29 Creative 99th Birthday Ideas For Your Loved One

Ninety-nine years is a true milestone, eclipsed only by 100! Peerspace is all about helping people make lasting memories together and we’d be honored to share 29 of our most creative 99th birthday ideas. From party themes to gift ideas, our birthday ideas are sure to delight the oldest person in your life!

1. Honor their professional life

Was their career a big part of their life? A proud teacher, pilot, veteran, or doctor would love a party that honors their professional life. Invite colleagues and other people who knew them while they were still working. And choose decorations and photos that let everyone see the birthday guy or gal as a hardworking achiever.

2. Make the party a formal occasion

Being 99 rarely happens for most people. So how about making the party a formal affair where everyone should dress their best? Put on a black tie and book an elegant party space for food, dancing, and celebration! That’s something Peerspace can help you with, by the way! We have party venues like this stylish loft in Chicago, IL, with additional spaces and plenty of seating included in your reservation.

3. Use “remember when” as your birthday party theme

What year was your 99th birthday celebrant born in? Look up that year and find news, celebrities, music, and other elements from that year. Place photos on garlands, set up posters that highlight important events, and do your best to bring that year to life.

4. Hire musicians to play their favorite tunes

A 99th birthday party should feel like a major event. Hire some musicians who know tunes from the decade of their childhood for a nostalgic addition to the party! 

5. Make DIY crafts together

Charm bracelets, succulent arrangements, and painting are just a few of the activities you could include at a 99th birthday. DIY crafts are not only fun, but everyone gets to leave with a little keepsake commemorating the occasion.

6. Take a trip to their place of birth

A trip down memory lane is one 99th birthday idea that’s sure to be enjoyable for all. If it’s not too far, a trip to their birth city is a good idea. Let the near-centenarian share stories of how much the place has changed over the years.

7. Gift them a custom mug

Mugs are as useful as they are pretty. A custom mug with a favored saying, a congratulations for reaching 99, or other phrases is a fun gift idea, especially if the birthday celebrant loves coffee or tea.

8. Hit the high seas with a cruise ship party

It’s hard to travel at age 99 but you can always bring the destination to them instead. A cruise ship party is one way to do so! You can achieve this by decorating the venue with a mixture of nautical and tropical themes. A collection of flags hung as garland adds an international flavor to the venue.

Get started by scoping out these awesome tropical theme party ideas next!

9. Set up a surprise party at their nursing home

Even if your beloved senior is being cared for at a nursing home, you have some creative 99th birthday ideas to explore. A surprise party set up in the cafeteria, recreation room, or some other space inside of a nursing home is a fun idea. With the help of the staff, it will be easy to have the senior brought over to the party space filled with friends and family!

10. Decorate a birthday cake with 99 candles

Have you ever seen a cake with 99 candles? It will glow like a bonfire and just might be the most impressive birthday cake you’ve ever seen. The senior might need some help or time blowing out that many candles but it will be worth the effort!

11. Create a drive-in movie night party

Nostalgic themes are excellent 99th birthday ideas. So take a trip down memory lane with a venue decorated like a drive-in theater! These are much rarer than they used to be and will put a sparkle in the eye of the birthday boy or gal. Don’t forget a classic movie they love or haven’t seen to watch together.

12. Go glamorous with an Old Hollywood themed party

The Old Hollywood era is a filmmaking period where many 99-year-olds would have been born and enjoyed some of their favorite films growing up. Make Old Hollywood the theme as your 99th birthday idea. That might mean a jazz band, a Marilyn Monroe impersonator, shrimp cocktails as appetizers, and formal attire!

13. Hire food trucks to cater an outdoor party

You don’t have to rely on traditional caterers when planning a birthday party. Food trucks offer a colorful and diverse option that everyone will enjoy! Bring street tacos, cupcakes, french fries, and artisan coffee to the birthday party with the right truck selection.

14. Have a personalized blanket made

There’s nothing like a good blanket, no matter your age. A personalized blanket with a favorite quote or well wishes from family makes a great gift for a 99-year-old!

15. Enjoy high tea in a garden party venue

A tea party is just the kind of classy yet low key activity a 99-year-old will enjoy! It’s a chance to wear some vintage finery and enjoy conversation and snacks inside of a beautiful space. You’ll just need the right tea party venue…something that Peerspace has hundreds of! We think this historic house in Atlanta, GA, is an excellent choice. You not only have 2 acres of amenity-filled space for an outdoor birthday, but the entire manor as well!

16. Test their knowledge with a trivia contest

See how witty the birthday guy or gal is with a few rounds of trivia! Choose themes they best know, like local history or politics and hand out custom trivia cards for everyone.

17. Enjoy a dinner theater performance

Dinner at a fancy restaurant is an excellent 99th birthday idea, especially if you know a place that offers an experience along with your meal, like a dinner theater show!

18. Host a board game night

99th birthday ideas should mostly include low-key activities. And a board game night is right up their alley! Dig deep on your closet and bring a few of their favorite board games over. If you don’t have many, check out Peerspace’s list of 27 fun board games for adults as inspiration.

19. Have a birthday photoshoot

Ninety-nine is almost as much a milestone as 100. That makes hiring a portrait photographer a really good idea. A few professional images will look great inside of a photo album that spans decades.

20. Give them a journal for their life’s story

Many senior citizens want to get their life story down on paper. This Story of a Lifetime journal helps them do just that. Besides storytelling they get to answer all kinds of thought-provoking questions about their journey that everyone can enjoy reading.

21. Celebrate nine decades with nine rings

With 100 just around the corner, honor the nine decades of life lived so far with nine rings! This stylish gift from Amazon is a unique way to let everyone know what an incredible milestone has been reached.

22. Send them the gift of flowers

Start the day off right with a floral bouquet sent to their home! Flowers are a simple gift idea that everyone can appreciate. You could even include a nice vase if they don’t already have one.

23. Play a few rounds of cards together

Card games are relaxing, test your memory, and fun for many 99-year-olds! Check out Peerspace’s 23 card games for adults for a few of our favorite ideas! 

24. Give them a beautiful house plant

Houseplants are gifts that are as lovely as they are decorative. If your 99-year-old is a plant momma or poppa then a thoughtfully chosen potted plant will go well with the rest of their collection!

25. Choose a gift certificate from a favorite business

Show how well you know the senior celebrating their 99th birthday with a gift certificate from one of their favorite businesses. That might mean a local restaurant, a music store, a spa resort, or somewhere else they love to visit.

26. Visit from afar with a virtual birthday party

Gathering dozens of friends and family members might not be possible for this particular birthday. In that case, a virtual party via zoom might be the best option! Even if a senior is living inside a nursing home, it’s easy to set up a laptop for a virtual party.

27. Hire a magician to put on a magic show

Magic shows aren’t just for kids. Sleight of hand is fun for all ages so think about hiring a magician to put on a show at the party!

28. Bring the sunshine indoors with a Hawaiian luau party

Has your favorite senior spent any time in Hawaii? Bring that trip back to life with pineapple flavored dishes, Hawaiian shirts, and tropical themed decorations! 

For more party-planning help, check out these luau party ideas, luau party games, and luau food ideas!

29. Give the gift of memories with a digital photo album

Regular photo albums get heavy over the years, but a digital album is much easier to manage! They automatically cycle through their stored image collection and let seniors visit a life well lived each day.

99th birthday ideas for your loved one: conclusion

As you can see, our 99th birthday ideas are as diverse as they are creative! We hope you’ve found Peerspace to be an amazing resource for your party planning needs. And if you haven’t yet done so, think about browsing some of our birthday party venues near you. You just might find the perfect space for the upcoming festivities!

Find unique party venues for your birthday on Peerspace