12 Birthday Party Ideas for 13-Year-Olds

I’ve always enjoyed celebrating my kids’ birthdays, but as they’ve gotten older, the way they want to celebrate has changed. While my 7-year-old is still in her Big Party Era, my 13-year-old prefers to spend the day with a small group of close friends doing things they love — one year it was playing video games, and another year it was visiting an art museum and getting conveyor-belt sushi. 

The important thing when it comes to throwing a birthday party for your teen is to talk with them about what they like and what their priorities are — they might surprise you! Now that they’re a little older, kids can help with the brainstorming and planning of their own party, and working on the details together can be a nice opportunity for connection; plus, you won’t have to worry about spending time planning a party that doesn’t suit their needs. If you’re looking for a few ideas to get the conversation started, here are 12 different ways you can celebrate your teen’s big day.

Whether your teen loves art, airplanes, science, or history, you can probably find a museum that aligns with that subject. Make a day of it, and bring along a few friends to explore a museum or two. If the museum has a gift shop, pick up a small item for each friend in lieu of a goodie bag.

If your teen loves to play video games, consider giving them exactly what they want with a fun, cozy day playing their favorite games with friends. This is a simple, very affordable option for teens and tweens who love screens, but consider building in a few screen breaks so the kiddos can get outside and touch grass for a minute or two.

There are a lot of movie theaters that offer birthday party packages in which they will screen a movie of your choice and provide your guests with popcorn, candy, and drinks; but you can also recreate the experience at home if you have the space and setup for it. If you have a projector, consider hosting a backyard movie screening at night, or you could host a screening indoors if space allows. Just make sure you get your kid’s favorite movie snacks for the occasion. 

If your teen enjoys being pampered, a spa party is an excellent choice. There are some spas that offer parties on-site as well as mobile options that bring the spa right to your door. Assemble a group of their closest friends for a few hours of manicures, makeovers, and massages.

If you’re the parent of an outdoor kid, let them do what they love with a day in nature. Depending on the time of year, you could align the party with a seasonal activity, like strawberry picking or visiting a pumpkin patch. Other options include a day at the beach, a camping trip, snowboarding, or white water rafting. Pack up a picnic for the group, and then get out there and enjoy the great outdoors.

As kids enter their teen years, music begins to take on greater importance, so a birthday concert could be just the thing for your music-loving kiddo. Gather a few of their closest friends and then get in the spirit, dressing up for the occasion and blasting their favorite songs all the way to the venue.

If a concert isn’t in the cards, another way to celebrate your music-obsessed kiddo is with a dance party. Deck out your space with balloons, streamers, and colored lights, and make sure there’s plenty of room on the dance floor, then pump up the jams. You can hire a DJ or simply have your teen make their own Spotify playlist. If you don’t have the space at home, look into venues that you can rent, like a community space. Consider adding a photo booth for a cute souvenir.

If you’ve got a teen who lives for thrills, let them choose a few friends to take to the nearest amusement park. If they’re old enough, you can let the teens navigate the park on their own, with you acting as the chauffeur and sticking around just close enough to help if needed. And then give the kids passes and let them run around the park all day.

For budding gourmands, a make-your-own pizza party would be a fun and delicious way to celebrate. Buy pre-made pizza dough (or make your own!) and prepare a buffet of toppings for your guests to choose from. Depending on their age and skill level, you may need to provide more or less supervision, and then you can fire off their pizzas while they watch a movie, play a game, or just hang out. Pro-tip: Practice making pizza with your teen before hosting the party so they know exactly what’s involved.

For a group of teens who love to make things, a craft party is a fun way to celebrate a birthday. Come up with one specific craft the group can make and then provide materials for each guest to make their own. You may want to demonstrate how to make the craft or provide instructions, or if they’re already savvy, just let them go for it. The resulting crafts make a nice gift for all your guests.

My 13-year-old and their friends love D&D, and a day spent working on their campaign would be a welcome way to celebrate their birthday. Give them plenty of space and snacks (D&D-themed snacks would be a nice touch), and then let them enjoy a day of world-building fun.

While not all families are open to the idea of slumber parties, if it’s something you feel comfortable with, it can be a lovely opportunity for your child to bond with their closest friends. You can host a slumber party at home if you have space, or you can make it a backyard “camping trip,” or, for more glam-inclined kiddos, consider upgrading to a hotel party. You can get a room for the teens and a separate room for yourself so you can actually get some sleep.