what are some good 50th birthday party ideas?

Question

the party is for my ex. we do still get along and have many of the same friends and my daughter wants to throw him a surprise bday pty at my house. he's 70s all the way, most people think he's jerry garcia. any ideas, the big day is in july, so we are thinkin bbq something ????

Answer 1

I'm hosting a 50th birthday party for my parents this year and the theme is "morgue." I'm going to ask people to come wearing black, play organ music, that sort of thing. Not very 70-ish but it should be fun!

Answer 2

Hire a Grateful Dead tribute band, get a tent, do the barbecue, and invite everyone.

Theme: Tie-Dye Summer / Woodstock in the back yard.

Here is what I've found, so far for the St. Louis area:

Tribute Bands:
http://www.theschwag.com/index.php

http://www.gigmasters.com/TributeBand/GratefulDeadTributeBand_StLouis_MO.asp

70's Party Supplies:
http://allabout.makesparties.com/Catalog.aspx?intDisplayableCategoryID=879

http://www.showyourpizzazz.com/PartyIdeas/seventies.html

Tents:
http://www.premierpartyrentals.com/tent-pictures.shtml
http://www.gatheringguide.com/event_directory/mo_missouri/vendor_party_rentals_tents_1060.html

I have a feeling that any guy this cool does not want to hear Neil Diamond (unless it's the early stuff) or see a cake screaming "50" on it.

As far as food goes, make sure his favorite dish is there, and if you have enough great friends, ask them to all bring a tray (in leui of a gift) of something as long as they tell you what it is so you don't end up with 45 trays of spinach dip.

Add the idea from Golden (below), and you have the perfect party.

Hope you all have a blast.

Answer 3

50 Birthday Party Ideas

Answer 4

Work fast for this idea! Contact as many of his old friends, teachers, coaches, relatives, etc by mail as soon as possible. Enclose a brief note explaining "Jerry's turning 50...please send back a birthday wish, funny story or a fond memory and we will make sure he gets it at his surprise party." Enclose two pieces of stationery and SAS envelope. State date due! Take the messages (include people that will attend the party too) put them in identical envelopes. Mix them up and keep them close at hand, but hidden from "Jerry" the day/nite of the party. Throughout the nite, enlist others to sneak an envelope here and there to "Jerry". Example, one magically appears on his beer while he's not looking. He won't know where they are coming from, much less who has written the message till he opens it. Neither will you! I did this for my husband and got him back in touch with friends he hadn't heard from in many years. Use his folks if possible for addresses you might not have, I guess this would even work with e-mails. The fun is not knowing who the next one will be from, or when, or where it will appear. Best of Luck Takes some effort and love to do, but very inexpensive but priceless! Depending on her age, your daughter could be a big help with this, if not totally in charge! How sweet to come from her.

Answer 5

If sup rise birthday party..if you can afford ...live band is a good idea playing music from 70's. Or a game where all couples stand in circle alternating male - female. Blindfold party boy and turn him three four turns and ask him to go towards a male.
Without touching he should point a male. If he doe, then that male person is out. Then a female ...and vice verso.
Its going to be fun, laughter, as well some mingling of male female.

Answer 6

You could either do a 1956 themed party or do a 70's theme party. 70's would probably be more fun for him since he is into that! Everybody could dress up, play the grateful dead, do Lot's of Tye dye , bell bottoms etc. Buy some cherry Garcia ice cream for the cake. Good luck!

Answer 7

I'll be doing the same thing but for my brother soon. I plan on finding some photos of him when he was a kid and blowing them up larger for kicks to show everyone. Plus getting some gag gifts from back in the 70's and a cake with 50 candles that cant be blown out, cause they keep staying lit. Have fun.

Answer 8

My 2 daughters gave me a surprise 50th! They emailed or mailed invites to all my friends & family. Then they made a large display of alot of my memorabilia, pictures, old high school year books, my military picture (25 yrs old). Then they played some old music (Beatles, Neil Diamond, etc.). Decorated the hall in purple & black. Asked some friends to help bring food dishes. They had some friends of mine pretend to be taking me out to eat, then go back to church hall to get some music she forgot, and asked me to unlock the church (since I had the key). SURPRISE!!! What a great time. Some pictures I was embarrased to have my friends see (really old pics)!! What a grand time though!! Never underestimate your children.

Answer 9

make two cakes, one is a five one is a zero. put 50 candles total ont he two cakes. ppl have just had bbq, so u need to be original with the bbg. chineses sausage is good. give out burger patties ONLY, then a table with bowls of condiments for it, include english rolls and regular buns as condiments. have music from his time and some from this time, but make sure all music is (mostly) enjoyed by all. have DANCING! ballroom, though. have sum1 perpose a toast to him with the soda (have all sorts of differents sodas). have fingers, too.

Answer 10

Hire a band? or DJ something with 70's themed music??
have your daughter print out 70's pictures and hang them up
Have allot of finger foods so your cool guests can MINGLE..

Tell everyone to dress 70's it is all in fashion now with the wedge shoes etc.. cool colors.. BOLD colors..

ENJOY!!