21 Ideas for Your 21st Birthday

I’M LEGAL . . . well . . . almost.

My 21st birthday is fast approaching, November 24th to be exact. Less than 2 weeks away.

I’ve been racking my brain for the past month (with no prevail) trying to figure out the perfect birthday plans to celebrate my 21st birthday. So today I sat down and tried to figure out what I wanted to do for this pinnacle in life. 

Now before you all say the same word; “VEGAS” let me tell you a bit about myself.

I decided from a young age that a successful social game/ life was not very important to me. I would much rather focus on my school work then hang out with the cool kids at the biggest party of the year. (Now don’t go thinking I had no friends, my invisible friend Beth and I had plenty of fun together) On a serious note, I was not a hermit, but I never really found myself feeling at home within large crowds or huge parties. 

When I entered college there were parties abound. Every night, even on school nights, there were parties. There were Jersey Shore ragers and Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show kickbacks. No matter your hobby, there was a party catered to you. Even with so many outlets for drinking, I never got into the whole party scene. I much more preferred my movies, books and art. 

I guess what I am trying to say is that I am not a drinker, and nor do I really want my 21st birthday party catered around drinking, especially since when I turn 21, most of my friends will still be underage.

After hours upon hours of searching for ideas, I have compiled a list of 21 things to do for your 21st birthday that DON’T involve alcohol. 

• For those of you who do drink, that’s fine! I don’t condone underage drinking, but I can’t deny that some of my favorite people in the world do it. I don’t judge or think I am any better for not drinking, it’s just a choice I made. This list is complied to help others who don’t drink or don’t want to drink on their 21st birthday find something fun to do.

21 Ideas For Your 21st Birthday:

1. Bowling

I know I know. This sounds super lame and lets face it, we have all done this for a birthday party. Even if it was just a friends party when you were 7, the bowling idea is getting worn out. However, sometimes things that we let go of as a young kid we underestimate as adults. So bowling may seem lame or too slow paced for you, well have you checked if your bowling alley has night bowling? The bowling alley near my house offers $15 night time bowling where there is upbeat club-esque music, huge music video screens and neon lights.

And can we also admit that anything when done with the right group of people can be a fun time. So don’t rule out the bowling lanes until you have taken a good look into your options for events and guest list.

2. Go to the Cinema

Take a look at your nearest movie theater and figure out if there are any films that catch your eye. This may seem like a very traditional move for a birthday party, but don’t underestimate the power of a good film. 

For my 18th birthday party I wanted to take a group of my friends to see the film Love, & Other Drugs with Anne Hathaway and Jake Gyllenhaal (because of Hathaway, of course). Anyways, one of my friends was not allowed to see the film because she was 16 and her parents vetoed the movie. At first I was really upset because I had my sights set on that film, but then I was eased into the idea of going to see Disney’s Tangled. 

Yes that is a “little kid film” and yes I did LOVE IT. I decided to go all out and just be a goofy kid again. So we bought the plastic table cloth and cups and had a blast. We may or may not have also decided to purchase some Tangled temporary tattoos and cover our faces with them before the movie.

Again like so many other party ideas it really just depends on the people you invite. Due to my amazing friends this night was a blast and we even stopped to take a few photos with Justin Bieber, who we came across in the Cinema.

3. Travel to the City (the nearest big city to you)

For me this means San Francisco, but Los Angeles is only a 6 hour drive away, so that’s not out of the picture quite yet. I may actually take this advice and drive to a large city near me. If you live in an area like I do then you don’t have much around you but farm fields and grocery stores. 

Taking a drive to the city can bring so much joy. In large cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles you will find, great food, shopping, theaters, activities, art, culture, dinning, nightlife, and so much more. Even if you don’t know what to do in the big city, get together with 3-4 of your best friends, take the trip and see what happens.

4. Poker or Game Night

Game nights or Poker nights can be a whole lot of fun. Money doesn’t always need to be involved either. If you and your friends aren’t into betting with money then use candy or a point system. If you use a point system, then you can decide what the values are for each point.

For example, you could say that for every 5 points a person earns they get to do something to the other players(ie; face paint, put makeup on, do their nails, eat odd food, etc.) So if there are 3 people playing and “Person A” has won 15 points, “Person B” won 9 points, and “Person C” won 7 points then you can say that Person A gets to do 3 things to the player of their choosing, while both “Person B” and “C” can only do one thing to the player of their choice.

I know that sounded really confusing, it does to me too, but I think you get the idea. Sometimes it’s just fun to be competitive during a friendly game of poker.

5. Go Clubbing

"But Kirsten this is a list of non-alcoholic activities!” Yes I know! Now while a majority of people that go to clubs also enjoy the alcoholic beverages, that doesn’t mean you have to.

Sometimes it’s just nice to get all dolled up, go out with your friends, and dance to some beat dropping music. Some clubs have a drink limit or an age limit, so be mindful, if some of your friends are not of age yet, then you will want to stay with the 18 and up clubs. If you are not a club goer (like myself) then there are still 16 more things that you may like on this list.

6. Attend a Show (Theater, Comedian, etc.)

This may seem odd or expensive, but if you enjoy the occasional musical or comedy show then this can be a really fun thing to do for your 21st Birthday. While a lot of shows are rather expensive, there are certain shows that you can see that are within the $25-$50 range that are just as good. Also most comedy clubs are not that expensive and are so much fun to be a part of. Just check the areas near you for the upcoming shows.

However, just like the clubs, be mindful, some comedy shows do have a minimum drink limit and if you are trying to have a sober 21st then you need to watch for that. Just call the venue or research online to see if that pertains to their show.

7. Go Ice Skating

This activity is highly underrated. Nobody really takes all of their friends to an ice skating rink for their birthdays. “Ew Exercise?” Even though this may seem like an ankle hurting, but numbingly painful way to spend a birthday it is a whole lot of fun. 

I have probably had about 4 birthdays at the local ice skating rink. Now I am by no means a great ice skater. I can go forewords and turn with some speed but thats about it. Some people are born to be on the ice and can twirl and skate backwards, but if you are not one of those people, then sometimes it’s just fun to make a fool of yourself. 

Plus a lot of times there are handsome strong men that work the ice skating rink and they get paid to help you up if you fall. I may have even payed a friend $5 to do a hard core fall right in front of the cute worker that she could not stop talking about, just so he would help her up. What a waste of $5. I got nothing but an empty pocket, she got the money and the cute guy... fail on my part.

8. Go to the Beach

I myself am not a huge beach person, however I do appreciate good times in the sand with friends. If you are like me and don’t normally go in the water at the beach then think of it this way; you can bring a beach towel or blanket, have a nice picnic lunch, bring some sports equipment and have fun.

Beaches are so beautiful and full of activities. You can bring a football, soccer ball, volleyball, frisbee, dog (with tennis ball), etc. A lot of times we are forced to create the fun ourselves, so even if you aren’t totally keen on the beach birthday idea, let it marinade in your mind for a few days and then decide.

9. Attend a Sporting Event

Do I really need to explain this?

A lot of sporting events such as football can be rather money consuming, but that doesn’t mean all are. Baseball is one sport, while not in season currently, that is very fun and often pretty cheep, depending on the seats. Plus can we all just admit that ballpark food is half the reason we attend sporting events? Even if the food is rather pricey. Oh garlic fries...

10. Finally See that Concert You’ve Been Waiting for

This is your chance. If your friends have been refusing to go to the concert of the year with you then you now have the excuse that it’s your 21st birthday! Go out with your girls (or guys) and celebrate the night with some music, dancing, and fun. You could even go out to dinner before and then drive to the concert while blasting your favorite tunes. Get ready to sing at the top of your lungs because this night is about to a blast!

11. Have a BBQ and Pool Party

Do you have a pool? A friend with a pool? Either way most of us can find someplace to have a backyard pool party with a BBQ lunch. One of my favorite days of my college career was when my best friend and I went to play tennis, then decided to go get burgers, chips, watermelon, and soda and make a BBQ dinner. It was amazing to say the least. We topped off the night with ice cream from the local creamery and some movies (Cloverfield and Fame) at night.

It was so nice to have a full BBQ night. And food always tastes better when you work really hard to make it. So find the person with the most skills on the grill and start your BBQ pool party. It will be a splash!!!! (Too cheesy?)

12. Get all Fancy and Go to a Formal Dinner

I don’t know about you, but me and my friends love to get all dolled up and go somewhere fancy. We even break out our handbags which we have named “Michael”(Michael Kors) and “Bourke” (Dooney & Bourke). Okay too much info. haha. 

Anyways... It’s a blast to take out that little black dress you swore you would wear, those nude heels and a statement necklace. Top that all off with a little hair doing and makeup if you want and you are good to go. If you do decided to do this idea make sure you plan out where you want to go to dinner at least 3 days in advanced and call the restaurant to make reservations. That way you have less waiting to do on the day and you will have more time to eat and socialize with all of your friends.

13. Donate to Charity

This one may seem out of the norm, but don’t get me wrong, I LOVE this idea!!! If you are anything like myself you have always wanted to be able to donate to charity but you haven’t had an outlet or funds to do so. This is the perfect time to do just that. For a birthday gift you can ask all of your friends and family to donate $10 (or an allotted amount) to a charity of your choice.

Even thought you wont get anything material for your birthday you can know that you made a difference in someone’s life. Don’t feel bad if this isn’t your pace of things. It’s just an idea that I have been pondering with for the past few months. It’s an easy way to make a difference for those who may not have the opportunity to celebrate a birthday.

14. Have a Pamper Day

Now this is a total 180 from the last idea, but there is nothing wrong with pampering yourself every now-and-then. A pamper day may be exactly what you need. Ask a few friends to join you in a day of rest, relaxation, and good times. 

This can be the time to try out that new nail salon down the street or the spa around the corner. Wether its massages or mani pedis, your body will thank you after a day of pampering. If you don’t want to spend a whole lot of money you can opt for the at home spa day. Pick up some face masks and nail polishes at your local Ulta or beauty supply shop and work away. Play some relaxing music and focus on being in the moment.

15. Sing Karaoke (it's a lot more fun then you might think)

This may seem a little odd but trust me, it’s anything but. Karaoke may seem intimidating if you have never done it before. If you are a shy person and don’t like to sing anywhere but your own shower, don’t worry, this is perfect for you as well.

Karaoke places can be really sketchy looking but they are a complete blast. Even if the screen is playing Japanese soap operas while your best guy friend is singing the part of barbie in Barbie Girl, Karaoke will bring laughter and tears (the good type). It is a whole lot of fun to be outrageous and sing at the top of your lungs with your group. You can hyper yourself up by first going out to dinner or somewhere fun before hand.

16. Make a Short Film

This can be a music video, comedy sketch, drama, or whatever your heart desires. The idea is to create something great to remember that day by. 

From experience, a few of my best friends and I decided one night that we were going to be crazy and make some music videos. Now we rarely show people due to the absurdity of the outfits and dancing, but it was probably the most fun I have ever had with those girls. We didn’t care about what people thought of us and we just went for it. So we put popcorn buckets on our heads and mustaches on our faces and went 200%. 

The final result? Well just watch for yourself. (P.S. even if film isn’t your forte or much to your liking, I guarantee that the video you make will bring back so many memories of good times.) I absolutely adore looking back on these times.

17. Work with Animals

This may not be your cup of tea if you don’t like animals. However for me this was a great idea. A lot of places that do doggy day car or shelter and relief are often looking for volunteers to help out in their facilities.

My friend and I decided to go work at a dog sanctuary every weekend for a school project and ended up loving it so much that we went back even once the report was over. We could bond with the dogs and take them on walks or play in this area with them for hours on end. It may sound like a chore to some of you, and if that’s the case then just go ahead and skip past this idea. However if you are an animal lover a day with the dogs or any animal may be just what you need for your birthday. Gather a bunch of your friends and spend the day volunteering. Make sure that you check into the place before hand so that way if you need to fill out a waver or sign up you can do so weeks before.

18. Go Racing

This may seem a little out of reach, but don’t worry, I’m not talking about the big Daytona 500 tracks. Find a race track near you. A lot of places will have indoor racing where you get all suited up in a sexy padded onsie and zoom around the track.

Now if you live by a real race track, it’s in your budget, and they offer deals to drive around then by all means go for it. For me this is a little out of reach besides, I’m pretty sure I would only go about 100mph then be scared and crash or vomit. haha. A day on the track can be a lot of fun and will bring out your competitive side. 

19. Be a Kid Again

For my 18th birthday party, as stated above, I decided to make it a Disney’s Tangled themed party. I bought the matching table cloth, cups, napkins, plates, stickers, temporary tattoos, and we even went to the movie midnight premiere. You can even do the whole goodie bag thing but place more adult items in the bag if you wish.

Another way to celebrate as a kid is to have a themed party based on when you were born(or your favorite years). For me I was born in 1992 so I would have a 90s themed birthday. Have your guests dress up in 90s outfits (ie; overalls, hair scrunchies, etc) and spend the night playing 90s themed games such as Pokemon, Dream Phone, Pretty Pretty Princess, and more. Dial in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and maybe even have some old shows playing in the background or watch them in the evening. Break out your old CD and Tape collection and Pump Up The Jam. Even make the menu themed with your favorite foods from the 90s. 

This may sound a bit crazy, but it can be a very nostalgic and fun night catered towards you. Just make sure everyone gets involved by getting dressed up and bringing a food or game, because it really gets exciting when everyone is in it 100%. 

(Side note: I may have been blasting some TECHNOTRONIC while writing that one)

20. Just Relax

This may not be the obvious answer to what to do for your birthday. A lot of times when we plan events and birthdays we forget that sometimes its fun to just step back, sit down, and do nothing. Now I'm not saying to stay in bed all day (unless that would really make you happy). I'm saying stay at home with family and friends or go out and do every day activities. Watch a movie at home. Make some food (maybe a cake or some brownies). Go for a walk and spend time with those around you.

You're 21 now, but that doesn't mean you forgot where you came from. Take the day to just be with those you love and love you. Be relaxed and be rested. This day is for you.

21. Go to Disneyland!!! (Most Likely what I will be doing)

This is by no means the cheapest option, but since I have an annual pass I figure I might as well take advantage of it. Plus Disneyland and Downtown Disney have entertainment, rides, food, drinks(alcoholic and non-alcoholic), hotels in abundance, music, people, souvenirs, etc. This is the best of all worlds to me. Disneyland is my second home. I can tell you where every restroom, food cart, ride, restaurant, shop, ect. is. 

If you don’t love Disneyland or long lines then I wouldn't suggest this to you. However, if you can plan your trip in a cold or rainy season then do that. A lot less people attend the parks on days when it’s cold and/or raining. Now Anaheim rarely gets super cold, but when it rains it’s truly magical. My mother and I once went and it started to rain around 10am, by noon all the lines were under 20 minutes and the park was empty. 

For a true Disney lover this option is the best option. haha.

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this post and got some good ideas for your upcoming birthday. If you need me, I’ll be at DISNEYLAND!!!!

Always,

Kirsten Nicole