80th Birthday ideas

[cstraub]

Give me your best. We will be hosting my dad's 80th birthday party here at our house in March. I'm looking for ideas on how to make it special. There will be about 30 to 40 people her of all ages.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

How about a This is Your Life Type Thing. We just went to my aunts 80th birthday. It was at a hall and the food was catered. The DJ was horrible. While he did play a few oldies, he was playing Like A Virgin from Madonna, hello, just what some 80 yo wants to hear. They passed around a scrapbook and had us write in it and the girl doing it was going to put the corresponding pictures my cousin was taking with the correct page etc. It was a nice idea, but I really didnt like it because it was like can you top this in the family and what she did for one family she didnt do for another etc. so I reasly was just writing general stuff in it. The favors were star ornaments and the theme was You Are the Star. Is there a hobby etc, or interest you could gear it around that he has? Good luck.

 

[mallcat]

How about a timeline theme? Like start out with the things that were "in" 80 years ago, and go through today's age. Have music that goes through the time line as well. Start with the 1920's (flappers), 1930's, 40's, 50's, etc. You could have pictures of new inventions through those years, clothing styles, music, food, fads, etc. Each era could be represented briefly. It may take some research and work to bring it all together, but it could be a really nice remembrance for your dad to remember the "good old days".

 

[azgal81]

My grandparents are also going to have their 80th birthday party this year. For their 55th wedding anniversary party a few years ago my aunt had all the guests write a letter to them stating what we enjoyed doing with them and why they were so special to us. Then she put all the letters along with pictures together in this memory book sorta thing. They loved it!

 

[cstraub]

Wonderful ideas from everyone. I would love to hear more.

Anyone?

 

[FergieTCat]

I'd make posters about the state of the world 80 years ago. Headlines, cost of living (you'd be surprised how much the price of bread has increased!)

 

[minniecarousel]

My favorite idea: contact all of the atendees ahead of time and ask them to wite up a memory or donate pix of the person - all to put in a scrapbook to be presented that night.
Also have music that the honoree likes. My Mom's 89th Birthday party was this past weekend - we had Billy Vaughn's Pearly Shells playing for her. (reminded us of our youth!)