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Aging

15 Ideas for Celebrating Your 60th Birthday

Celebrate this exciting milestone in a fun way.

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For some folks, reaching the 60-year-old mark is a dread. For others, it’s time to party. You made it! And after all, age is just a number — am I right? Sure, the hair is grayer and the skin a bit looser, but sixty is sexy if you ask me. Also, aging is inevitable, and 60 is merely the number of years the world has been enjoying you. So, show yourself some love and appreciation by celebrating your special day! Here are 15 awesome ideas for your 60th birthday celebration with friends and family members. 

Party in Vegas.

What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. It’s an unspoken agreement that everyone is going to be at their worst — or wildest! — when visiting Sin City, but really, a girls trip to The Strip is a recipe for fun. See a show, play some slots, do some shopping. There’s plenty to do and something for everyone in this neon town.  

Dance the night away.

Dance into your sixth decade with tasty cocktails, delicious food, and a whole lot of cha-cha-cha. Invite friends to dress to the nines and wish you a happy 60th birthday in style! Maybe you host a roaring twenties-themed party where guests don flowy flapper dresses and dapper suits. Maybe you hire a live band to play your favorite hits from the Eighties.   

Get a tattoo.

You’ve done a lot of living, so why not do something a little out of the box this year to celebrate? An appointment at the tattoo parlor can be your 60th birthday gift to yourself. Sure, this might be an unusual suggestion — but if you’ve ever fancied getting inked and just haven’t quite mustered the courage, now is the time. Grab a friend and bring them along when you make your birthday wish come true.

Enjoy a wine and cheese night.

Whether you’re turning 21 or 60, a night with a full wine glass and handcrafted, high-quality cheese is always a hit — especially if you want to keep things relatively simple. Stock up on different wines and cheeses, ask your loved ones to dress in cocktail attire, and spend the evening listening to your favorite tunes. Because let’s be honest, the perfect gift is spending an evening with the people you love.

Spend the day at the beach.

Sharing special moments in the sun is one of the best ways to celebrate with close friends and family — and your 60th is certainly a special moment. If you’re lucky enough to have a birthday that falls in the summer and you live near a beach or can take a vacation, fun and sun await. Relax with your favorite people by your side. Just don’t forget to slather on the SPF!

Get married or renew your wedding vows.

Want to kick off your sixties with a bit of romance? Why not celebrate your special day by getting hitched? If you’ve already tied the knot and are happily married, renew your wedding vows instead. Whether you want to relive the happy occasion as if it were yesterday or simply reaffirm your commitment to each other, this significant milestone is an ideal opportunity. 

Go on a cruise.

What better way to celebrate your special day than by going on the adventure of a lifetime? While this may be one of the more expensive 60th birthday gift ideas, you’ve earned it. Grab a few pals and treat yourself to an all-inclusive cruise with fun shows, good food, and exciting ports of call. 

Plan a girl’s trip.

While money can’t buy happiness, it can certainly buy a fun weekend trip with the girls that’ll be remembered for years to come! Whether it’s a staycation or an adventure somewhere more remote, a girls’ trip just might be the ideal way to celebrate the new decade. 

To commemorate the trip, you can make DIY girl’s trip tee-shirts with fun phrases like, “We belong at Martha’s Vineyard — we’re all aged to perfection.” Create them together or make them yourself and give them to your friends as a party favor or keepsake from the trip. They’re a unique gift that will remind everyone of your adventure together.

Shop ‘til you drop.

Feeling a bit blue? Flip that frown upside down with some much-needed retail therapy. Your 60th birthday demands it! Also, a 2014 study from the Journal of Consumer Psychology discovered that retail therapy makes people immediately happier and fights lingering sadness. 

So, if you’ve got the “birthday blues” or are simply feeling a bit drab, grab a bestie, hit the mall, and shop till you drop. It’s the ideal time to use all those left gift cards that have been sitting in a drawer waiting to be used. 

Turn 60 with a ‘60s party.

Ring in the next decade with a 1960s birthday party theme. This decade was a diverse era full of flower power and timeless music, so you won’t run out of ideas or party supplies when organizing your celebration.

Pro Tip: Want the colors of your 60s theme to really pop? Turn your party into a glow party with a black light and glow sticks. 

Throw a backyard bash.

If you’re looking for a more cost-effective 60th birthday party idea, throw a backyard bash. After all, simple, fun-filled parties are always a hoot, and they’re a low-effort way to celebrate your special day. You can use balloons and streamers as simple 60th birthday party decorations. Buy some burgers and hotdogs, fire up the grill, and set the drinks to chill. Turn on the radio and play lawn games like cornhole, horseshoes, and badminton, and end the night with birthday cake and opening all your 60th birthday cards and gag gifts.

Pro Tip: To really kick back and relax, make it a potluck; ask your party guests to bring one tasty dish to share, and you’ll end up with a BBQ feast!

Enjoy a nice dinner with family and friends.

While this might be one of the less creative ways to spend a milestone birthday, it’s the perfect 60th birthday party for those whose greatest pleasure is enjoying the company of loved ones — especially if you don’t see them as much as you’d like. Pick your favorite restaurant or a new one that you’ve been dying to try and get together for a celebratory dinner. 

Spend a day at the spa.

Say “hello” to your sixties by washing away the stress from your fifties with a relaxing day at the spa. This is a great gift to give yourself — it’s your time to unwind and have a rare and cherished moment of relaxation. You can book a spa day for you and your best friend at a local beauty salon or a weekend getaway at a peaceful destination. 

Jump out of a plane.

Get your heart pumping with an adventurous birthday treat. If skydiving is on your bucket list, there’s no better time than a milestone birthday to throw yourself (quite literally) outside of your comfort zone. Need some support? Get a buddy involved! 

Host a roast.

Last on the list but certainly not least, if you have a great sense of humor and an especially silly group of friends, host a comedy roast. Ask your loved ones to write hilarious speeches to poke some fun at the honoree (*ahem*… you). But don’t forget: It’s tradition for the guest of honor to get the last word at a roast with a speech that makes fun of everyone who roasted them. So be sure to write a few giggle-worthy jokes of your own.   

The Final Word

Year after year, we close one chapter and begin another. Birthday celebrations are an opportunity to commemorate all the wonderful moments that defined our previous year and prepare for the adventures that lie ahead. Full of opportunity and self-discovery, the big six-OH is definitely worth celebrating. So explore the 15 ideas listed above and gather your loved ones to capture the excitement of this special occasion.

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