Okay so my dear husband will be 50 this September. Originally I was going to throw a surprise party but as the day gets closer his friends keep bringing up the occasion, so we decided (DH & I) he will be aware of said party. Big question: What kind or where? He really doesn't like to do outdoors things, he loves movies but is basically a home body, he does enjoy going out to dinner (yeah me)

I really didn't want a party at the house, sit and stare at each other, same for restaurant. I thought of a bowling party but he doesnt want that either.

Any suggestions are appreciated.

couple of quick questions:
how many people will you invite?
mostly friends or family?
coworkers?
adults or adults and kids?
What kind of budget (extravagant or simple?)

Probably one of the best parties I was at was for my brother's 40th birthday. We "roasted" him like they do on comedy channel. Gotta have some thick skin to do that but it was fun and he loved it.

What about a comedy club? Something at the beach (are you near a beach?)

Do u have video camera? Can u make a movie of short funny memories ? Act some out?

I threw myself a party for a 5 year old for my 50th. I invited some kids from church that I had known since birth to The Bear Mill and we had a party!

Well I was 60 last Sept and gave myself a party The one I wanted. LOL
Since I was bornin 1950 I had a 50's theme. I amde my poodle shirk, had saddle oxfords, scarf around my neck, ring, etc.
Everyone was aksed to dress in blue jeans tshirt sleeves rolled
up. hair slicked back etc.
I ahd a dj and he played all 50's music rock and roll. The decor on the walls were posters that said rock and roll. etc
We had a hula hoop contest, a twist contest etc.
Food was bar b que , pot salad, etc. The fixins were avail
to make root beer floats.
each place setting had a mini 45 record, individual bags of pea nuts, and 8 oz cokes { they odnt make 6 oz ones now}
the center of each table either had a paper juke box or record.
colors used were turquoise and black.
for each guest They were able to have there pic taken b4 the party in front of a 56 chevy Bel air, turquoise in color.
Maybe you can adapt the 60's {what was popular} in these ideas.
There is tons of stuff to order on line.
Also each place setting had a small paper bag of 50's candy, ie candy cigarettes, brown cows? etc.
Hope this helps get your creative juices flowing .
PM me if you need web site infor. I will try to dig it up.

also my brothers roasted me. LOL

you could set up an in home movie theatre and play movies from the 60's,. "Sell candy, popcorn,drinks" invitations could be movie tickets, then have a chinese food buffet. have leis, fruity drinks, etc.

Great ideas so far, keep em coming. To answer some of the questions it will be a mixed group, adults and teens. Friends , family and coworkers approx 40 people. Haven't thought about a budget. All the men in his family have passed away in their four ties various conditions, but this is still a big milestone we are looking forward to so I want it to be special.

how about a game night with 'movie trivia'

how about a [can't think of the name] hunt, have to go find a list of items.

scavenger?

LOL, of course that's it!

You could combine the scavenger hunt and movie night...choose his favorite movie and have a scavenger hunt for things from the movie,then when you all get back...show the movie and have popcorn and movie food...our fav family movie is the western Tombstone...so we would look for things like playing cards, cowboy hats, trains, bandanas, shot glass, etc...then probably have brisket and baked beans...I may just have to do this myself, sounds like fun!! lol

Could also surprise him before the "real" movie by having a powerpoint "movie" of pictures of him over the past 50 years.

Great ideas, I did think about a surprise before the party. I like the PowerPoint movie of photos of him idea. That's something I can do prior to the actual party that he would enjoy.

Doing a party where it's a 60's theme is also a good idea.

I like this one too. He would really enjoy a movie theme birthday.

For a friends 50th, I got pictures of her as a child and put them on tee shirts and gave one to each guest as they arrived to wear. It was very funny for all of us and even the birthday girl found humor in it!!!

How about finding a restaurant where there is a bit of entertainment on the side? My friends and I sometimes go to one where there is 'Bollywood Shows' during the night. We also go to others where there is stand up comedians and folk singers etc. It's fun.

Is there a AAA ballpark nearby? We have a really excellent minor-league baseball team, and it's always good family entertainment. They have a few "party decks" you can rent. Maybe there's something similar near you?

We just had a grand 50th for my daughter. We rented a party room at some condos where her BF lives. We had BBQ, food and drink. The best of all was the video her friends and I put together. We all gathered favorite old pics of her and the video played all night. There was a DJ with dancing. She took dancing lessons for 14 years so I made lots of tutus for the girls to wear. Old high school friends from 200 miles away were there = a real celebration! Hope yours is as much fun.

do a movie themed party for him--with a focus on movies from the 60s. lots of popcorn, twizzlers, coke, orange soda, junior mints, etc. rent a few old movies from then and have them on the tube in the background, and encourage folks to dress the time--i remember having the "baldies and greasers", the "arts crowd", the beginnings of the hippies, the ROTC kids...there are lots of possibilities.

and neena, your idea about the scavenger hunt is brilliant! i hadn't read the whole thread--but you're right--this sounds like fun. my hubby will be 70 this year--could be a good start planning for his!

When I turned 50, my kids and I met my mother halfway between us and had dinner. I had spent the day at the hospital with a friend haveing surgery. When we got home about 11:30 pm there was a 4x16 foot sign nailed to the side of the house with the "lordy...." with a spotlight on it. Inside was my sister ROFL. Great way to end a tense day.

Here is a strange one for you ... what about a murder mystery party? There are lots of ideas online for this.

well, perhaps a backyard BBQ. Yoy don't want it at your house; so how about at his parents, siblings or the city park with some corn hole, horse shoes a few coolers with drinks. Sept is still nice or you could have it 2 weeks ahead of his birthday and surprise him. do you have a local ball team? all could go to a game together and grab a pizza together. then you have it all out of your home.

How about a blown up picture of his face put on cardboard and a stick attached so it can be used a a mask for guests. or a pic of him on paper and cut up like a puzzle and folks can race to put them together. Pic of him on the cake.

Years ago, we were invited to a 50th birthday party and the theme was "Half A Century". We were asked to bring gifts that were "half" of something. I wrapped up one house shoe. Of course, we gave him the other one later.

Had 70th B-day party for my husband last year. On invite I said "Bad news is we ask that you bring a small gift
Good news is - you can't spend more than 70 cents on it!"
Please give to him so he can see how thoughtful his
family & friends are!"
Everyone had a ball finding something for that amount and he enjoyed seeing what all they thought of!!! I served walking tacos & B-day cake so people could mill around & visit. We did it in our garage & driveway. I got this idea from a gal sho's husband had his 57 B-day & she ask people to bring gift with receipt to show they had kept the right price!!! Just an idea.
My husband received 70 new pennies, playdoh, gift card with 70 cents left on it, washer & dryer(paper towel square with a washer slid down it!) golf putter made out of a tree limb, walnuts painted like golf balls & many more fun things.

I had a small surprise party for my husband when he turned 50. I used the back room of one of our favorite eating places that had buffet and I picked up the tab at the end of it. Less than $100 and no mess to clean up, no food to cook and etc was well worth it. Had everyone bring 50 type gag gift and my grown son took movies we all ate talked opened gifts and etc. Sorry to say my husband with dead with cancer, we did not know about, two years later, so glad I had party for him to celebrate.

You are all so creative, I may have to incorporate all the ideas to make a fabulous party.

Quilting jaguar: I'm sorry for your loss. Cancer is a horrible illness.