50Th Birthday Party Ideas! Help!

My sister gave me a Over the Hill party and had a cake with graves on it RiP. Made me feel old. BBQ and all the food you can eat. Potluck. They however have a lot of property and cooked a in the ground pig. A man that was from Hi did the cooking and it was out of the world but that was also in Seattle where it is cooler. G. W

For my inlaws 25th anniversary party we had Jimmy Buffet style. Everyone dressed hawaian and we found this lady in Dallas to make all of the food. She is in the Southside on Lamar building, she does caribbean food that is incrediable. She also worked with our very tight tight budget.
For my moms 50th we did a crawfish boil, and we decorated with Mardi Gras stuff.

Is there something he really likes? I mean if he is a golfer you could get a cake made that fits that theme, instead of gifts get your fam together and get him a golf gift certificate or gift card at his favorite golf course....
IF he likes hockey put all of the party money towards a suite at the hockey rink....
If he likes books again make a "book" cake" and have the party in a room at the library or the main Half PRice Books...
Just a few random thoughts.

D.

October should be nicer (cooler!!) weather so you could do it outside at a park? Most of them have a pavilion and playground for the kids. You could bring BBQ that you order to go from Spring Creek and have everyone else bring a side, drinks or dessert.

I don't know where you live but North Lake Ranch park in Irving has a great playground and covered pavillion with lots of seating and everything is covered.... the playground equipment and the pavillion. There is also restroom there.... it's a porto potty that is the only one I have EVER seen that is properly maintained, they come to service it every 2-4 days and so it's really clean and nice.

~ t

We gave my husband a This Is Your Life Party one time. Much better at the earlier age than when their old. You can still find school chums, teachers, church people, 70's records, etc. If the some of the people can't come, they can send messages to you to be read. But each person that can should give a mini speach of something special. Be sure to take photos! Our party included the old style Coke bottles, peace signs, etc (due to his 60's era) but you can find stuff that relates to his era. Probably an afro wig somewhere, huh?

The party doesn't have to be a surprise party, but there will be surprise guests! My husband was shocked that I found so many of his high school and college buddies and even a couple of teachers.

For my mom's 40th birthday we had a surprise luau. Everyone was told in the invitations to dress "hawaiian" and we had leis at the door for everyone. The food and drinks fit with the theme. If your dad doesn't want a surprise, you could just throw a themed party for him. Since it's in October you could have a 50th costume party. Since you'll probably already have halloween decorations, it should be easy to add to it for the party (assuming you hold the party at your house). You could do a cauldron with punch and put dry ice in it to get that smoky look. And the 50th "over the hill" type cake would fit in as well.

Having a surprise party at a restaurant would be nice too, but that usually ends up running a few $100 dollars.

photo/video montage DVD of your Dad's life, including family

www.unforgettableslideshows.com

makes them cry every time

-A.

Hello! It may be kinda hard, but if you could think of something that seems small that he would love, that's definately the way to go. When my husband and I were dating, he used to tell me that he HATED his birthday so close to Christmas b/c everyone forgot him, and he hates cold weather. He used to say he wished he had a summer birthday. He hasn't mentioned it in years, but I've kept it in mind. For his 50th, I'm actually throwing him a surprise birthday party 6/22 of next year instead of 12/22 (6 months early). That will be his summer birthday wish. The theme will be island-ish (Carribean food, raggae music) and in keeping with that theme, I'm suprising him with a cruise on his "real" birthday so that he can't say it went unnoticed. (He used to work on a cruiseline and loved it). All that to say, try to think of something he has said in the past, or a favorite hobby as the theme.
Another thing: I think that the over the hill theme is more a joke for the 40s and that the 50th party really should be more of a celebration and recognition for the life made, and the things you still have to look forward to. But that's just me...

Hi, T. just an idea, we recently had my Mother In Law's 50th birthday in Rockwall at Weekends Restaurant. It is in and outdoor and they have a live band on Fridays and Saturdays. The food is real good and prices decent too. It is family oriented and out on the lake. Look into it, I hope you like! Good luck and have fun!
M.

We did this for my step dad--he knew they were having company that day; me and my kids and his kids flew in but he didnt know that his closest friends were showing up--but since he was in a "company" mood it went really well because he hates surprises too....the best gift that we got for him was a slide show from his birth up til now and we just showed it on a laptop since he isnt big into fanfare...but he loved it since it was special people he loved and a gift that wasnt bought....

A 50's theme party..he was born in the 50's! All the girls in the family can wear poodle skirts, boys wear jeans and white T-shirts. Include on the invite to wear your 50's stuff...old HS jackets and such. Play lots of 50's music with Elvis, and serve cake and root beer floats.

Good Luck! I threw my dad a huge suprise party this past year for his 60th. He isn't much of the party type himself. He never ever wanted anything either, "just your love" is the kind of guy he was...

We did a hawaiian theme and it was a blast! There is so much you can do with it! It doesn't matter what time of year either! Just as long as it isn't FREEZING out is the only time I wouldn't do this one. But I bet in November you'd be fine!

We did food with Pinapple, and Mango Salsa, and all kinds of fun stuff. People had the most fun with the SPAM stuff. SPAM is huge in Hawaii so it fit well into everything.

US Toys in Plano is a great place to shop as well but get creative with things you may already have. Try and look at things in new ways! Decorate with bright colored beach towels, whether they are just stripes or have a hawaiian print. Get every day rope and use it, buckets for ice... You'd be suprised what you already have to use and can go perfect for FREE!

Have everyone dress the part and they become part of the decorations. Make it a contest with a prize for the best dressed so they really get into it! Have a Hawaiian shirt at the party waiting for your dad.

We did it at our church. He just thought he was going to someone else's baby or wedding shower I think I told him, can't remember, but that was actually the easy part...

Let me know if you need more help and like this idea! :o) Good luck!
~T.~