10 Low-key 50th birthday ideas

Turning 50 is a major milestone. But not everyone is into having a huge 50th birthday party. So if instead, you’re looking for a low-key, laid-back way to celebrate your 50th birthday, you’ve come to the right place.

Photo of a white and pink birthday cake with candles in number 50.
Photo: Shutterstock

We’ve already shared 50 unique ways to celebrate your fiftieth birthday, for those who need different ideas to spark inspiration. 

But if you’re looking to spend your 50th birthday doing something that’s low-key but still makes you feel as if you are honoring your special day, read on for ten low-key ideas on how to celebrate your 50th birthday.

1.- Host a bath-bomb-making event

Close up photo of a pair of hands holding a pink bath bomb surrounded with suds and foam.
Photo: Shutterstock

Whether it’s painting, crafting, or making bath bombs while you celebrate your 50th birthday, there is an activity for every taste. These fun events are usually good for a small crowd, or even just for you and a couple of friends. Simply book a time slot, show up, and enjoy! 

We recently attended a bath-bomb-making event at a local Buff City Soap and it was an hour and a half of chatting and fun while learning how soap and bath bombs are made. At the end of the event, we all walked away with a box of goodies to enjoy in our bath at home.

2.- Host a paint and sip gathering

Photograph of a midlife woman with gray hair smiling and holding a small red and blue abstract painting.
Photo: Shutterstock

You could do this at home or at a franchise such as Painting with a Twist. The great thing about these activities is that there is a start and finish time. A big plus is that you won’t make a mess at home if you choose to do it at a studio.

No prior painting experience is required, and everyone will take home a piece of art to commemorate this special fiftieth birthday.

3.- Have a pajama party

Photograph of three woman with facial masks and their hair wrapped in white towels. One is holding a plate of sliced cucumbers, and all three are smiling.
Photo: Shutterstock

Whether you did this when you were young or not, a 50th birthday is a wonderful time to round up a few friends and have them over for dinner, drinks, pampering and gossip. Everyone can bring their own sleeping bags which adds to the fun.

If you prefer a more comfortable experience, you could rent an Airbnb so everyone can sleep in a bed and you won’t have to worry about prepping for guests. Either way, spending quality time with friends is a fabulous way to ring in your new decade. 

4.- Tackle an adventure course

Image of me, Lorraine Ladish, the author of the post, smiling and getting ready to zip line in an obstacle course.
Photo: Viva Fifty

This is low-key in the sense that it won’t break the bank for anyone, and you can invite as few or as many people as you like. And it doesn’t require tons of preparation either.

Pick an adventure course in the city or town where you live, choose a date and time, and be ready to enjoy a day of outdoor fun. This also serves as a reminder that at 50, you’re just getting started.

5.- Stay at a fancy hotel

Photo of a rustic, four poster bed in a hotel room that has warm light and primitive wooden sculptures as decorations.
Photo: Shutterstock

If you have young children, hire a babysitter and take your spouse or just yourself to a fancy hotel where you can do whatever you want. 

You can spend your 50th birthday lounging around, getting room service, taking baths, watching movies, reading books or whatever you feel is appropriate for a luxurious low-key 50th birthday.

6.- Get the tattoo you always wanted

Close-up photograph of a pair of a woman's feet with black painted toenails and a black and white tattoo of a snake winding down her ankle.
Photo: Shutterstock

This is actually what I ended up doing for my own low-key 50th birthday celebration: getting a tattoo. Plan ahead, pick the placement of where you would like the tattoo, and choose a design that is meaningful to you.

Consider reaching out to the artist well in advance, as many artists can be booked out for months. I find that Instagram is a great place to find tattoo artists and especially to find one whose art resonates with you. A good tattoo artist will work with you to help you make your vision a reality.

7.- Host a clothes-swap gathering

Photograph of a rolling clothes rack with multicolored shirts hanging and a blue background.
Photo: Adobe Stock

This is a great way to shop without spending a dime. Invite a few friends over and have them bring clothes they no longer wear. Have everyone dump their unwanted clothes on your bed, or hang them on a clothes rack and let the fun begin.

Swapping clothes at 50 is a great way to explore different and new styles you might not have otherwise considered. Have beverages, and finger foods available for your guests. And don’t forget the birthday cake!

8.- Book a lavish spa day

Profile photograph of a woman relaxing at a spa lying on a massage bed face up while a pair of hands massage the sides of her head.
Photo: Shutterstock

For a special low-key 50th birthday celebration, choose a spa that offers all the treatments you love. Book an entire day either alone or with a handful of special friends or maybe just your BFF and you.

Instead of spending money on a large party, spend it all on yourself. What better way to ring in your new decade than to pamper yourself all day long! 

9.- Do something meaningful 50 times

Boho chic style photo of woman with her legs crossed, wearing a white shirt with a hand against her heart while meditating in a patterned cushion.
Photo: Shutterstock

This could be just about anything you can imagine: swimming 50 laps, writing affirmations 50 times, or meditating for 50 minutes … It’s up to you!

This doesn’t mean you can’t combine this with any other low-key 50th birthday celebration, but if it’s all you do, it will definitely be a memorable day!

10.- Book a photoshoot for yourself

Photograph of a smiling midlife woman with gray/blond hair and wearing black panties and bra with a golden brown background.
Photo: Shutterstock

I’ve been having photoshoots for my birthday ever since I turned 50 and it’s something I look forward to every year. Whether it’s a boudoir photoshoot, a fun photoshoot, or headshots, I enjoy looking back on what I did in previous years.

If you are feeling uncomfortable about turning 50, keep in mind that when you look at the pictures you take today, in ten years you will realize how young you really were. Enjoy and celebrate being 50 as much as you can!

In case you’re interested, we also wrote about how to organize an unforgettable 50th birthday celebration which can help you plan for this special day.

Another helpful post covers the ins and outs of celebrating a milestone birthday at home. It has some great ideas for those who are either introverts or simply want to chill out on their 50th.

Finally, don’t miss our article on fifty 50th birthday gifts for her, whether you are going to provide a wish-list or you are the one seeking to buy a gift.

You’re turning 50 and you want to celebrate your birthday and chill. Here are 10 low-key birthday ideas for your 50th.
Viva Fifty!

Viva Fifty! is an online bilingual and multicultural community that celebrates your best age. Midlife and beyond.

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