27 Terrific Birthday Party Ideas for Teenagers

Turning 13+ is a big deal, so teenage birthday parties should still be a big deal too. However, making a teenage birthday special doesn’t have to be expensive – it really is the little things that will be remembered. Here’s our list of birthday party ideas for 13, 14, 15 and 16 year olds.

It can be really tricky managing the minefield that is teenage birthday parties. Once your child gets to the age of 16 or 17, they’ll be all but over ‘family’ parties, and wanting to hang out with their friends more.

But you’ve still got a few more years of great birthday parties to be had. So make the most of it!

We’ve compiled an epic list of birthday party ideas for teenagers. From planning a party, to teenage birthday party themes, party venues and more!

And for more great info, check out our birthday party games for teens and tweens article too.

27 Birthday Party Ideas for Teenagers

Planning a Teenagers Birthday Party

Once they hit the ‘teens’, your child may feel like they are too old for birthday parties, and may want to celebrate their birthday in a more ‘grown up’ way.

Remember, no matter how much YOU want the parties to continue, this is their special day and they won’t thank you for embarrassing them – even if it is with good intentions!

So when you’re planning celebrations for your child’s teen birthday party, keep them in the loop, and let their ideas be your guide.

Some kids may still want to have a party, but with a definite teenage theme. Others will want to go somewhere special, or just have a few friends around for a specific activity.

You might find they only want to invite a few close friends around. Sometimes a teen birthday party is just a small group of close friends staying overnight and watching movies.

They may not want a party at all, and just ask for an evening spent with close family. This might be a nice meal with extended family, or even a fine dining experience with close family.

Whatever they decide, here’s some great ideas for making the day extra special.

Teenage Birthday Party Themes

You might find your teen is too old for traditional themed parties, but you can still tie the party together by choosing a specific colour, a type of food, or focusing on the type of entertainment.

Your invitations, food and decorations can reflect the theme, and give the party a bigger sense of occasion.

Some great teenage birthday party themes that are a little less formal, include:

1. Movie Party

You can really go overboard with a movie party by setting up your whole house to look like a movie theatre. Make snack trays out of cardboard boxes, and serve your guests popcorn, choc-dipped ice creams, and giant frozen fruit slushies!

Your party invitations can be in the form of “Admit One’ tickets, or a red ribbon card inviting your guests to a special movie premier. For more on this idea check out our Celebrity red carpet party theme.

2. Beach Holiday Party

Hunt the many holiday rental websites like Book a Bach in New Zealand, Home Away in the US, Holiday Lettings in the UK, or Air BnB anywhere else in the world, and find something cool, beachy (or with a pool) and with plenty of room to spread out and chill.

Or, ask around, you could be surprised with just whose sister’s-cousin’s-aunt has one that they rent out, or would let you use for the weekend.

3. Pizza Party

Many teenagers love pizza, so a pizza party is an easy theme to pull off. There’s some more ideas on our Pizza Party party theme page. For 13+ year olds you probably want to go for the more full-on ‘make your own’ style pizza party. Just provide the dough and a range of different toppings, and let them roll out their own bases, and make up their own creations.

A super-easy version of this idea is just to order in a bulk-lot of pizzas, and get all your teens favourite movies to watch for the night!

4. High Tea Party

Get the girls to pull out their best dresses or raid their mother’s… sister’s… friend’s wardrobes and head out for the fine experience of high tea. Some girls may never have heard of high tea, so you may need to show them how!

You can have high tea in many places now, some are a bit average, so do your research and find one in your location that goes ‘all out’ and really makes it a true experience, and one worthy of a party. Don’t forget to take plenty of photos and selfies for those insta-famous moments too.

5. Hunger Games Party

Now we’re not talking about the ‘woosie laser tag type’ one you go to when you’re 10! We’re talking a full on Hunger Games-esque, forest adventure, paint ball fight to the death (ok, not quite to the death, but you know, nearly!).

Picture your teens fully decked out in camo gear, full face masks and impressive looking machine guns. They’ll even walk different when they strut off into the forest brandishing their weapons for what will be an epic showdown.

6. Music Party

At 13+, music is probably a big part of your child’s life, and it’s a great theme for both boys and girls. Invitations can be written on old CD’s using a permanent marker.

One idea is to decorate your house to look like a recording studio with album covers, CD covers, posters, and fake trophies framing the walls. Organise a simple-to-use music software programme on a computer, and have your teen’s guests make their own music recording to take home on a funky USB stick.

You could go down the karaoke route. You can hire karaoke setups with microphones, screens, lights and speakers very cheaply. Or find someone with Playstation Rock Band to set up.

A third idea is to just download a bunch of music videos and hire in some great speakers, disco lights and maybe even a smoke machine, and just let them disco it out!

7. In home Cake Decorating Party

In home classes are really big right now. And what better in home demo than a cake decorating class!

There’s lots of pastry chefs offering in home classes now in most regions. The best part about this idea is that the trainers will usually come to your house decked out with everything you need. That includes the cakes, all the decorating equipment, and all the materials and ingredients too.

The only downside to this idea is that it can get a little pricey for a large group. So you either want to keep this one down to just 2-3 BFFs. Or, see if you can find a baker who will come and do a class for a fixed fee, and maybe you supply the materials. But, the upside is that you end up with a lot of delicious cake to eat!

Other ideas in this theme include craft classes (think pottery, art classes, embroidery, sewing, etc), in home cooking classes, make your own (think lip balms and bee balms, make up, personal care), make up parties, etc.

What About Birthday Party Games for Teenagers

This one is a tricky topic, as many will just want to ‘hang out’ and the idea of games seems way too babyish.

The problem with ‘hanging out’, is that it leaves plenty of room for gossiping, secrets, backstabbing and tears – and dare I say it, it’s almost a given with girls.

You don’t have to have structured games with lots of rules, but you should make sure there are plenty of things to keep them occupied. Bored teenagers cause trouble – especially in groups – so make sure you have a loose plan to keep them busy.

If you’re having a slumber party, then your guests may like the idea of having some organised games, especially if the games are suitably ‘cool’.

If so check out our Party games for Teenagers article with some great ideas that are tried, tested and approved by the fussiest teenage kids.

Birthday Party Venues for Teenagers

If the idea of having a party at home seems like too much chaos, why not have your child’s birthday party elsewhere.

There are plenty of great birthday party venues throughout the country, and your child could take one or two special friends, or a whole group of mates.

3 Key Tips for Booking a Venue

When choosing a venue for this age group, make sure you:

1. Consider your budget

Some teenage orientated activities can be quite expensive, but that doesn’t make them unobtainable. Let your child choose between a cheap activity for lots of guests, and a more expensive one for just them a one or two friends.

2. Consider your child’s choice

Ultimately you have the final say, but there’s little point booking a venue that you think is fabulous, only to find out they hate the idea. Teenagers have a habit of digging their toes in, so plan the party in consultation with them.

3. Decide if you’re going to be a part of the party

If you are not going to be there, you need to provide some ground rules and check with the venue regarding supervision. Parents of guests should be told if you are not staying at the venue, as they may have their own rules they may like to discuss with their child.

Our Favourite Teenage Birthday Party Venues

Adventure Parks

Whether it’s kayaking, white water rafting, horse riding, abseiling, motorcross, go karts, blokarts or 4 wheel driving – nothing feeds a teenager like adrenalin. Most countries have a good assortment of adventure based activities, and any of these parks or facilities are a great place to hold a party.

For the most part, these types of adventure parks don’t offer specific ‘party options’, but they definitely know how to entertain a group. They provide fabulous activities complete with all the equipment and expert guidance, and can cater for people with all levels of experience.

Adventure activities vary in price but you can expect to pay between $25-75 per person for any one activity. Generally speaking, any activity that involves having a guide with you will cost a little more.

Sports Event or Concert

Every day there is a special event or concert happening somewhere in the country, and no matter where you live, a venue is never too far away.

Whether it’s a sports game, a concert, a racing meet, or a visit from the Dalai Lama – there is an event to suit the interests of absolutely everyone. Attending a special event on their birthday will definitely give your child something to celebrate.

Special events aren’t always expensive, especially if you’re buying several tickets at once. National league sports games can cost as little as $25, and concerts up to $250 and more, but the hype and excitement of being somewhere ‘live’ is definitely worth it.

Boat Trip

Spending a day out on a boat can be a real treat for a teenager, especially if it is a new experience. This is definitely one for the more outdoorsy types.

There are plenty of charter boat companies if you live close to the water, and each offer their own type of activities or packages. Fishing, snorkelling, dolphin watching, sailing and island tours are all possible. Kayaking is another popular option.

You can either charter a boat and crew for your own party, it will cost upwards of $250 per hour, and most will charter for a minimum of 2-3 hours. Fishing licenses and any other required fees are charged on a per person basis on top of that, and equipment hire varies from boat to boat. Or, you can join a shared excursion as a package, which can cost as little as $50 per person.

Day Spa

This is another great party treat. And this one is more for the not-so-outdoorsy types.

Day spas offer all sorts of treatments from manicures to massages, and depending on your budget your teenager could be pampered for one hour or a whole day. Hosting your child’s party at a day spa is a nice way to celebrate a milestone birthday such as their 16th, and they can share something really special with just a couple of best friends.

Prices can be quite affordable, if you’re just doing a manicure prices start from just $25 per person. Full day spa packages in resort-style spas will set you back $150 per person and more.

Some more of our favourite teenage party venues include:

• Rock Climbing
• Ten Pin Bowling
• Laser Strike
• Movies
• ‘Grown Up’ Restaurant
• Horse Riding
• Art and Craft Workshop
• Gaming Parlour
• Blo Karting
• Go Karting
• A special sports event, show or concert
• Aquatic Centre or Water Park
• Theme Park

3 Final Tips for Making Teen Birthday Party Memories

Milestone birthdays are a great chance to introduce traditions and rituals to your family, and there’s at least a couple milestone years in the teens to celebrate!

That big transition toward adulthood, and your relationship with your child is going to change. Here are some nice ways to make memories on your child’s teen birthday years:

1. Contact their fav celeb

By the time your child becomes a teen (even a tween now!), it’s likely they’ve developed an interest in a specific sport or hobby, and chances are there’s someone ‘famous’ they look up to.

In New Zealand, we’re blessed to have celebrities who remember their roots and are happy to mentor our young people. That might be more difficult where you’re from. But think outside the box here.

Arranging a meeting with your child’s hero may not be possible or practical, but organising a letter or a birthday card from them is certainly a do-able feat. Tracking down your child’s hero will take some leg-work, but the contact you make will provide a lasting memory for your child.

2. Give them a grown up experience to remember

Give your birthday child a special dinner out, or the full day-spa experience, a weekend away with you on their own, or even an overseas family trip if it’s in the budget.

Treat the birthday child to a truly ‘grown up’ experience, where you can both talk about what it means to grow upd, and what the years ahead will bring. This will surely be a birthday they remember, and a great opportunity to build a foundation for those ensuing teenage years!

3. Let them be a little more grown up

Make becoming a teenager a time when your child earns the right to do something a little more adult. Something like going to the movies on their own, or having their own debit card, or being able to do an experience on their own.

Whatever the ‘thing’ is, keep the same rule for each child in the house, and they will all have something to look forward to as their birthday comes around. Being allowed to do the ‘thing’ is a gift on its own.

Best of luck with your teenage birthday party planning, we hope you all have a great day when it arrives.

You might also want to read 17 Tips for negotiating teen birthdays, or for more expert party advice, check out our Teen’s Birthday section.