[Make It a Day to Remember] A Collection of Ideas to Liven Up a Birthday Party!
Here are some ideas to make your birthday party even more exciting!
A typical birthday party has blowing out candles, eating cake, and giving presents.
But don’t you think it would be even more fun if you added surprising twists, performances that wow everyone, and memorable activities?
We’ve gathered plenty of ideas that everyone—from kids to adults—will enjoy, such as handmade items, games everyone can join, and touching surprises.
Feel free to use them as inspiration!
Since birthdays come only once a year, take your time and create unforgettable moments together with everyone!
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[A Day to Remember] A Collection of Ideas to Liven Up Birthday Parties! (41–50)
A message from the box of sweets
Hiding a message card inside a snack is a great surprise because you can hand it over naturally without raising suspicion.
Simply open the package from a spot different from the main opening, slip the card in, and use double-sided tape to restore it so it looks unopened—easy, right? Just be careful: if the box looks warped, it’s more likely to give you away.
If a casually given snack contains a congratulatory message, the birthday person will probably feel twice the joy.
Balloon time bomb
Let’s play with a balloon time bomb that will get both adults and kids excited! Set a balloon on top of the time bomb and wind the timer, and the balloon will gradually inflate.
When it reaches its limit, it pops—just like a time bomb.
Try using it for games: after answering in games like the Yamanote Line game or song shiritori, pass the balloon time bomb to the next person.
Just having the balloon time bomb makes the game many times more exciting than usual! The person who gets the ‘explosion’ should do a penalty challenge!
Celebrate with the star’s mask
Some people prefer surprises that pack a punch.
Here’s a suggestion: a surprise using a mask of the person you want to celebrate.
First, prepare a photo of them, enlarge it, and cut out the face.
Then reinforce it with cardboard to finish it as a mask.
Make lots of these, and if everyone wears one to celebrate, they’ll be truly stunned.
The bold look will also pop in commemorative photos.
Start by choosing a great photo of their face.
Surprise movie
One thing that’s sure to liven up a birthday is a “surprise movie.” Even without a complex, grand storyline, just having everyone appear and celebrate is enough to make it heartwarming.
And if you save it or upload it to YouTube, it will remain a wonderful memory for everyone who took part and, as time goes by, become a treasured keepsake.
Slipper relay
The slipper relay is a simple yet exciting game where you pass a slipper to the next person using only your toes—no hands allowed.
It’s easy to join, but there’s surprising depth: deciding exactly when to pass the slipper and at what angle to receive it with your foot takes real thought.
That delicate tension instantly energizes the whole venue.
Another plus is how easy it is to prepare—you only need a single slipper.
It’s perfect for large groups, and you can freely adjust the difficulty by tweaking the rules.
Definitely consider adding it as one of your program’s activities!
Homemade bento as a present
How about a heartwarming surprise with a homemade bento? The contents can be anything, but it’s nice to tie them to a birthday or to the person themselves.
For example, you could recreate a birthday cake in the style of a character bento, or pack it full of their favorite foods.
This is a surprise you can pull off either by yourself or with a group of friends.
Beforehand, don’t forget to tell them, “Don’t bring a lunch tomorrow!” Alternatively, you could focus mainly on desserts.
Juggling
When you hear “juggling,” you might strongly associate it with street performers’ acts, but if you practice regularly with balls and the like, even a beginner can gradually learn to do it.
Studying slow-motion videos should help you get the hang of it.
Once you can juggle, you can reuse the skill for all kinds of entertainment—not just birthdays—and it might even make you popular, so give it your best shot.