15 Outdoor Birthday Party Ideas to Elevate Your Next Annual Bash

Planning your birthday celebration, but tired of the basic dinners/happy hours where friends feel awkwardly obliged to pay for you? I feel that. We need birthday parties for adults to be as creative as our parties were as kids (I once had a mermaid-themed party, a murder mystery Victorian tea party, and an Academy Awards-themed birthday party, so I know a thing or two). And on top of the creativity factor, there's the element of taking things al fresco, which is a pretty good idea right about now.

That said, your outdoor bday soiree options obviously vary based on the climate. My birthday falls smack dab in the middle of the dog days of summer (Leo SZN, baby) so I can’t in good conscience force my friends to go on a hike in the late August heat. However! There are plenty of other ideas you can run with. Winery hopping! Tarot reading! S'mores boards! Mimosa bars! Sure, some ideas are on the fahncy side, but you can totally DIY many of these party components. If all else fails, plop on the beach with your pals for the day with a cooler of White Claws. See? It's that easy.

Whether you’re a Taurus or Sag, there’s a solid almost half of the year you can comfortably celebrate outside. Here are some fun outdoor birthday party ideas, no matter your age, vibe, or star sign.