Surprising Favorite Things Birthday Party

The Favorite Things Birthday Party is a great way to incorporate all of the Birthday person’s favorite things so their party is full of everything they like!

To add an element of surprise, wrap each activity as a gift for party guests to take turns opening. Inside the gift you will place a card that explains the activity, along with any supplies or money they will need to complete the activity.

After years of well orchestrated parties, planned way in advance, it was time to simple it down. My daughter was turning 12 so she listed all of her favorite things and we picked twelve of them to share with friends.

This is what our list looked like:

1. Movies
2. Starbucks
3. Menchies Frozen Yogurt
4. Drawing
5. Sleepovers
6. Red Robin
7. Baseball
8. Games
9. Books
10. Chocolate
11. Music
12. Birthdays

Then, we prepared twelve gifts, with the necessary supplies, to complete each activity. It was a pretty impressive pile!

On party day, the girls took turns opening the gifts and we did each activity as they opened them. The fun part was we didn’t know which gift they would open first! (I did know which gifts were things to drive to and threw them in the car so we weren’t driving back and forth so much.)

This party took a little prep work but once party day was here we all got to enjoy the day as it came! So. Much. FUN!

The awesome part is you can do a party this way and spend a little or a lot depending on the activities you choose!

How To Throw A Surprising Favorite Things Birthday Party

1. Have the Birthday person list their favorite things.
2. Choose how many favorite things you will do, depending on time constraints.
3. Gather supplies for the favorite things you chose.
4. Wrap each favorite thing, along with any supplies needed.
5. Open one gift at a time (let the guests take turns opening gifts), completing the favorite task or thing before moving on to the next.

Favorite Things Ideas

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Listed below are many favorite things ideas to get your creative juices flowing! Use these ideas or create your own. Just be sure they are things the Birthday person enjoys!

For the most exciting Favorite Things Party, combine a few food ideas, at home ideas, and adventure ideas.

All of the ideas below are included in the Surprising Favorite Things Birthday Party PDF – found below.

Food Ideas

Frozen Yogurt

Go directly to the nearest frozen yogurt shop and enjoy a scrumptious treat!

Include a gift card to the nearest frozen yogurt shop.

Hungry?

Enjoy a favorite restaurant for lunch, dinner, dunch, or whatever this might be.

Include a gift card to the Birthday person’s favorite restaurant.

Coffee

Head to a nearby coffee stand and order your favorite drink!

Include a gift card to the Birthday person’s favorite coffee stand.

Treat

Enjoy a favorite treat!

Include the Birthday person’s favorite treat, in the box.

Snack

This snack is just for you!

Include a favorite snack of the Birthday person.

Cookies

Decorate a cookie and enjoy the tasty treat!

The Cookie Box should include:

• Sugar Cookies
• Frosting
• Cookie Decorating Supplies
• Sprinkles
• Paper Plates
• Napkins

S’mores

Enjoy an all time favorite treat!

The S’mores Box should include:

• Graham Crackers
• Chocolate
• Marshmallows
• City Bonfires Portable Fire Pit – optional, if you don’t have a fire pit.
• Lighter
• Marshmallow Roasting Sticks
• Box Decor – optional

Tea Party

Choose your favorite tea and enjoy a tea party!

Tea Party Box Ideas:

• A Variety Of Teas
• Tea Kettle
• Tea Cups
• Spoons
• Honey or Sugar

Recipe

Use these ingredients to create a dish worthy to eat!

Include the ingredients for a favorite recipe with directions to find perishable items in the fridge.

Here’s a favorite of ours: Cookie Dough Balls

Cake

Eat Cake!

Cake Box Ideas:

• Paper Plates
• Forks
• Napkins
• Cake – the cake should probably be left on the counter!

At Home Ideas

Drawing

Use the enclosed supplies to draw a picture then decorate the walls with your masterpiece!

Things to include in a Drawing Box:

• Paper
• Color Pencils, Crayons, etc.
• Blue Tape

Music

Listening to music is an all time favorite thing to do! Create a new playlist and each load your favorite song!

Dance Party

Crank the music and dance to one song! Not just any dance. Make it the most ridiculous dance session you’ve ever witnessed!

Birthdays

It’s fun to celebrate Birthdays with friends! Time to open presents!

Game

Take some time to play!

Include the Birthday person’s favorite board game.

Puzzle

Take time to put the pieces together as you chat about anything you desire.

Include a puzzle.

Video Game

Take a bit of time to play!

Include a video game that’s a favorite of the Birthday person.

Create A TikTok

Get together and create a TikTok you can all be proud of!

Craft

Get creative with these craft supplies!

Include the supplies to create a fun craft the Birthday person would love!

• Flax Seed Heating Bag
• Rock Painting

DIY

It’s time to DIY! Use these supplies to create a treasure you’ll keep forever!

Include supplies for a DIY project!

• How To Make Wood Signs With Vinyl Lettering

Sleepover Box

The enclosed supplies will help you party the night away!

Sleepover Box Ideas:

• Microwave Popcorn
• Pirate’s Booty
• Red Vines
• Glow Sticks
• Candy Bars
• Movie
• Disco Light

Adventure Ideas

Movie

Who doesn’t love a great show? Find a theater and movie to see.

Things to include in a Movie Box:

• Money or movie theater tickets. You may want guests to choose which theater they go to and, in that case, money would be the best choice.
• Candy

Baseball

Time to hit a few balls! Go hit (or attempt to hit) 12 balls each.

Include a gift card to a local family fun park.

Books

Find the nearest book store and purchase one new book for yourself!

Include a gift card to the nearest book store.

Arcade

Play a game or two at the arcade!

Include a gift card to a nearby arcade.

Putt-Putt

It’s time for mini golf!

Include a gift card to a nearby mini golf place.

Go Karts

Head to the go kart place for a drive!

Include a gift card for a go kart place that’s nearby.

Walk

Head out for a short walk and enjoy the sights you see!

Hoops

Go shoot hoops!

Wrap a basketball and directions to the nearest basketball hoop.

Jump

You might as well jump!

Include a gift card (be sure to check this post to avoid gift card scams) to a local adventure park or directions to go outside and jump on a trampoline!

Swing

Find a swing at a nearby park and take turns touching the sky with your toes!

Swim

Head to the pool and splash a while!

Include a gift card to a local swimming pool or, if you have a pool, they can head to the backyard.

Mural

They adorn buildings and show the talent or artists. Take a picture in front of a mural!

This is a fun opportunity if you have buildings with murals painted on them, nearby.

Explore

Head to a nearby town to see the sights or window shop on main street!

Give each party guest a set dollar amount to spend, as they explore.

Shop

Use this $$$ and head to the store to purchase a new outfit for the Birthday girl!

Include $$$ for party guests to purchase a new outfit for the Birthday girl!

Photoshoot

Pick a location and take photos of each other to commemorate this day!

Picnic

Enjoy a picnic in the great outdoors!

Picnic Ideas:

• Picnic Basket
• Drinks
• Sandwiches – You may want to include directions to get the sandwiches out of the refrigerator!
• Chips
• Brownies

Ride

There’s a ride nearby, waiting for you to laugh with joy!

Include tickets to a nearby fun center, carnival, or fair.

Bowl

Head out to the bowling alley for one game!

Include a gift card to a local bowling alley.

Sightsee

Choose a nearby spot to sightsee and take pictures like a tourist would.

You might encourage a destination location or something simple, like a walk to see a nearby attraction.

Sightsee Box Ideas:

• Sunglasses
• Bucket Hats
• Umbrella
• Drawstring Backpacks
• Water Bottles

Get Your Favorite Things Birthday Party Cards Here!

These cards include all of the ideas above plus four blank cards you can use as you like!

The Favorite Things Birthday Party is a fun way to celebrate any age!

If you are throwing a Birthday Party for a teenager, this is a great way for teenagers to self-direct their own party, with you standing in the sidelines, since you’ve already done the work. You just provide the rides!