4 Great Birthday Party Ideas for Teens and Tweens

Once princesses and pirates are a thing of a past, planning a unique and special birthday celebration for your teenage child can be a tall order, but I'm here to help! While older children may have outgrown themed parties, that doesn't mean you can't pull off an event they'll always remember. Here are a few great ideas for in-person and virtual birthday parties your tween or teen will love.
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1) Outdoor movie night party

Turn your backyard into your own personal outdoor movie theater. No equipment? No problem. Many companies offer rentals for inflatable movie screens, projectors, sound systems and even popcorn machines!

Invite your teen's friends to bring their own chairs or blankets to enjoy the show. You can provide a spread of your child's favorite movie candies and snacks, and play their favorite movie. For added fun, you could even have the guests dress as their favorite characters from the movie you are screening.
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2) A "hoppy" hour bunny party

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For the animal-loving teenager in your family, consider a petting zoo from Tiny Tails to You. We offer both in-person and virtual events for teens with "Hoppy" Hour birthday events. Party goers will meet all sorts of exotic and snuggly lap-sized animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs, hedgehogs, miniature chickens, bearded dragons and more. We also have special, exotic animals like the chinchilla (softest animal in the world) or the blue tongue skink that can be added on to your party package. Our virtual events are great for including your teens friends from out of town, or you know...during a global pandemic!
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3) A luau or Hawaiian birthday party

Who doesn’t love a good beach party? I know I do! Have your son or daughter’s guests come in their best Hawaiian, or beach attire. Hand out flower leis and light up the Tiki torches. You can serve Hawaiian BBQ with fun, fruity drinks with little umbrellas.

Set the scene with some beach-themed games like limbo or a hula hoop contest (Pinterest has some great ideas!) and play an “island music” playlist on Spotify or Pandora. Lastly, capture the fun with a beach-themed photo booth full of fun, island, and beach props.  
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4) Glow In The Dark Dance Party

Glow in the Dark parties are growing in popularity because they are a fun way for teenagers to let loose and have a great time. If your teenage child loves to dance with abandon, just move the furniture, black out the windows, and play some of their favorite dance party tracks.

Hand out glow sticks or necklaces to everyone as they come into the party. For added fun, rent or buy some black lights and strobe lights. You could also easily turn this into a virtual party, inviting your teen's friends to join in over Zoom or Google Hangouts. You could even go all out and hire a professional DJ, like our friend DJ Jeff from Spacecraft Entertainment! Even make your food fun by providing snacks that are brightly colored or white so they will glow in the blacklight.

Let's party!

I would love to come to any of these parties! I can't wait to hear what kind of party you choose for your teen or tween!