@msn.com
My cousin had a b-day parade and someone had a local firetruck go by. Most cars were decorated that went by and some dropped off gifts. If weather permits put some chairs out in the yard.
Set a time for the drive by.
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Just celebrated a 50th birthday – last minute planning – had a fish and chip picnic on local green , friend brought desert and another cheese and biscuits, Local pub over green was open to serve take away drink and local fish and chip shop doing take aways .. was stress free. Ensure your friends bring some bubbly to celebrate. Ensure you have disposable plates bowels and cutlery with you. Had to limit numbers to 6 as per govt guidelines. Just get everyone to bring something. A bonus the sun was shining . Who said picnics were a thing of the past.
So true! We’ve been returning to old school fun this summer. 🙂
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I heard an Birthday idea which is to solicit 1 favorite recipe from different people in lieu of a card, (electrically probably) and have them bound into a recipe book. I’m considering doing this for my 50th and going with a theme of high protein/low carb (with a sticky note on it before photographing) cause I have run out of recipes!
I love this! I’ll add it to the list this weekend! Thank you, Kai!
Some great ideas. Wondering about a socially distanced hugging booth during the drive past, almost sounds like jail though. Really like the picnic idea with own or catered picnics. Perhaps with a small band thrown in…
What is a socially distanced hugging booth? I’m very curious…
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None of these were good “party ideas” seeing as arguably only one involves a party…
You are clearly a complete troll who lives under a rock and has no idea what is going on in the world. These are social distancing birthday party ideas for adults during COVID times. Good Lord.
I just wanted to say you are hilarious Kathy
You go Katy.
I love you Katy Mann! Great response.
My thoughts Exactly! I just hate having to engage in a conversation with closed-minded, ignorant people like this…..Misery has always enjoyed company. I’m currently weighing my options for my upcoming 50th in June 2021. These are great ideas!
Same here. Not sure what I’ll do. Potluck picnic with family and friends is more my style. I didn’t celebrate at all last year because of the pandemic and not being able to face the first birthday without my dad.
That was a funny reply. I believe there are people still living in the woods and do not know there is a Pandemic going on.
Great ideas, thank you! My husband will be 60 this August. We are doing the video montage since family members are spread all over the world, LOL! I am still figuring out how to do a less stressful drive by birthday party in the afternoon/early evening.
Have fun! Happy Birthday to him!
How did you organize, this parade for the honoree person? Secretly??
My parade was a surprise!
Online Tarot reading?? Smh really? Do you even know what dangers your messing with?? Messing with the occult is not “fun” or a joke! And your description says you work with children? Yikes! I wouldn’t trust you with my children!
Oh, thank God! I don’t need ANY more children. Thank you though.
When I was a teacher, I innocently brought the Aleister Crowley tarot deck to my 9th grade classroom to inspire my students to write an essay about any one of the topics represented by the cards, e.g. Fortune, Disappointment, Valour, Love, etc. The illustrations were phenomenal and I was very careful to pick topics that I felt would be appropriate. Cards like Lust and Debauch were not used as examples. I had each student pick one of the topics that was thought or memory provoking to write about. For me, it was all very innocent because I truly had no idea that the Tarot was connected to the occult. And, my students were fascinated by the artwork as I was.
The next day I was called into the principal’s office. An irate parent had called to complain about me and wanted me fired. I convinced my boss that I had no idea that the cards were anything but fun and he dealt with the parent. However, I never forgot. Its been over 30 years since my head was wanted on a chopping block for being creative, or so I thought. Bottom line now: CHEERS TO YOUR TAROT READING BIRTHDAY IDEA!!!!
I think your Tarot writing exercise is a brilliant idea! People need to lighten up!
OMG Katy Mann, you’re amazing. Your comments really sold me on your articles. You have a very healthy way to deal with trolls. That comment was truly hurtful and you responded so well!
Thank you Keke!
These are wonderful original ideas. I’m going to do the bottles on the porch for my son-in-law who’s turning 25!
good answer. People are so strange! I think I might like your answers as much, if not more, than all your great ideas! Nice work
Thanks, Kali!
Online tarots are harmless and just for fun. Not the real deal at all…. Just. For. Fun. Sheesh.
I agree!
More people have died in the name of Christianity than Tarot Cards have ever hurt. I guess someone could get a virtual paper cut. Please though, do go on about your expert knowledge of the occult.
you really should educate yourself about tarot cards and readings before you post ignorant comments about something you obviiously know VERY little about. It doesn’t take that long to google a topic or even ask siri. Keep an open-mind and actually listen to what is being taught, I promise you will learn somehting, It’s alwayz funny to me how hyped up people get about things that they have little knowledge of…I dont claim to know everything but If i was in the least bit uncertain , I definatly would not nn=be piwrting it in any social sites. Happy learning to you and yours. I genuinely hope that you begin to understand at least one topic a bit better and stop running off others who also have a misconcepotiom
*Katy
Great idea about the online tarot reading! I’m thinking about a nice outdoor dining restaurant with 2 friends and then the online tarot card reading for my son’s 17th birthday. We’ll see. Depends on the Covid situation in November. If it’s worse then maybe we wont do the dinner with 2 friends and just do the online tarot reading and an online game with his friends plus cupcakes delivered to the friends that they can all enjoy at the same time.
Joyce, I commend your creativity. Your students are lucky to have you. And tarot does not belong to an occult. It is used for entertainment purposes much like a horoscope is. You just got the one religious fanatic parent that didn’t know any better and went on a witch hunt. Nothing you did was wrong or inappropriate. Keep doing what you do.
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Period! Huh, I thought a troll said something…nope Katy shut them all the way down!!! 🙂
Thanks for sharing these great COVID Party ideas with us…this was just what I was looking for!
<3
Katy,
I have a real dilemma. My son will be turning 18 on October 10th. We were going to visit France, but with the Corona Virus, we cannot travel. Do you have any suggestions to make his day special?
Oh Caroline, that’s such a bummer! A trip to France would have been amazing, but I fully expect it will be amazing whenever you are able to finally go. As for making this day special, what if you brought France to you?! There are so many LIVE cooking classes online or cooking kits, you can whip some french food up in the kitchen, play some french music. If you are allowing other people to attend the festivities, create a french bistro feel outside, string some lights overhead and serve French bites. And for entertainment, let him and his friends do whatever teenage boys are doing for fun these days. I have to go to my typical go-to, have a giant Mario Cart battle on an outdoor blow up screen. ( https://indywithkids.com/backyard-outdoor-movies/ ). I found this Eiffel Tower cutout: https://amzn.to/2ZtmS0y — I’m sorry I cannot be more helpful, I’m sure that you’re all so disappointed. Hang in there!
If I may add to the last great suggestion…
Perhaps have a man do any serving, dressed in a typical (what we think one looks like from movies) waiters costume. Black- pants, vest and bow tie. White- shirt, longish apron & towel over the forearm. Oh also a comical pencil thin mooostache.
Best of luck to you
I am so sorry you had to go through that as an instructional aide I truly appreciate you! There should never be judgment on anyone.
Thanks for sharing! We are planning my mom’s 70th Bday, and these are more unique and varied than the typical ideas I’m finding on other blogs.
Your welcome and thank you for your kind words! Happy birthday to your mom!
Just a thought… my mom is also going to be turning 70 in a few months… I’ve been asking people to write down a memory that they have of her, or several. Then they will give them to me… I’m not sure yet what I’m going to do with all of them, but I’m considering a custom lampshade or pillow case… also, just putting them into a memory book for her. Just thought I’d toss the idea out for you too! Happy Birthday to your mom as well!
Love this idea for my mom!
Katy, I am working on my sons 5th birthday. I was thinking picnic at the park or something like that with an outdoor theme. I just wish I had some cool ideas to incorporate for kids while keeping them distanced. I don’t want to just have people sitting around feeling segregated due to distancing. Doesn’t sound too fun to me. Any ideas of keeping it fun? Thanks.
You need a “hype-guy” — maybe someone with a microphone who can get people dancing in their pods. Family trivia. Purse/diaper bag/car scavenger hunt — a list of things they can rush back to their car to find and bring back to their family seating area and share. Play snippet of a song (maybe from popular tv show intros) and have them “buzz in” to answer. Charades. Wacky talent content. Oh man, you can make this fun, you just have to have someone high energy leading.
Take the card, get them printed on transfer paper and then make a quilt of love for your mother of all the wonderful thought her friends had for her birthday.
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Please don’t adopt a pet for someone as a gift without a lot of consideration. A pet is a huge commitment- for the rest of your pet’s life. It should be a family decision. Only if everyone is on board and much thought has been made, then it would be wise to consider adopting a pet.
I rescue kittens and foster them through my animal shelter. So many animals are abandoned because they were gifts and adopted on a whim.
Agree. Thank you for the reminder. I will add some of your thoughts to the article on the next edit.
My daughter is turning 21, Jan 29. Original plan was Vegas or somewhere warm (we live in Alberta, Canada) January is typically the coldest month.. so anything out side is out of the question. She works during the day and by time she gets home it be dark, so birthday parade be pointless….. any suggestions would be appreciated.
I loved all the great ideas for how to alternative ways to celebrate! For my Dad’s upcoming 80th birthday, we were going to do a family cruise, but we’re of course looking for other options now. Instead, we have a vidday video organized with friends and family from around the world. Only problem is that several of the people his age have said they can’t use technology, so I hope it works out. I’ll try a Zoom get-together but am anticipating potential tech issues that too. I wanted to do a drive-by, but that’s going to be difficult as they live in a townhouse, and we can’t go to the park for long as it’s winter. Does anyone have any other ideas for an 80th party? Thank you!
I’m doing a picnic!!! For my 50th
Wow what a nice ideas thanks for your ideas it really help
With the pandemic going on and we need to be cautious at all times to prevent Covid from spreading but we still want to party and have fun. This blog gives you great ideas on how to have fun but still have the social distancing that is required and we all need in my opinion.