Are you turning 19 soon? Congrats! 19 is such a fun year of your life. You’re still a teenager for one more year, but also have the freedom and maturity of being a legal adult.
To be honest, I had a little bit of anxiety about turning 19. I had been a teenager for SO long, and it felt like I was saying goodbye to that phase of life. But don’t worry too much about that though, the best time of my life was just around the corner. Being in my early 20s has been SO much fun and so rewarding. But I definitely look back on my teenage years and reminisce about how fun those times were!
I recommend enjoying your last full year of being a teenager by living life to the absolute fullest! Starting with your 19th birthday party. If you’re having trouble thinking of fun 19th birthday ideas, we have you covered! Here are 50 amazing ways to celebrate your 19th birthday.
What Is Special About A 19th Birthday?
You may be wondering what is so special about turning 19. At first, it seems like it may not be that significant of a birthday. You already became a legal adult last year, and you have to wait a few years before you can drink if you live in the US.
Turning 19 is special because it is your last year as a teenager, so that’s definitely a good reason to celebrate. Next year you’ll no longer be considered a teenager, but rather a “young adult”, so make sure you live it up and enjoy the last of your teen years properly!
Things To Do On Your 19th Birthday
Figuring out what to do for your 19th birthday can be tough. You’re still a teenager, but you may feel too grown up or mature to do things that are popular with younger teens. You’re also too young to do adult party things like drink or go to a club. Here are some cool ideas for how to spend your 19th birthday. They’re birthday ideas that I think would be fun for older teenagers, but they don’t necessarily involve anything that you’re not legally able to do yet.
1. Go On A Shopping Spree
One fun way to treat yourself on your birthday is to take yourself out on a shopping spree. You could do this by yourself, with a family member, or with some friends! Make a whole day out of it - do some shopping, grab brunch, and maybe even get a manicure while you’re out! It’s your birthday, you deserve to treat yourself!
2. Have A Bonfire
One of my favorite birthday party ideas in my later teenage years was to have a backyard bonfire party. I would always have a bunch of friends over, put out s’mores stuff, and have some yard games for people to play. It was easy to plan, super cheap, and everyone had a great time! My birthday is in summer so obviously this is easier for me to do! If you have a winter birthday, you may want to stick with some of the other ideas on the list.
3. Spa Day
Another way to pamper yourself on your big day is to head to the spa. Grab a friend or family member and get some spa treatments done. My favorite spa treatments are facials and massages. I always feel unstoppable when I step out of the spa after a treatment! If you’re on a budget, you could have some friends over for an at-home spa day. Get some face masks (I love these ones from Tony Moly), nail polish, and body scrubs and get your pampering on.
4. Host A Dinner Party
If you want to have a super classy and grown-up 19th birthday, host a dinner party! I love the idea of having friends over for a sophisticated dinner party. If your birthday is in summer, take the party outside and dine under the stars. Hang some fairy lights outside and have a super magical garden party. This will definitely be a 19th birthday that you and your friends remember forever.
5. Do A Photoshoot
A super fun (and memorable) 19th birthday idea is to have a photoshoot! You could either do this alone or with some friends. Get dressed up, grab some props, and recruit a friend who’s good with a camera (or hire a professional). You’ll love looking back on your birthday pictures in a few years.
6. Have A Beach Day
If you live near a beach and your birthday is in summer, why not have a beach party? Fill a cooler with some drinks and snacks, pack a swimsuit, and head to the beach with your besties. I recommend bringing a volleyball or some beach games to keep people occupied. One really fun game that can be played on the beach is Spikeball.
7. Pool Party
Another great summer birthday idea is to throw a pool party. You could either ask to use a friend’s yard with a pool or head to a local pool and rent out one of the shade areas. My local pool has birthday parties almost every single day and they always look like so much fun! Pack a bunch of fun floaties, snacks, and party decorations for the day. Make sure to provide everyone with towels and sunscreen too!
8. Have A Picnic
One party idea that has become really popular in the past couple of years is the aesthetic picnic birthday party. This is WAY more fun than your standard picnic blanket and finger sandwiches. An aesthetic picnic party usually involves a ton of decor, comfy pillows to sit on, and a whole spread of fancy food to eat. If you don’t want to put it all together yourself, look up luxury picnic services in your area.
9. Game Night
If you’re looking for a low-key way to celebrate your 19th birthday, have your friends over for a game night! Grab all of your favorite board games and some good party snacks. Some of my favorite games for game nights are Settlers of Catan, Cards Against Humanity, and Catchphrase. If you prefer video games, you could also do that! Some really fun party video games are Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros, Among Us, and Quiplash (not really a video game but a super fun online game for parties).
10. Take A Road Trip
A super unique 19th birthday idea is to take a road trip with some friends! Take the whole weekend off of work or homework and drive somewhere fun. You don’t even have to go too far to make this a fun adventure! Look up fun things to do within a few hours of your town and make a trip out of it. You could either do a day trip or rent an Airbnb for a night or two and stay for the weekend.
11. Go For A Nice Dinner
Going out to dinner may sound like a super basic birthday party idea, but it’s a classic for a reason! Sometimes it’s hard to get your whole friend group together for dinner, especially if you guys are all in college. Your 19th birthday is a great excuse to get everyone together for a nice dinner. If you don’t want the night to end, you could head to someone’s house after dinner for a little after party.
12. Go Camping
One of my favorite 19th birthday ideas is to go camping with your friends! You don’t even have to go too far to have a fun camping trip. Look for campsites near your house that have hiking trails, a lake to swim in, or just some interesting sights nearby. This is a super fun and affordable 19th birthday party idea.
13. Have A Painting Night
If you’re feeling artsy, you could have a painting or crafting night with your besties. Buy a few cheap canvases from Amazon, some acrylic paint and brushes, and just let your creativity flow.
14. Slumber Party
One of my all-time favorite birthday ideas is just to have a few of your best friends over for a slumber party! It sounds so simple, but I promise it can be SO fun. Have everyone bring pajamas, order takeout, and watch cheesy romantic comedy movies. You could even do some at-home spa treatments like face masks or pedicures if you need some pampering.
15. Go Rollerskating
When is the last time you got your friends together and went rollerskating? The roller rink isn’t just for little kids anymore! Throw on a pair of skates and have some fun with your friends for a few hours. If you want to make it extra memorable, you could have everyone dress up in retro 80s roller skating outfits.
16. Go To A Concert
If your favorite artist is coming to town during your birthday, go see them in concert! This is a super fun 19th birthday idea because you can make a whole night of it. Grab some dinner before the concert and maybe even get a hotel room with your friends for an after party! This will definitely be a memorable 19th birthday.
These are just a few of the amazing 19th birthday ideas you can try. Remember, it's all about celebrating this special milestone in your life and creating memories that will last a lifetime. Enjoy your last year as a teenager and make the most of it!
You may also like:
- 35+ Trendiest 18th Birthday Gifts For Her
- 40+ Amazing 18th Birthday Ideas For The Best Day Ever
- 45 Super Fun 22nd Birthday Ideas To Have The Best Day Ever
- 32 Memorable 21st Birthday Themes
- The Best 21st Birthday Tasks For an Epic Night
- 21st Birthday Party Ideas For an Unforgettable Night
