14 Exciting 21st Birthday Ideas for College Students to Celebrate
This post is all about 21st birthday ideas for college students.
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Your 21st birthday is one of the key milestones on the road to official adulthood. It’s the first birthday that you can celebrate with a legal drink, and a huge occasion to ring in with your friends.
If you’re looking for unique 21st birthday ideas that’ll ensure that your birthday celebration is one to remember, you’ve come to the right place!
We’ve rounded up 14 exciting 21st birthday ideas for college students. No matter whether you’re trying to hit the bars hard or whether your birthday vibe is more chill and laid-back, we’ve got the perfect 21st birthday ideas to fit your idea of a good time!
Here are 14 Exciting 21st Birthday Ideas for College Students to Celebrate.
EXCITING 21ST BIRTHDAY IDEAS
1. BAR CRAWL
A bar crawl is one of those tried and true 21st birthday ideas, but it’s a classic for a reason!
No matter whether you go to school in a small college town or a big city, chances are there are multiple bars near your college that you and your friends have been dying to visit.
Plan a walking route that allows you and your friends to bar hop between the hottest bars in your area.
You’re sure to have an amazing time ordering your first legal shot or beer, throwing darts, or challenging your friends to a game of pool!
2. KARAOKE BAR
Karaoke bars are also an excellent place to celebrate your 21st birthday with friends.
Some karaoke places have a stage where you can place requests and sing your heart out in front of the whole bar.
If you know you have stage fright and would prefer a less public karaoke experience, other karaoke bars allow you to book rooms where you and your friends can sing all your favorite songs, privately.
Of course, if you need a little liquid courage before belting out your favorite ballad in front of a group of people, you’re finally old enough to order one!
3. HOUSE PARTY
House parties are another classic, time-honored 21st birthday idea, and it’s an especially fun 21st birthday idea for guys.
Throwing a house party allows you to be in full control of the invite list, music, decorations, and drinks served.
Be sure to festoon your house or apartment in special 21st birthday decor, which you can find online on sites like Amazon and Target.
If you want to go the extra mile, you can also throw a themed house party and have your guests dress up to fit the theme.
Some of our favorite party theme ideas include Friends and tropical!
4. WINE TASTING
Wine tastings are a super classy, sophisticated 21st birthday idea.
If you’re looking for a fun night out, look up wine bars or vineyards near you and book a group wine tasting for you and your friends.
If there aren’t any vineyards or wine bars nearby, or if you’d just prefer a chill night in, you can also create your own wine tasting at home!
Buy a couple of bottles of reds, whites, and rosés, and pair them with a homemade charcuterie board for a DIY 21st birthday wine tasting celebration.
5. POWERPOINT PARTY
Powerpoint parties are a trendy, but more importantly, hilarious 21st birthday idea for those who’d prefer a fun night in.
These kinds of events often go viral on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok, but if you haven’t heard of them, they’re parties where each guest comes prepared with their own Powerpoint presentation about a hilarious topic they’re passionate about.
One fun Powerpoint idea is to do a deep dive on a niche topic you’re obsessed with, like the most recent season of your favorite reality TV show, or a silly conspiracy theory you’re convinced is true.
Another fun Powerpoint idea is to assign fictional characters, types of animals, or types of food to all of the people in your friend group.
Finally, one of the best things about Powerpoint parties is that they’re just as fun sober as they are with alcohol.
6. MOVIE MARATHON
If you’re an introvert who prefers a relaxing night in over throwing a rager or hitting the bars, a movie marathon is the perfect 21st birthday idea for you!
Invite some friends over, prepare a spread of your favorite snacks, and spend the night marathoning the Marvel Cinematic Universe, rom coms, or even just a random selection of your all-time favorite films.
To make your 21st birthday movie marathon extra special, consider serving popcorn in old-timey movie theater popcorn bags, or even using a mini projector to project your favorite movies on a wall or hung-up sheet.
7. SLEEPOVER
You probably haven’t attended a sleepover party since you were in grade school.
For a super fun, nostalgic 21st birthday idea, try throwing a grown-up sleepover party for you and your best friends.
You can snuggle up in your coziest PJs, watch movies, paint your nails, play classic sleepover games like Truth or Dare and Never Have I Ever, and if you’re really committed to the theme, sleep in sleeping bags on the floor!
8. GIRLS’/GUYS’ TRIP
If you really want to go the extra mile for your 21st birthday, plan a special girls’ or guys’ trip for you and your friends.
This idea is especially perfect if you’re celebrating a summer birthday!
You can rent an AirBnB or hotel room, pack up your car, and spend the weekend at the beach, in the mountains, or exploring a new city.
Of course, this 21st birthday idea involves quite a bit of extra planning and coordination, but if you’re willing to put in the work, you’ll end up with a 21st birthday celebration you’ll never forget!
9. CLUBBING
If you’re a party animal, you’ve probably been dying to hit the club for your 21st birthday!
Going clubbing is the perfect 21st birthday idea for those who love to get wild and hit the dance floor with their friends.
This is the perfect opportunity to dress up in your best going-out outfit, enjoy your favorite music, and dance until the wee hours of the morning.
If you’re feeling extra crazy, you can even go club hopping and hit a couple of different nightclubs to get a feel for the full range of nightlife in your area.
10. WINE AND PAINT
If you’re looking forward to enjoying your first legal drink on your birthday, but the bar or the club are a little too loud and crazy for you, try a wine and paint night!
This 21st birthday idea strikes the perfect balance between a fun night out and a relaxing, chill activity.
Lots of college towns offer paint and sip parties, where you and your friends can enjoy a relaxing glass of wine and some delicious appetizers while painting your own masterpiece.
As an extra bonus, when the night is over, you’ll have a beautiful painting as a memento of your 21st birthday celebration!
11. COCKTAIL MIXING CLASS
A cocktail mixing class is another classy 21st birthday idea alternative to a bar or club hopping night.
Many bars and restaurants offer cocktail mixing classes or workshops that you can enroll in with your friends.
You’ll learn how to make delicious gourmet cocktails, how to pair them with foods, AND get a crash course introduction to a more sophisticated, upscale way of enjoying alcohol.
12. BIRTHDAY BRUNCH
A birthday brunch is another fun, flexible 21st birthday idea that can accommodate anyone’s personality or vibe.
Book a reservation at your favorite local brunch spot, where you can enjoy delectable pancakes, waffles, French toast, or eggs with all of your closest friends.
For those who don’t want to drink, birthday brunches are still a super fun and delicious 21st birthday idea.
For those who do want to drink, you can pick a place that also offers brunch cocktails, like bloody Marys, mimosas, and bellinis!
13. PARTY BUS
Renting a party bus is another of our favorite 21st birthday ideas, perfect for a big group of friends who love to get rowdy.
Booking a party bus allows you and your crew to ride around your city or town, blasting your favorite music.
If you and your friends are planning on going to the bar, the club, or a concert to celebrate your 21st birthday, a party bus is a super special way to arrive at your venue in style.
14. PICNIC
Organizing a picnic is a super cute, cottagecore 21st birthday idea for anyone whose birthday falls in the warm spring or summer months.
Invite your friends to a local park, spread out some picnic blankets, and bring a speaker to play your favorite music.
To really capture the full picnic experience, you can pack your fruit salad and sandwiches in an adorable wicker picnic basket and lay out on a checkered picnic blanket!
This post showed you 14 21st birthday ideas for college students, ranging from an exciting night out to a relaxing night in. No matter what your idea of a good time is, these birthday ideas are the perfect way to ring in your 21st year!
