21 Creative 18th Birthday Party Themes For The Big Milestone
- Date: October 3, 2024
- Topic: Events
- Contributors: Written by Peerspace StaffEdited by Alexis Shiraki
Source: Peerspace
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Birthday party venues on Peerspace typically cost $80 — $220 per hour.
If you’re in the United States, turning 18 means becoming a legal adult—with all the rights and responsibilities that status entails! We’d say that’s more than worthy of an extra special birthday celebration. To help you plan it, we’ve assembled a list of 18th birthday party themes that’ll make your transition to adulthood a memorable and meaningful one.
As you consider our list of suggestions, ask yourself what your ideal party venue would look like, and what amenities it would offer. Once you’ve chosen a theme, visit Peerspace—the largest online marketplace for hourly venue rentals—to see what kind of birthday party venues are available in your area. We’ll even share a few awesome examples ahead. Let’s get started!
1. Live it up with a disco dance party
The 70s are back—so how about a disco-themed dance party? This top-notch 18th birthday party theme does require space for a dance floor, so if you don’t have that already, you can rent a venue for a dance party near you on Peerspace.
2. Create your own Barbie world for a day
2023 was the summer of Barbie, but the fun definitely doesn’t have to end there. Throw a Barbie-themed birthday party for a playful gathering that shows you’re never too old to enjoy tons of hot pink.
3. Get creative with a PowerPoint presentation party
Ask all your friends to make PowerPoint presentations—about you, or just on a topic they enjoy—and present them to your guests! This is such a cool and creative idea, and we absolutely love it.
4. Make it a 90s-themed birthday party
If you’re turning 18 soon, you’ve never experienced the 90s, but that doesn’t mean you can’t appreciate the decade and throw a 90s-themed party! Put together a playlist of your favorite 90s songs and ask your guests to wear their best 90s-inspired outfits. This awesome 90s-fun theme house in Houston, TX is the perfect setting for this party!
5. Get nostalgic with a Shrek party theme
A Shrek party theme has the potential to be seriously hilarious. If having a blast is a priority on your birthday and you’re not as concerned about everything having the perfect aesthetic, go for a Shrek-themed birthday!
Check out our Shrek-themed wedding guide for more event planning centered around everyone’s favorite green ogre!
6. A Mean Girls theme is extra nice!
How about a Mean Girls-themed party? Check out how TikToker @lavishdee__ did it for some major inspiration.
7. Dazzle your guests with a tasty BBQ party
Love to hang out outside with friends and eat barbecue classics like hamburgers and hotdogs? (You can also get a lot fancier with this, of course.) Plan a BBQ in your backyard! If your backyard is so-so or non-existent, use Peerspace to book a stylish, well-equipped backyard rental space from a neighbor.
8. Get everyone in on the cooking with a potluck dinner
Maybe you want to have a variety of delicious food available for your party guests, but you don’t want to spend hours or days cooking (or hiring expensive caterers). Throwing a potluck party where everyone brings their favorite dish is an ideal solution.
9. Brunch: a classic for a reason!
Brunch tends to feel a little more casual than dinner, so a brunch party theme is a great alternative if laid-back vibes are a priority for you. Not to mention that brunch food like omelets and waffles are to die for!
10. Go sophisticated with a Breakfast at Tiffany’s theme
If you’ve ever watched Breakfast at Tiffany’s and admired Audrey Hepburn’s elegance and pizzazz, then consider making a Breakfast at Tiffany’s party your best bet of all the 18th birthday party theme ideas.
11. Go to the ends of the universe and back with a Star Wars theme
If you’ve always wished you could grow up to be a Jedi, allow yourself and your friends to pretend for a night with an epic Star Wars-themed birthday party.
12. Create a DIY escape room challenge
Set up an escape room with a variety of themed puzzles and challenges for your guests to solve collaboratively! By the time they’re done, they’ll have gone through a genuine bonding experience.
13. Have a blast with a retro arcade theme
Transform your venue into a vintage arcade with classic arcade games, neon lights, and nostalgic snacks and drinks.
14. Steal the spotlight with a karaoke party
Sing your heart out and enjoy being the star of the show for a night at your very own karaoke birthday party. Just make sure you’re in a space where you’re allowed to make some noise and you won’t be disturbing the neighbors too much! If you’re concerned about getting too loud, you can always avoid the risk entirely and make things easy by renting a karaoke bar near you on Peerspace.
After you’ve picked a theme, plan the rest of your party using our 18th birthday party ideas as your template!
15. Explore good and evil with a superheroes and villains party
If you love superheroes and comic books, invite your guests to come dressed as their favorite superheroes (or villains!), and be sure to put up decorations and activities that suit the theme.
16. Make it a glamorous Hollywood affair
Roll out the red carpet and give yourself and your guests the celebrity treatment with a glamorous Hollywood-themed party! Book an A-list-worthy mansion on Peerspace to complete the scene.
17. Splash around with your own pool party
If your birthday takes place when the weather is warm, you truly can’t go wrong with a pool party. This is another case where, if you don’t have a pool of your own, Peerspace makes it easy to rent spaces with pools near you to execute this awesome 18th birthday party theme.
18. Ramp up your skills with a cooking class party
Hire a professional chef to come to your party and teach everyone how to cook a dish of your choice! It’s a great and highly practical theme choice for an 18th birthday party because becoming an adult means learning to feed yourself, among many other responsibilities.
19. Throw it back with a roller skating party
When you’re turning 18, you probably think you have to have a mature party to celebrate your new-found adulthood. Think again! Head to your nearest rink and kick it like you did back in middle school. We love this 2-acre outdoor roller skating facility in San Diego, CA as one option for our West Coast friends.
20. Plan a concert in an unexpected (yet stylish!) setting
At 18, the doors to some of the finest clubs in your city may still be closed to you since they have a 21+ policy. But who needs them? Throw your own music bash at a Peerspace performance venue that will welcome you and your party with open arms. This event space flower shop in San Francisco, CA is one great option. It’s an all-ages venue that can help you procure bands, DJs, and anything else you like. 18th birthday party themes like this are perfect for music lovers!
21. Plan a sky-is-the-limit party
One of our favorite 18th birthday party themes is this one. Plan a party that informs all your guests that you’re only getting started and your future is bright. Hit the nail on the head in the symbolism department when you book a Peerspace party venue like this Hudson Yards rooftop in NYC!
18th birthday party themes: conclusion
We hope these 18th birthday party themes have you extra excited to plan your first adult bash! Still looking for a venue that’ll make your birthday party complete? Be sure to check out the available event venues near you on Peerspace! Considering the massive selection (tens of thousands of listings located in hundreds of cities) it’s pretty likely you’ll find at least one space that’s a good fit.
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