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50th Birthday Ideas for Men

By an Award-Winning Professional Event Planner

Creative and unusual ways to celebrate men's 50th birthdays

About This Site

If you're tired of the same old clichéd party ideas, and are looking for something more inspiring or just a little bit different, this site is packed with original and creative party ideas. I'm Matt James, an award-winning professional event planner who has produced events for many celebrities including Elton John, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Stella McCartney, among others. On this site I'll share professional tips, advice, and trade secrets—that anyone can do—in order to add some creative touches to your party or celebration; whatever your budget.

Note: This site contains affiliate links to products. We may recieve a small commission on any sales (at no extra cost to you).


matt james

50th birthday Ideas for men

Stuck for inspiration? Check out some of these creative birthday themes for men, including:

  • Keep Calm I'm Turning 50
  • Straight Outta My Forties
  • Old Lives Matter
  • The Man, The Myth, The Legend
  • The Silver Fox
  • 50 AF
  • Party Like Gatsby
  • Jack Daniels Whiskey Bash
  • Manly Men Doing Things That Men Do
  • Rhythm & Brews
  • and more!
50th birthday ideas for men collage



In This Section...
01

Party Themes and Decoration Packages

A selection of 50th birthday party themes and 'out of the box' party decoration packages for men.

02

50th Birthday Party Ideas for Men

Tips and suggestions for how to make the party as personal as possible.

03

Group Activity Ideas for Men

An alternative to a 50th birthday party; get a group together for an activity or experience.





01

Party Themes and Decoration Packages


The Man, the myth, the legend

What man doesn't consider themselves a legend—at least in their own minds! So why not indulge them for one day of the year?

The Man, The Myth, The Legend party theme
The Man, The Myth, The Legend dessert table

These fabric tapestries, below, available here, are an easy way to create a simple backdrop to a dessert or buffet table. I've arranged the text towards the top of the backdrop to allow space to position a table in front, as in the mock-up image above, but you can click on the blue 'customize' button to reposition the text however you like and change the name and/or colors. I'd suggest hanging a metallic curtain, available here, in the same accent color as the text behind the backdrop to fill an entire wall. I always recommend concentrating the majority of decorations around a buffet / dessert table to create a focal point in the room. Complete the look with a fitted table cover, available here, for a clean, modern feel and a few bunches of helium balloons either side and you won't really need many more decorations. Depending on your color scheme, I think balloons often look best when arranged in groups of three different colors, rather than two, for a softer, less candy-striped feel. You can buy them by color here, along with balloon weights and helium tanks, or check out some of the three-color balloon bouqets available here (just browse individual seller's stores for your desired color bouquet). Alternatively, if you're on a tighter budget, you can create a smaller backdrop using a 3ft x 5ft banner like the one below, available here in vertical or horizontal.

Remember: If you use the tapestry as a backdrop for a dessert / buffet table to create a focal point for your decorations, it can also double as a photo booth backdrop later on. Just move the table out of the way once people are done eating and there's enough blank space under the design for people to gather for photos; which will make a nice heading for all the shots.

Custom The Man, The Myth, The Legend backdrop
blue metallic foil curtain
blue white and black balloons
Custom The Man, The Myth, The Legend banner

You can also roll-out the same design across all your other party supplies, such as paper plates, beer and wine bottle labels, and paper napkins. Check out the full range here.

The Man, The Myth, The Legend party plates
The Man, The Myth, The Legend beer bottle labels
The Man, The Myth, The Legend wine bottle labels
The Man, The Myth, The Legend paper napkins

Below are some other products you can apply the design to, such as invitations, guest books, T shirts, and mugs. But you can also transfer the design to over 1,000 different products; everything from stickers and gift tags, to baseball caps and bags. Just click on any of the products in the collection, such as this one here, scroll down to 'Transfer this design onto another product' and click on 'View All Products'. Once applied to your chosen product, you might then need to use the blue 'customize' button to resize the design to the best fit for the product.

The Man, The Myth, The Legend birthday party invitation
The Man, The Myth, The Legend guest book
The Man, The Myth, The Legend T shirt
The Man, The Myth, The Legend mug

As you can see from the tapestry example below, you can also change the colors. Finally, although not part of the same collection, I also came accross these The Man, The Myth, The Legend balloons and temporary tattoos, available here, and these cake toppers, available here, that you could also include with your decorations.

The Man, The Myth, The Legend backdrop blue
The Man, The Myth, The Legend temporary tattoo
The Man, The Myth, The Legend balloons
The Man, The Myth, The Legend cake toppers





Party Like Gatsby

If you're looking for something a little more sophisticated, a chic 1920's / Great Gatsby theme never goes out of style—and it's a great opportunity for everyone to dress up smart, drink champagne, and dance on the table (ok that last bit's optional!). There are lots of different Gatsby-style invitations available here, but my personal favorites are these printable ones pictured below. Just buy the digital file here, have it customized with your party details, and the artwork will be sent to you via email. Then just upload it here to have it printed onto invitations and shipped to you. In terms of decor, my advice is to concentrate the majority of your party decorations around a dessert / buffet table in order to create a focal point in the room. You can buy digital files for Gatsby-style backdrops, such as the one below available here, but it can sometimes be difficult to find printers that can print them large enough, so an alternative would be to use one of the fabric tapestries available here. Complete the look with a gold metallic foil curtain, available here, and a black or gold fitted table cover, available here, for a clean, modern feel.

Remember: If you use the tapestry as a backdrop for a dessert / buffet table to create a focal point for your decorations, it can also double as a photo booth backdrop later on in the evening. Just move the table out of the way once people are done eating and people can gather in front of it for photos; which will make a nice background/heading for all the shots.

Great Gatsby Art Deco style invitation
Great Gatsby Art Deco style backdrop
Great Gatsby Art Deco style backdrop
black fitted tablecover

One of the things that typically sets a professionally-planned party apart from everyday 'at home' events is the attention to detail. It's the clever little touches that tie everything together and give it a slick, professional look and feel that will create talking points that guests remember. Often it's just simple things like a welcome sign / banner at the entrance, personalized wine and beer labels, or food tent label cards on a buffet / dessert table that help elevate the party decor and make it feel more special—which is particularly fitting for a milestone birthday celebration. For a Gatsby-theme you can buy these custom party signs as digital files, available here and then upload them here to have them printed as posters. These look great when put in a frame and displayed at the entrance to your party to welcome guests. Also, check out these stylish personalized wine labels, available here, beer bottle labels, available here (along with lots of other cool Gatsby party accessories), and food tent cards, available here, to help you style your party like a pro.

Great Gatsby Art Deco style welcome sign
Great Gatsby Art Deco style custom wine labels
Great Gatsby Art Deco style custom beer labels
Great Gatsby Art Deco style food tents

These Gatsby-style printable signs are an easy way to add decorative touches to your party that will re-inforce the theme. Check out the full range here. You can either print these yourself at home, or upload them here to have them professionally printed and shipped to you. I always like to dot these around a party in places that guests will congregate, such as buffet tables, bar areas, cloakrooms, bathrooms etc. These look great in ornate or gold colored frames, which you can sometimes pick up cheaply here. Alternatively, you could display them on bars and buffet tables using freestanding acrylic sign holders, available here.

Time to drink champagne and dance on the table printable sign
goodbye 40s hello 50s printable sign
party like gatsby printable sign
the hangover only lasts a day but the memories last a lifetime printable sign

your custom message printable sign
prohibition ends here, have a drink printable sign
dessert - because no great story every started with salad
a party without cake is just a meeting

If you want to give your buffet table a elegant and stylish look but still use disposable party plates, these premium plates and cups look stunning and would work well for a stylish Gatsby theme, check them out here. Update: You can also pick these up here now too. Alternatively, if you're planning a sit-down dinner, these gold-painted lasercut name place cards, available here, are only $5 each and would add a really special touch to each place setting. For a fun party favor, these chocolate cigars can be printed with Gatsby-style labels or customized for any milestone birthday party. Check out all the options here. Once the party's really got going, pull out these 1920's / Gatsby-style photobooth props, available here, to liven up your party photos.

black and gold premium party plates and cups
custom laser cut name place holders
Great Gatsby style cigar party favor stickers
Great Gatsby Art Deco style photobooth props

These chic black, gold, and transparent confetti balloons, available here, are the perfect color palate to go with a Gatsby-themed party. Alternatively, check out some of these stylish slogan balloons, such as 'Pop Fizz Clink' here, 'Let's Celebrate' here, or simply 'Cheers', here.

black, gold, and clear confetti balloons
pop fizz clink balloons
lets celebrate balloons
cheers balloons

Another fun way to decorate is to use these letter balloons to spell out your own phrases and slogans. You can buy these individually here (be careful about buying these on Amazon as there are lots of bad reviews about the cheap quality where they don't stay inflated). Update: I also came across some more letter balloon options, such as different colors and script style fonts, available here. Alternatively, you can buy the Gatsby-themed phrases shown below as a set, available here, along with these art deco style mylar balloons. Finally, the latex Let's Party Like Gatsby balloons are available here.

drop it like F Scott letter balloons
Party Like Gatsby letter balloons
lets party like gatsby
Great Gatsby Art Deco style happy birthday balloon





The Silver Fox

George Clooney, Anderson Cooper, Jon Stewart, Harrison Ford, Richard Gere..... if he's feeling a little sensitive about his greying hair, what better way to remind him that he's in pretty good company than by celebrating his 50th birthday with a Silver Fox party theme?

The Silver Fox party theme
The Silver Fox dessert table

These fabric tapestries, available here, are a quick and easy way to create a backdrop to a dessert or buffet table that will create a focal point for your party decorations. The great thing about this design is that you can easily change the style of hair to resemble the look sported by the birthday boy. Just click on the blue 'customize' button, then select 'icons' on the far left hand side, and type 'hair' into the search box to choose the style you want. As before, I've concentrated the design in the top half of the tapestry to leave space for a table in front, but if you prefer to have the design more centered, just click 'customize', then 'select all' from the 'edit' drop down menu in the top left corner to drag the design to your desired position. You can also change the colours and text according to your preference. Complete the look by hanging a metallic foil curtain, available here in various colors, behind to fill an entire wall, along with a fitted table cover, available here, for a clean, modern look, and a few bunches of helium balloons either side . I think balloons often look best when arranged in groups of three different colors, rather than two, for a softer, less candy-striped feel. You can buy them by color here, along with balloon weights and helium tanks, or check out some of the three-color balloon bouqets available here (just browse individual seller's stores for your desired color bouquet). Alternatively, if you're on a tighter budget, you can create a smaller backdrop using a 3ft x 5ft banner like the one below, available here.

Remember: If you use the tapestry as a backdrop for a dessert / buffet table to create a focal point for your decorations, it can also double as a photo booth backdrop later on in the evening. Just move the table out of the way once people are done eating and there's enough blank space under the design for people to gather for photos; which will make a nice heading for all the shots.

The Silver Fox backdrop tapestry
black metallic foil curtain
black white silver balloons
The Silver Fox banner

The same design can be applied to a range of party supplies, such as paper plates, napkins, beer and wine bottle labels, to theme the rest of your party. Check out the full range here.

The Silver Fox party plates
The Silver Fox beer bottle labels
The Silver Fox wine bottle labels
The Silver Fox paper napkins

Below are some other products you can apply the design to, such as invitations, guest books, T shirts, party hats, and mugs. But you can also transfer the design to over 1,000 different products; everything from stickers and gift tags, to baseball caps and bags. Just click on any of the products in the collection, such as this one here, scroll down to 'Transfer this design onto another product' and click on 'View All Products'. Once applied to your chosen product, you might then need to use the blue 'customize' button to resize the the design to the best fit for the product.

The Silver Fox birthday party invitations
The Silver Fox guest book
The Silver Fox T shirt
The Silver Fox party hats

Below are some examples of how you can customize the design to include a beard if sported by the birthday boy. You can check out a collection of products here that features the design below or you can swap out the style of beard for a different one by clicking on the blue 'customize' button, then selecting 'icons' on the far left hand side, and typing 'beard' into the search box to choose the style you want.

The Silver Fox with beard backdrop
The Silver Fox with beard party plates
The Silver Fox with beard party invitations
The Silver Fox with beard T shirt


Cheers and Beers to 50 years

There are plenty of guys who'd be more than happy to just celebrate their birthday with a few cold beers, so why not say 'Cheers & Beers to Fifty Years!'. This design (customizable for any age) comes as digital files only, which you can print onto a number of different products. For example, the digital artwork for the invitation pictured below, available here, can be uploaded and printed onto a standard 5" x 7" invitation here. Similarly, the 3' x 5' banner pictured below, available here, can be uploaded and printed here. Check out the full range of printable designs here, then check out compatible products to upload the designs to here (just remember to double check the products are available in the same sizes as the artwork designs before purchasing).

Cheers and Beers birthday party invitations
Cheers and Beers birthday banner
Cheers and Beers 50th birthday bottle labels
Cheers and Beers 50th birthday cupcake toppers

Other printables in the same collection include gift tags, coasters, candy bar wrappers, etc or for a T shirt with a similar design see here.

Cheers and Beers birthday tags
Cheers and Beers 50th birthday coasters
Cheers and Beers candy labels
Cheers and Beers 50th birthday T Shirt

While not part of the same collection, there are several 'Cheers & Beers to 50 years' fabric tapestries, like the ones pictured below, available here and here that you can use as a backdrop to a dessert or buffet table when decorating. They're not customizable with the birthday boy's name, but they're still a cost effective way to decorate for a party—plus they can double as a photo booth backdrop for taking pics later in the evening. Alternatively, there are two that are customizable for any age; the one with the two models in the picture below, available here, and the brown and orange one, available here. As with the previous themes on this page, I'd suggest hanging a metallic foil curtain behind, available here, to fill an entire wall and using a fitted table cover, available here, for a clean, modern look.

Cheers and Beers to 50 years wall tapestry
Cheers and Beers to 50 years wall tapestry
Cheers and Beers to 50 years wall tapestry
Cheers and Beers to 50 years wall tapestry

Complete the scene with a few bunches of beer balloons, such as the ones below, either side of the dessert / buffet table. Check out all the options here.

Cheers and Beers to 50 years balloons
Cheers and Beers to 50 years balloons
Cheers balloons
cheers and beers balloons

There are lots of other 'Cheers & Beers' themed party products available, from banners, cake toppers, and photobooth props to party cups, plates, and napkins, many of which can be customized for any age. Check out all the options here.

Cheers and Beers banner
Cheers and Beers to 50 years custom party cups
Cheers and Beers to 50 years cocktail napkins
cheers and beers photobooth props

Ok, so now you've decorated your Cheers & Beers party, it's time to move on to the main event: beer tasting! This beer tasting tableware kit, available here, would double as a great 50th birtday gift for a beer lover and can be used to taste different beers at the party. Alternatively, you pick up printable tasting kits and scorecards for a beer tasting here.

beer tasting party kit
men at beer tasting party
beer tasting party food

Check out my 'Party Food: Beer' Pinterest board here for tips on pairing different beers with cheese, along with some beer-themed party food ideas such as the Beer Mac & Cheese, Bacon Beer Cheese Dip, and Beer Candied Bacon pictured below.

how to pair beer and cheese
bacon beer cheese dip
beer mac and cheese
Beer candied bacon

You can even extend the beer theme to the birthday cake with a traditional cake topper, available here, or one of these cool edible beer bottle cake toppers made of sugar, available here with your choice of brand label.

Cheers and Beers to 50 years cake topper
edible beer bottle cake topper
coors light edible beer bottle cake topper
Samuel Adams edible beer bottle cake topper

Ok, so he might not be the type of guy that's very fussed about flowers or candy, but these are a couple of cute ideas to add a little wow-factor to your buffet / dessert table display. Check out this tutorial for the Beer Mug o'Blooms, which couldn't be simpler. You just fill a beer mug, available here, with amber colored acrylic rocks, available here, and arrange some white carnations in oasis on top. Alternatively, if he's got a sweet tooth, fill the beer mugs with yellow jelly beans, available in bulk here, then top with some white ones for the foam, available here. Finally, if you're looking for a 50th birthday gift for a beer fan, there are loads of great personalized beer flight sets available here, including this quirky test-tube style one pictured below, available here.

beer floral centerpiece
beer jelly bean centerpiece
beer flight
personalized beer flight test tubes





Beers to You

If you want a more convenient alternative to the 'Cheers & Beers' printables above, this 'Beers to You' theme is a good ready-to-ship solution.

Beers to You party supplies
Beers to You party supplies

This personalized 'Brew Tour' photo backdrop, available here, is an alternative to the fabric tapestries which you can set up next to a bar or buffet / dessert table to use as a focal point for your party decorations. Alternatively, check out the full range of 'Beers to You' party supplies, available here, which includes various banners, both horizontal and vertical, which you can use to decorate. Note that these can be customized for any age.

Beers to You custom backdrop
Beers to You custom beer labels
Beers to You custom banner
Beers to You beer bottle standee

In addition to banners, there are a number of beer themed table covers, runners, and toppers—customizable for any age and some of which can be personalized with a photo of the birthday boy. If you're going to include a photo, I always think it's more fun to use an old photo from when they were a child that friends might not have seen.

Beers to You vertical banner
Beers to You table cover
Beers to You table topper
Beers to You table runner

The range also includes beer tasting equipment, such as tasting placemats and beer flight sets, as well as food presentation accessories, such as these tin buckets for snacks, which is a good way to add to the rustic 'no frills' style of a beer tasting.

Beer flight tasting placemats
Beer flight set
Tin buckets
Cheers and Beers beverage napkins




Don't Forget

You can keep up with my latest ideas if you like me on Facebook or follow me on Pinterest. This is where I post discount coupons, special offers, new trends, inspirational ideas, recipes, and other fantastic finds.

Click here to check out my Facebook page or follow my boards on Pinterest.


matt james

Best 50th Ever

If you're looking for a simple yet stylish look for your party, without it being too themed, this out-of-the-box Best Day Ever range is a great option—plus you can customize it with names, photos, and even by changing the colors.

Best 50th Ever party decorations
Best Day Ever 50th birthday party supplies

Check out the full range here, which includes invitations and this custom photobooth backdrop, shown below, which would make a great focal point for your decorations. Just line a section of wall with a metallic foil curtain, available here from the same supplier, and position the backdrop in the centre. I'd recommend using either a silver foil curtain or one that matches whichever accent color you choose in the customization phase (shown here in pastel green, which you can change). Alternatively, you could position this double width photobooth backdrop (available here to customize with any age or color) behind a buffet or dessert table to create a display wall that will serve as a focal point. Because the text on this one is higher up, it leaves plenty of space to position a table underneath. Later in the evening, you can clear the table away and use it as a photobooth backdrop to capture pics of all the guests. Alternatively, instead of using a photo backdrop as the focal point, you could also use the 3ft tall 5-0 numbers shown below, available here, as a centrepiece on a dessert or buffet table with the foil curtain behind them.

Best 50th Ever invitations
Best 50th Ever party backdrop
Best Day Ever 50th backdrop
Best Day Ever freestanding 50 numbers

This design includes options to customize certain products, like banners and plates, with photos of the birthday boy, but remember, you don't have to use a present-day photo. Sometimes, when celebrating a milestone birthday, it's more fun to include an old photo of them as a young boy—especially as some friends probably won't know what he looked like back then. Some products, like the plates, come in packs of 8, so you could even order several packs, each with a different photo of the birthday boy at different stages of his life.

Best Day Ever party supplies
Best Day Ever 50th birthday custom party plates
Best Day Ever 50th birthday custom banner
Best Day Ever 50th birthday banner

Remember you can also use the 'customize it' button to change the accent color in most of the products in order to fit with your preferred color scheme.

Best 50th Ever blue party plates
Best 50th Ever red party plates
Best 50th Ever purple party plates
Best 50th Ever beige party plates

Cheers to 50 years

I just love how chic and sophisticated this color scheme is for a man's 50th birthday. The range includes invitations, banners, door signs, centerpiece sticks, cake toppers, party signs, wine and beer labels, and lots more—all of which can be customized for any age. Check out all the options here (see the full product list in right hand column by clicking 'Learn more about this item').

black and silver milestone birthday party decoration kit
black and silver milestone birthday party decoration kit

These banners, centerpiece sticks, cake toppers, and wine labels are just a selection of some of the products available.

black and silver milestone birthday party decoration kit
black and silver milestone birthday cake topper
black and silver milestone birthday centerpiece and wine label
black and silver milestone birthday photo centerpieces

The range also includes cupcake toppers, garland banners, gift tags, and food tent / name cards.

black and silver milestone birthday cupcake toppers
black and silver milestone birthday garland banner
black and silver milestone birthday party tags
black and silver milestone birthday food tents

These centerpiece sticks can be customized for any milestone birthday.

black and silver milestone birthday candy buffet signs
60 rocks candy buffet sign
50 is hot candy buffet sign
50 sucks candy buffet sign

Jack Daniels whiskey bash

If he's more of a whiskey fan, why not throw him a Jack Daniels themed bash? Update April 2019: Unfortunately, the official looking Jack Daniels wall tapestry below is no longer available—I suspect due to copyright claims—but you can check if it's reappeared here. If not, there are a couple of other options available in the style of the Jack Daniels logo that can be customized with the birthday boy's name and your choice of text. The first, shown below with the large 1987 is available here, and the other two examples are available here. Don't be put off by the example below for a bachelorette weekend, the example next to it for 'Milton's Birthday Celebration' in Louisiana is actually the same design with customized text, so you can see how it can easily be adapted for a 50th birthday party.

Remember: If you use a tapestry as a backdrop for a dessert / buffet table to create a focal point for your decorations, it can also double as a photo booth backdrop later on in the evening. Just move the table out of the way once people are done eating and people can gather in front for photos; which will make a nice backdrop/heading for all the shots.

Jack Daniels backdrop wall tapestry
Jack Daniels style backdrop wall tapestry
Jack Daniels style backdrop wall tapestry
Jack Daniels style  backdrop wall tapestry

If you're not too fussed about customizing your backdrop, there are also a couple of other tapestries, such as the ones below, that use a similar style but the text is fixed so can't be presonalized beyond the month/year featured. Click here to see all vintage style wall tapestries.

Jack Daniels style Aged Perfectly backdrop wall tapestry
Jack Daniels style vintage wall tapestry
Jack Daniels style Vinatage Year backdrop wall tapestry
Jack Daniels style backdrop wall tapestry

There are a couple of Jack Daniel's style invitations available, which can be customized with your own text. Just click on either image below for more info. Both are only available as digital files to print yourself, but if you prefer to have them professionally printed you can simply upload the digital file here and have the invitations shipped to you. There are also some Jack Daniel's printable party labels, available here, and various Jack Daniel's style T shirts, available here, that would make a great 50th birthday gift for a whiskey lover.

Jack Daniels birthday invitation
Jack Daniels birthday invitation
custom Jack Daniels party labels
Jack Daniels style T shirt

For more Jack Daniel's decorations, check out balloons here, or this cool pennant banner available here.

jack daniels 50 balloon
jack daniels garland banner
jack daniels garland banner

These printable signs are cost-effective way to decorate your party. Place them on bars and buffet tables or anywhere guests will congregate, such as cloakrooms and bathrooms. Check out the full range here.

Jack Daniels whiskey party sign
Jack Daniels whiskey party sign
Jack Daniels whiskey party sign
Jack Daniels style Cigar Bar party sign

Similarly, there are various printable welcome signs, labels, stickers, and centerpiece sticks that can be customized with the birthday boy's name. Click on the images below to see each one.

custom Jack Daniels whiskey party sign
custom Jack Daniels whiskey party centerpiece
personalized Jack Daniels whiskey bottle labels
custom Jack Daniels whiskey cupcake toppers

There's also a range of customizable plates, cups, napkins, and coaster that, while are shown in these examples for a wedding, can be adapted for a 50th birthday party. Check them out here.

custom Jack Daniels party plates
custom Jack Daniels party cups
custom Jack Daniels napkins
custom Jack Daniels drinks coasters

Check out my Jack Daniel's party food Pinterest board here for recipes such as the ones below for Jack Daniel's Mac and Cheese, Jack Daniel's Burgers, Jack Daniel's Glazed Chicken Meatballs, Whiskey Pecans, and lots more.

Jack Daniels mac and cheese
Jack Daniels burger
Jack Daniels glazed chicken meatballs
Jack Daniels pecan recipe

For a quick fix, there are plenty of Jack Daniel's seasonings, rubs, and sauces available to spice up regular party food—there's even Jack Daniel's chocolates, fudge, coffee, and nuts. Check them out here, or for Jack Daniel's hampers and gourmet gifts see here.

Jack Daniels marinade
Jack Daniels coffee
Jack Daniels BBQ sauce
Jack Daniels pecans

I came accross these cool Jack Daniel's cupcakes online and while I couldn't find the original source or recipe, you could easily create something similar yourself by using these customizable edible frosting sheet toppers, available here, with a shot of Jack Daniels on the side using these pipettes, available here. Alternatively, check out these amazing edible Jack Daniels bottle cake toppers, available here.

Jack Daniels cupcakes with pipettes
Jack Daniels edible frosting sheets
Jack Daniels edible bottle cake topper
Jack Daniels edible bottle cake topper





50 AF

So he's turning 50. There's no point trying to hide it. Fly the flag and wear it with pride with this 50 AF party theme.

50 AF party theme
50 AF dessert table

This design can be applied to a range of different products to kit out your party. To do this, click on one of the products that features the design, such as this T shirt here, scroll down to 'Transfer this design onto another product' and click on 'View All Products'. Once the design has been applied to your chosen product, you might then need to use the blue 'customize' button to resize the design to the best fit for the product. Note that I moved the 50 AF nearer to the top of the tapestry to allow space to position a table in front without it obscuring the design.

I'd suggest adding it to a 'tapestry', shown below, to use as a backdrop to a dessert / buffet table, which will create a focal point for your decorations. I'd recommend hanging a metallic silver foil curtain, available here, behind to fill an entire wall. Complete the look with a fitted table cover, available here, for a clean, modern feel and a few bunches of helium balloons either side and you won't really need many more decorations. You can buy them by color here, along with balloon weights and helium tanks, or check out some of the three-color balloon bouqets available here (just browse individual seller's stores for your desired color bouquet). Alternatively, if you're on a tighter budget, you can create a smaller backdrop by applying the design to a 'banner' like the 3ft x 5ft one below.

Remember: If you use a tapestry as a backdrop for a dessert / buffet table to create a focal point for your decorations, it can also double as a photo booth backdrop later on in the evening. Just move the table out of the way once people are done eating and there's enough blank space under the design for people to gather for photos; which will make a nice background/heading for all the shots.

50 AF backdrop wall tapestry
silver foil curtain
black and white balloons
50 AF banner

You can also roll-out the same design across all your other party supplies, such as paper plates, beer and wine bottle labels, and paper napkins. Just follow the instructions above to transfer the design onto any product. It's these simple little touches that tie everything together that will give your party a slick, professional feel—and it's the kind of attention to detail that guests notice.

50 AF party plates
50 AF beer bottle labels
50 AF wine bottle labels
50 AF napkins

In addition to party supplies, you can also add the design to some fun 50th birthday gifts, from guest books and T shirts, to baseball caps and mugs. While not part of the same collection, there are also various 50 AF balloons in black, gold, and silver, available here, which would also work well with this party theme.

50 AF mug
50 AF T shirt
50 AF guest book
50 AF balloons

There's also a similar design, available here, in gold and black. Just follow the same instructions above to transfer it onto different party supplies.

50 AF backdrop wall tapestry
50 AF T Shirt
50 AF ballons
50 AF beer bottle labels

If you go with the gold option there are lots of Old AF party supplies available here, while, while not part of the same collection, would still work well with this theme.

old AF balloons
Old AF party cups
Old AF custom photo cupcake toppers
Old AF cake topper





Dashingly Aged to Perfection

If you're looking for a quick and easy 'out of the box' solution, these Dashingly Aged to Perfection party supplies have a nice vintage feel and feature a masculine wood grain pattern, gray plaid stripes and Kraft paper print. Check out the full range here.

Aged to Perfection milestone birthday party supplies
Aged to Perfection milestone birthday party decorations
Aged to Perfection 50th birthday beer bottle labels
Aged to Perfection 50th birthday water bottle labels

This photo booth backdrop, available here, could also double as a backdrop for a dessert / buffet table to help create a focal point for your part decorations. Alternatively, hang one of these horizontal banners above the table with this pennant banner swagged accross the front of the table—or vice versa. Check out the banners here.

Aged to Perfection 50th birthday backdrop
Aged to Perfection 50th birthday pennant banner
Aged to Perfection 50th birthday banner
Aged to Perfection 50th birthday banner

The range includes lots of other party supplies, such as table runners, drinks straws, cupcake toppers, gift bags, invitations, party hats, photobooth props, and lots more.

Aged to Perfection 50th birthday table runner
Aged to Perfection 50th birthday drinks straws
Aged to Perfection 50th birthday cupcake toppers
Aged to Perfection 50th birthday favor bags

Keep Calm and Carry On

Evocative of the Victorian belief in British stoicism, the Keep Calm and Carry On motivational poster producted by the government in 1939 in preparation for World War II has become synonymous around the world for keeping a 'stiff upper lip', exercising self-restraint in the expression of emotion, and remaining calm in the face or adversity. So, what better party theme for someone who might be freaking out about turning 50!

custom Keep Calm party theme
custom Keep Calm dessert table

This design can be applied to a range of different products to kit out your party. To do this, click on one of the products that features the design, such as this tapestry here, scroll down to 'Transfer this design onto another product' and click on 'View All Products'. Once the design has been applied to your chosen product, you might then need to use the blue 'customize' button to change colors or resize the design to the best fit for the product. Note that I changed the background color to blue (color ref #1B2C65) and moved the text nearer to the top of the tapestry to allow space to position a table in front without it obscuring the design.

I'd suggest using a 'tapestry', available here, (shown below in blue but you can choose any background color) as a backdrop to a dessert / buffet table, which will create a focal point for your decorations. I'd recommend hanging a metallic silver foil curtain, available here, behind to fill an entire wall. Complete the look with a fitted table cover, available here, for a clean, modern feel and a few bunches of helium balloons either side and you won't really need many more decorations. You can buy them by color here, along with balloon weights and helium tanks, or check out some of the three-color balloon bouqets available here that include confetti balloons (just browse individual seller's stores for your desired color bouquet). Alternatively, if you're on a tighter budget, you can create a smaller backdrop by applying the design to a 'banner' like the 3ft x 5ft one below.

Remember: If you use a tapestry as a backdrop for a dessert / buffet table to create a focal point for your decorations, it can also double as a photo booth backdrop later on in the evening. Just move the table out of the way once people are done eating and there's enough blank space under the design for people to gather for photos; which will make a nice background/heading for all the shots.

Keep Calm 50th birthday backdrop
silver foil metallic curtain
blue and white balloons
custom Keep Calm 50th birthday banner

You can also roll-out the same design across all your other party supplies, such as paper plates, beer and wine bottle labels, and paper napkins. Just follow the instructions above for transferring the design to other products. It's these simple little touches that tie everything together that will give your party a slick, professional feel—and it's the kind of attention to detail that guests notice.

Custom Keep Calm party plates
Custom Keep Calm beer bottle labels
Custom Keep Calm wine bottle labels
Custom Keep Calm paper napkins

There's also a number of Keep Calm invitations, available here, which you can customize with your choice of color or text, or you can you transfer the design to a number of 50th birthday gifts, such as guest books, T shirt, mugs, baseball caps, and more.

Custom Keep Calm 50th birthday party invitations
Custom Keep Calm guest book
Custom Keep Calm T shirt
Custom Keep Calm mug

You could also go all-out with the British theme and serve Gin Tonics, Afternoon Tea (Tea served with delicate finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam, sweet pastries and cakes), Fish & Chips with mushy peas (battered fish with fries wrapped in newspaper, use these newsprint deli wrapper sheets here), sticky toffee pudding, spotted dick, and trifle. Check out traditional British recipes here for more ideas There are also lots of fun British party supplies available here, or check out various British themed printables here.

British flag party decorations
British theme standees
British theme photobooth props
British theme party decorations

The Manliest Man Bash

I came accross this article on Buzzfeed where they threw a lumberjack themed 'Bro-dal' Shower, because apparently those are a thing now(?!), and it gave me the idea for a tongue-in-cheek party theme; The Manliest Man Bash. Think beer, bacon, steak, cigars, whiskey, sports, cars, and more beer—in fact, throw in any sterotypically manly thing you can think of. Because it's done in such a knowingly ironic way, it can be as over-the-top and overtly masculine as you like. Grrrr.

Lumberjack themed Bro-dal shower
How to throw a bro-dal shower for dudes
lumberjack party food
lumberjack beard decorating

There are a few different lumberjack / beard / mustache party invitations aimed at adults, available here. Unfortunately, the 'Manliest Party Ever' invitation shown below have been discontinued but I've left it here for inspiration because I think it, along with the 'Manly Men Doing Things That Men Do' invitation, available here, both capture the tongue-in-cheek tone you want to aim for.

The Manliest Party Event birthday invitation
Manly Men Doing Things That Men Do invitation
Manly beard invitation
Lumberjack birthday invitation

This customizable plaid tapestry, available here, would make a great backdrop to a dessert / buffet table to give your party decorations a focal point. Alternatively, you could use this 4' wide x 30' long wood-effect decorating paper, available here, to create a backdrop and combine with a plaid tablecover, available here, and maybe a plush animal head, available here, for a bit of fun.

lumberjack backdrop wall tapestry
wood backdrop
lumberjack plaid tablecloth
moose head

Check out my various Pinterest boards for manly themed bites to serve, in particular Party Food: Beer, Party Food: Jack Daniels, Party Food: Hot & Savory, and Party Food: Stations Hot.

mini beer and burgers
bacon on a stick
beer brats
lumberjack party food

One quick and easy fix for party food is to set up a Chili Bar (check out my Pinterest board Party Food: Hot Food Stations here for more ideas). You can then use these plaid themed pots, available here, as bowls or these plaid themed party supplies, available here. Alternatively, there's even some fun tree trunk themed plates, available here, that would fit well with the lumberjack vibe.

chili bar party food
lumberjack plaid food containers
lumberjack plaid party plates
tree trunk party plates

There are lots of printable lumberjack signs and food tent labels, available here, and because you can customize the text you can play up the 'manliest man bash' theme a little more.

lumberjack party signs chili bar
lumberjack party signs
lumberjack party food tents
lumberjack party signs

Another fun touch is to use these lumberjack (available here) or beard (available here) cake toppers, available here, or these photo-based ones (shown below with a kid's photo, but you can use one of the birthday boy), available here. Finally, stock up a some cheap fake beards, available here, to give out as party favors—or send one out with each of your party invitations to really grab guest's attention.

lumberjack cupcake toppers
beard cupcake toppers
custom photo lumberjack cupcake toppers
fake beard





Vintage Dude

This Vintage Dude; The Man, The Myth, The Legend is another ready-made solution with a tasteful design if you just want a quick and easy solution.

Vintage Dude 50th birthday party supplies

For general Vintage Dude party supplies, such as plates, napkins, table covers, balloons, and garland banners, check out the range here. However, you can also pick up the full-length photobooth backdrops shown below (customizable for any age), available here, which you could also use as a backdrop to a dessert / buffet table to create a focal point for your decorations, then clear the table away later in the evening to use it as a photobooth backdrop. Alternatively, you can also get smaller banners, such as the example shown below, from the same supplier. I quite like the way they've displayed this on a wood background; it gives it a rustic, masculine feel, which you can recreate using this wood-effect decorating paper, available here, and a few rustic props, such as tin buckets filled with ice, nuts, old leather books, beer tankards, and wooden crates.

Vintage Dude 50th birthday party plates
black silver blue balloons
Vintage Dude 50th birthday backdrop
Vintage Dude dessert table backdrop

You can also get matching invitations—with or without photos of the birthday boy—available here, along with welcome signs to display at the entrace, available here, or ones that feature facts about the person, here. All of these items can be customized for any age.

Vintage Dude 50th birthday invitation
Vintage Dude custom photo invitation
Vintage Dude 50th birthday welcome sign
Vintage Dude 50th birthday sign

This design also includes other party supplies, such as bottle labels, cake toppers, stickers, and gift tags, check them out here, or a matching T shirt, available here, which would make a great 50th birthday gift. While not part of the same collection, these The Man, The Myth, The Legend balloons, would also work well with this design. Check them out here.

Vintage Dude bottle labels
Vintage Dude cake topper
The Man The Myth The Legend balloons
Vintage Dude T Shirt

Old Lives Matter

I thought this tongue-in-cheek nod to the Black Lives Matter logo was kind of an amusing way to gently poke fun at somone getting older without all the usual 'old as dirt' cliches. So, if the birthday boy has a sense of humor, this theme might be a good fit.

Old Lives Matter party theme
Old Lives Matter dessert table

This design can be applied to a range of different products to kit out your party. To do this, click on one of the products that features the design, such as this T shirt here, scroll down to 'Transfer this design onto another product' and click on 'View All Products'. Once the design has been applied to your chosen product, you might then need to use the blue 'customize' button to change text or resize the design to the best fit for the product. Note that I moved the text nearer to the top of the tapestry to allow space to position a table in front without it obscuring the design.

I'd suggest adding it to a 'tapestry', shown below, to use as a backdrop to a dessert / buffet table, which will create a focal point for your decorations. I'd recommend hanging a metallic silver foil curtain, available here, behind to fill an entire wall. Complete the look with a fitted table cover, available here, for a clean, modern feel and a few bunches of helium balloons either side and you won't really need many more decorations. You can buy them by color here, along with balloon weights and helium tanks, or check out some of the three-color balloon bouqets available here that include transparent confetti balloons (just browse individual seller's stores for your desired color bouquet). Alternatively, if you're on a tighter budget, you can create a smaller backdrop by applying the design to a 'banner' like the 3ft x 5ft one below.

Remember: If you use a tapestry as a backdrop for a dessert / buffet table to create a focal point for your decorations, it can also double as a photo booth backdrop later on in the evening. Just move the table out of the way once people are done eating and there's enough blank space under the design for people to gather for photos; which will make a nice background/heading for all the shots.

Old Lives Matter backdrop tapestry
silver foil metallic curtain
black and white balloons
Old Lives Matter banner

You can also roll-out the same design across all your other party supplies, such as paper plates, beer and wine bottle labels, and paper napkins. Just follow the instructions above for transferring the design to other products. It's these simple little touches that tie everything together that will give your party a slick, professional feel—and it's the kind of attention to detail that guests notice.

Old Lives Matter paper plates
Old Lives Matter beer bottle labels
Old Lives Matter wine bottle labels
Old Lives Matter paper napkins

In addition to party supplies, you can also add the design to some fun 50th birthday gifts, from guest books and T shirts, to baseball caps and mugs.

Old Lives Matter T shirt
Old Lives Matter guest book
Old Lives Matter party hat
Old Lives Matter mug





This Kid is 50!

This supplier has an excellent range of tasteful designs—in numerous color schemes and patterns—all of which can be customized for any age birthday. Products include invitations, welcome signs, banners, centerpiece sticks, cake toppers, party signs, straw flags, wine / water labels, cups, food tent, favor tags, customized menus, napkin wraps, thank you notes, and more. Check out the full range here.

This Kid is 50 party sign
Cheers to 50 years party supplies
Cheers to 50 years party supplies
Cheers to 50 years wine bottle labels
Cheers to 50 years water labels
Cheers to 50 years napkin wraps
Cheers to 50 years cake topper

Black and Gold

The same party designer also has a range of products that use a chic black and gold theme, which again, can be customized for any age. Check out the full range here.

Black and Gold Vintage 50th birthday supplies
Black and Gold Vintage 50th birthday supplies
Black and Gold Vintage 50th birthday banner and centerpiece
Black and Gold Vintage 50th birthday welcome sign
Black and Gold Vintage 50th birthday centerpieces
Black and Gold Vintage 50th birthday decorations
Black and Gold Vintage 50th birthday drinks straws

Blue

I particularly like this blue and black collection, available here , and this navy and gray collection, available here from the same designer, both of which can be customized for any age.

Blue and White Vintage 50th birthday supplies
Blue and White Vintage 50th birthday supplies
Blue and White Vintage 50th birthday supplies
Blue and White Vintage 50th birthday party decorations
Blue and White Vintage 50th birthday cake topper
Blue and White Vintage 50th birthday drinks straws
50 years ago party sign

50 Rocks

I'm not typically a big fan of jokey milestone birthday themes, like '50 rocks' and '50 sucks', but I do like the way they've given this 50 Rocks theme a more stylish and sophisticated look with the guitar motif. Check it out here, along with some other red and black designs, available here. Like all the other designs, this can be customized for any age.

50 Rocks birthday party supplies
50 Rocks birthday party supplies
50 Rocks birthday party supplies
50 Rocks birthday party supplies
50 Rocks birthday banner
50 Rocks cupcake toppers
50 Rocks party decorations

You can also request this theme in different colors, such as the examples below.

50 Rocks party decorations
50 Rocks party cups
50 Rocks party cups
50 Rocks cupcake toppers

Rhythm and Brews

This Rhythm and Brews design is a cute idea for a lover of music and beer, and I particularly like the unusual color palette. Again, it can be customized for any age. Check it out here. Update: This design doesn't seem to be featured in their store anymore, but you can just message them and request a custom listing for whichever items you want in this design.

Rhythm and Brews party welcome sign
Trust me you can dance party sign
Rhythm and Brews party decorations
Drink great beer with great friends party sign
Rhythm and Brews party decorations
Rhythm and Brews party cups
Through the Years photo centerpiece

BBQ

This design is perfect if you're just doing something casual to celebrate—like a BBQ—but you still want to tie everything together to make it feel more special than an everyday cook-out. Like all the other examples, it can be customized for any age. Check it out here. Update: This design doesn't seem to be featured in their store anymore, but you can just message them and request a custom listing for whichever items you want in this design.

BBQ theme milestone birthday party supplies
BBQ theme milestone birthday party welcome sign
BBQ theme milestone birthday banner
BBQ theme milestone birthday 50 years ago facts sign
BBQ theme milestone birthday party decorations
BBQ theme milestone birthday food tents
BBQ theme milestone birthday stickers

Golf PAR-TEE

For golf lovers of any age, the same designer also has this cute collection available. Check it out here.

Golf Par-Tee milestone birthday decorations
Golf Par-Tee milestone birthday welcome sign
Golf Par-Tee milestone birthday cake topper
Golf Par-Tee milestone birthday party cups
Golf Par-Tee milestone birthday banner
Golf Par-Tee milestone birthday food tents
Golf Par-Tee milestone birthday centerpieces
Golf Par-Tee milestone birthday favor tags
Golf Par-Tee milestone birthday cupcake toppers
Golf Par-Tee milestone birthday water bottle labels
Golf Par-Tee 50 years ago facts sign

Through the Years

One of the things I always recommend with milestone birthdays is to focus on celebrating the person, not just their age. So when I came across these photos of a 60th birthday party, below left, where they'd created a 'Through the Years' style backdrop using photos of the person at different stages of her life, I thought this could make a lovely theme for any milestone birthday celebration. You can create something similar using these photo collage-style tapestries, as you can see in the mock up I created below 'Celebrating Eighty'. You can customize the tapestry with your own text and colors—and even remove the bottom row of images if you want to position a buffet / dessert table in front (although I would keep all the photos and just hang it higher). There are other photo collage tapestries available that you could also customize, such as the example below that I customized with the text 'Cheers to 40 years'. Check out all the options here.

Through the Years photo backdrop
 
Through the Years photo collage tapestry backdrop
 
photo collage tapestry backdrop
 

Another way to decorate larger areas is to use these custom photo banners to create a 'Through the Years' collage using pictures of the birthday boy or girl at various stages of their life. The 'Jim's 60th Birthday' example below left is a mock up I created using this template, available here, which is available in lots of different sizes. Just click on the 'Customize It' option to upload your photos and change the text and colors.

Alternatively, there's a larger range of different photo banners, such as the others featured below, available here, or click on any of the photos below to see that particular design. Note: These banners are available in different sizes and some were originally for graduations but I just clicked on the "personalize" option, scrolled down to the bottom of the list of photos, and selected "click to customize further" to change the text and colors.

Through the Years photo collage banner


Through the Years photo collage banner
Through the Years photo collage banner

These custom photo collage paper plates are a great way to create really personal 'Through the Years' style party supplies by uploading photos of the birthday boy at different stages of their life. They're also far more special than the regular store-bought 50th birthday party supplies emblazoned with 3-0. There are a number of different designs available, depending on how many photos you want to include, and you can just use the 'Personalize' to change colors, fonts, and text. Check out all the options here.

Through the Years photo collage paper plates
Through the Years photo collage paper plates
Through the Years photo collage paper plates
Through the Years photo collage paper plates

You can also buy these 'Through the Years' photo centerpieces, which can also be used in vases to decorate a buffet / dessert table or as centerpieces. Check them out here.

Through the Years photo centerpiece
Through the Years photo centerpiece
Through the Years photo centerpiece

These photo yard signs would make a great entrance to a 50th birthday party. Although the example photos below were for a graduation party, you could easily use these to celebrate the birthday boy 'through the years'. It's always fun to see old photos of loved ones when they were younger—that perhaps many of their friends have never seen before. Just use the 'customize it' tool to change the text and colors to whatever you want, as I have with the mock up below showing the different stages of someone's life. They come as either a set of 6 or 15, with the set of 6 only $30 so it's a pretty inexpensive way to create a big first impression as guests arrive. Check them out here.

Through the Years photo yard signs
Through the Years photo yard signs
Through the Years photo yard signs

Straight Outta My forties / the 60's

If the birthday boy has a sense of humor, this is another unusal party theme, which you can customize as either 'Straight Outta My Forties' or 'Straight Outta The 60's'.

Straight Outta My Forties party theme
Straight Outta My Forties dessert table

This design can be applied to a range of different products to kit out your party. To do this, click on one of the products that features the design, such as this T shirt here, scroll down to 'Transfer this design onto another product' and click on 'View All Products'. Once the design has been applied to your chosen product, you might then need to use the blue 'customize' button to change text or resize the design to the best fit for the product. Note that I moved the text nearer to the top of the tapestry to allow space to position a table in front without it obscuring the design.

I'd suggest adding it to a 'tapestry', shown below, to use as a backdrop to a dessert / buffet table, which will create a focal point for your decorations. I'd recommend hanging a metallic silver foil curtain, available here, behind to fill an entire wall. Complete the look with a fitted table cover, available here, for a clean, modern feel and a few bunches of helium balloons either side and you won't really need many more decorations. You can buy them by color here, along with balloon weights and helium tanks, or check out some of the three-color balloon bouqets available here that include transparent confetti balloons (just browse individual seller's stores for your desired color bouquet). Alternatively, if you're on a tighter budget, you can create a smaller backdrop by applying the design to a 'banner' like the 3ft x 5ft one below.

Remember: If you use a tapestry as a backdrop for a dessert / buffet table to create a focal point for your decorations, it can also double as a photo booth backdrop later on in the evening. Just move the table out of the way once people are done eating and there's enough blank space under the design for people to gather for photos; which will make a nice background/heading for all the shots.

Straight Outta My Forties backdrop
silver metallic foil curtain
black and white balloons
Straight Outta My Forties banner

You can also roll-out the same design across all your other party supplies, such as paper plates, beer and wine bottle labels, and paper napkins. Just follow the instructions above for transferring the design to other products. It's these simple little touches that tie everything together that will give your party a slick, professional feel—and it's the kind of attention to detail that guests notice.

Straight Outta The 60's party plates
Straight Outta The 60's beer bottle labels
Straight Outta The 60's wine bottle labels
Straight Outta The 60's paper napkins

In addition to party supplies, you can also add the design to some fun 50th birthday gifts, from guest books and T shirts, to baseball caps and mugs. While not part of the same collection, you can also get these Straight Outta balloon sets for any year, available here, which would also work well with this theme.

Straight Outta The 60's guest book
Straight Outta My Forties T Shirt
Straight Outta My Forties party hat
Straight Outta custom balloons


02

More 50th birthday party ideas


50th Birthday Ideas for Men & Women

While this page deals with 50th birthday party themes for men, you can also check out my main page of 50th birthday party ideas here (for men and women!) which contains lots of creative ideas—including party themes, countdown ideas, invitations, food & drink, decorations, gifts, and ways to include memories, surprises, and thoughtful ideas to make them feel special on the day.

50th birthday photo collage
50th Birthday photo collage
50 Reasons We Love You
50 Reasons We Love You
50 years of Memories
50 years of Memories
Birthday slideshow
Birthday slideshow


Decoration ideas on the main 50th birthday party page include custom photo fan faces of the birthday boy or girl, custom pinatas, photo garland banners, and life size cut outs.

fan faces
Fan faces
personalized Pinata
Personalized Pinata
custom photo banner
Custom Photo Banner
custom life size standee
Custom life-size standee


Food and drink ideas on the main page include custom photo cupcake toppers, custom photo M&M's, custom cookies, and personalized beer and wine labels.

Custom photo cupcake toppers
Custom photo cupcake toppers
Personalized M&M's
Personalized M&M's
Custom cookies
Custom Cookies
personalized bottle labels
Personalized bottle labels






03

Group Activities

Not everyone wants to celebrate their 50th birthday with a traditional party. Many people prefer to get a bunch of friends and/or family together for some sort of group activity. Just going out for dinner isn't special enough for a 50th birthday, so instead plan something a bit more adventurous or out of the ordinary.

When I'm buying someone a birthday gift, I try to choose something that they wouldn't ordinarily buy for themselves—so that it feels more like a treat or indulgence. I suggest taking the same approach when choosing a group activity to celebrate their birthday. Plan something you think they'll enjoy, but is not something they do often (or have ever done before!). This will create unique memories associated with their milestone birthday!

So check out some of the more creative and unusual group activties and experiences below that lend themselves to a 50th birthday celebration for men.

50th birthday ideas for men

Fun & Games

For fun-loving big kids (aren't most men?!), there are lots of theatrical and immersive group experiences, games, and challenges which would make for a truely unique and memorable 50th birthday activity. 'Doing stuff' together as a part of a group—rather than just standing around drinking and making small talk—always raises everyone's spirits. It allows people to bond with each other over a shared experience and generally ensures that they all 'let go' and get stuck in.

crime scene adventure
Crime Scene Adventure
Private Wakeboard Lesson for 6
Private Wakeboard Lesson for 6
escape from death row
Escape from Death Row
plan a heist
Plan a Heist


Some of the 50th birthday ideas for men in the fun & games category, that are suitable for groups, include:

  • Escape from death row
  • crime scene adventures
  • Paintballing
  • Bulldozer adventure playground days
Find These Activities & more here
  • plan a heist
  • davinci's gold scavenger hunt
  • the illuminati hunt
  • Murder mystery dinner / cruise

Unfortunately, not all activities are available in every city, but to check availability in your area and to book places, click on the link above. These are just a small selection so if you can't find a particular activity in your area, you might discover some new ones.



Food & Drink

So many 50th birthday celebrations just fall back on the same old boring idea of booking a table a fancy restaurant for a group dinner. Snore! Instead, if the birthday boy is a foodie, get a group of friends together to try something a little more creative—something you wouldn't just do any night of the week. Believe me, you're guests will thank you. No one gets that excited by yet another big birthday dinner (at that restaurant you just went to last week). Plus, a lot of these experiences allow for more socializing, so your guests are not just stuck at a dinner table chatting to the same two people all evening!

brewery tours
Brewery Tours
cooking party at home
Cooking Party in Your Home
craft beer & artisinal cheese tasting
Craft Beer & Artisinal Cheese Tasting
chef's table tour
Chef's Table Tour


Some of the 50th birthday ideas for men in the food & drink category, that are suitable for groups, include:

  • Craft Beer and Artisanal Cheese Tasting
  • chef's table tour: dine & meet the chef's at 5 restaurants
  • sushi making party for 10 at home
  • cocktail mixing class
  • wine tasting party in your home (up to 20 people)
Find These Activities & more here
  • the personal chef experience: host the ultimate dinner party
  • spend a day with a master sommelier
  • champagne tasting & sabering
  • a Private wine education tour
  • indian cooking class

Unfortunately, not all activities are available in every city, but to check availability in your area and to book places, click on the link above. These are just a small selection so if you can't find a particular activity in your area, you might discover some new ones.





outdoor & adrenaline

These outdoor and adrenaline activities are a great way to induldge in something completely different. No one is going to roll their eyes and think 'urgh, not again' with one of these group activities.

moonlit ziplining
Moonlit Ziplining & Canopy Tours
dude ranch adventure days
Dude Ranch Adventure Days
Accelerated Free Fall Sky Diving
Accelerated Free Fall Sky Diving
snowmobile tours
Snowmobile Tours


Some of the 50th birthday ideas for men in the outdoor & adrenaline category, that are suitable for groups, include:

  • Zipline and canopy tours (inc moonlit options)
  • dude ranch adventures
  • rodeo bull riding
  • wilderness & survival clinics (inc overnight survival trip)
  • Falconry hunting experiences
  • hike with adoptable hounds
Find These Activities & more here
  • Accelerated free fall skydive
  • zipline & microbrew tour
  • whitewater / night vision rafting
  • snowmobile tours
  • group river paddleboarding
  • Beginner's mountain climbing adventure

Unfortunately, not all activities are available in every city, but to check availability in your area and to book places, click on the link above. These are just a small selection so if you can't find a particular activity in your area, you might discover some new ones.



tours

Tours are a great way to keep a group entertained; as you move from stop to stop, everyone is constantly stimulated by new things to see, taste, or learn about. Often, these tours operate in your own town, but they're the type of activities that local residents just never get around to trying—so a birthday celebration is a great excuse.

zombie tours
Zombie Tours
mad men cocktail tour
Mad Men Cocktail Tour
segway tours
Segway Tours
hike and howl at a wolf preserve
Hike and Howl at a Wolf Preserve


Some of the 50th birthday ideas for men in the tours category, that are suitable for groups, include:

  • zombie tours
  • brewery / winery / whiskey tours
  • Cave tours
  • segway tours (inc night time options)
  • hike & howl at a wild wolf preserve
  • architectural tours
Find These Activities & more here
  • mad men cocktail tours
  • latin flavors food & culture tour
  • 3 day wine tasting / boat & brew kayak tour
  • ethnic eats food tour
  • jet ski adventure tours
  • horse drawn sleigh & dine ride

Unfortunately, not all activities are available in every city, but to check availability in your area and to book places, click on the link above. These are just a small selection so if you can't find a particular activity in your area, you might discover some new ones.



learn & discovery

The learn & discovering category is all about trying someting that you've never done before—and probably wouldn't have if someone hadn't organised it for you! Some of these are pretty 'out there' unique experiences (train to be an action hero!), while others offer an introduction to a hobby or activity the birthday boy might have expressed an interest in—but never actually gotten around to doing. So make it happen for them!

Hunter's Preperation Training Day
Hunter's Preperation Training Day
Open Fall Stunt Diving Class
Open Fall Stunt Diving Class
Group Introductory DJ Lesson
Group Introductory DJ Lesson
Action Hero Training Day
Action Hero Stunt Training Day


Some of the 50th birthday ideas for men in the learn & discovery category, that are suitable for groups, include:

  • circus school days
  • hunters preperation training day
  • introduction to sailing
  • introduction to snowboarding
  • open fall stunt diving class
Find These Activities & more here
  • group introductory dj lesson
  • group surfing class
  • beginner's kayaking
  • action hero training
  • introduction to fly fishing

Unfortunately, not all activities are available in every city, but to check availability in your area and to book places, click on the link above. These are just a small selection so if you can't find a particular activity in your area, you might discover some new ones.





drive

Men love to drive stuff. It's that simple. Especially if it goes really fast and/or they can't afford to buy one themelves. And if it fulfills a secret fantasy and lets them pretend to be someone else for a day (race car driver / stunt man / spy) then even better.

hummer tours
Hummer Tours
Learn to Drive Like a Spy
Learn to Drive Like a Spy
ATV quad bike adventures
ATV (Quad Bike) Adventures
NASCAR Stock Car Driving
NASCAR Stock Car Driving


Some of the 50th birthday ideas for men in the drive category, that are suitable for groups, include:

  • nascar stock car driving
  • exotic car driving (lamborghini / ferrari / corvette etc)
  • motorbike tours
  • stunt driving school
Find These Activities & more here
  • learn to drive like a spy
  • jeep tours (wineries / desert / national parks etc)
  • hummer tours (mountain / forest / desert)
  • atv (quad bike) adventures

Unfortunately, not all activities are available in every city, but to check availability in your area and to book places, click on the link above. These are just a small selection so if you can't find a particular activity in your area, you might discover some new ones.



fly

For non boy-racers, the fly category offers a more gentle experience for groups to see and explore, plus they're often combined with other things such as wine tastings, jeep tours, and dining. If you are holding a more traditional group dinner at a restaurant, why not start off by taking everyone for champagne in a hot air ballon or helicopter beforehand—it's any easy way to make the occasion more special and memorable.

Hot Air Balloon Ride & Wine Tour
Hot Air Balloon Ride & Wine Tour
Helicopter Tours
Helicopter Tours
Zero Gravity Flight Experience
Zero Gravity Flight Experience
Cessna & Jeep Tour & Dine
Cessna & Jeep Tour & Dine


Some of the 50th birthday ideas for men in the fly category, that are suitable for groups, include:

  • champagne hot air balloon flight
  • zero gravity flight experience
  • night time / celebrity homes helicopter tours
Find These Activities & more here
  • cessna & jeep tour and dine
  • scenic / sunset / coastal helicopter tours
  • hot air balloon ride & wine tour

Unfortunately, not all activities are available in every city, but to check availability in your area and to book places, click on the link above. These are just a small selection so if you can't find a particular activity in your area, you might discover some new ones.



water

Fortunately, water activities range from the extreme and immersive (cage diving with great white sharks) to the more leisurely and relaxed (lobster and beer sail), so there's something for pretty much everyone.

Cage Diving with Great White Sharks
Cage Diving with Great White Sharks
White Water Rafting
White Water Rafting
Tall Ship Sail & Beer Tasting Tour
Tall Ship Sail & Beer Tasting Tour
Paddle & Brewery Tour
Paddle & Brewery Tour


Some of the 50th birthday ideas for men in the water category, that are suitable for groups, include:

  • cage diving with great white sharks
  • tall ship sail & beer tasting tour
  • dolphin tours
  • schooner wine tasting tour
  • white water rafting
  • sunset cocktail / dinner cruise
Find These Activities & more here
  • sushi & saki sunset sail
  • lobster & beer sail
  • wine & cheese tasting cruise
  • paddle (canoe / kayak / BOARD) & brewery tour
  • beer & bbq riverboat cruise
  • sunday brunch sail

Unfortunately, not all activities are available in every city, but to check availability in your area and to book places, click on the link above. These are just a small selection so if you can't find a particular activity in your area, you might discover some new ones.





More 50th Birthday Ideas for Men

Check out my other page of 50th Birthday Ideas (for men and women) for more tips and suggestions including party themes, countdown ideas, invitations, food & drink, decorations, gifts, and ways to include memories, surprises, and thoughtful ideas to make them feel special on the day.

Passport to Fifty 50th birthday party invitation
custom doll
custom face cookie cutters
too late to die young balloons




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Many thanks

Matt



50th birthday ideas for men


About Matt James

Matt James is a professional event planner and owner of event agency Left Field Productions, which has produced events for Elton John, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kevin Spacey, Stella McCartney, David LaChapelle, John Waters, and Elvis Costello & Diana Krall. Since 2004, Left Field Productions has won 30 industry awards for excellence including Production Company of the Year.


matt james

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  • 50th Birthday Ideas for Men

    by an award-winning professional party planner