70th birthday ideas

Seventy is not just another birthday. A 70th birthday is a (hopefully) retired hoot. A celebration and continuation of a beautiful life. And, truthfully, a privilege that not everyone gets to experience.
So, we want to encourage you to make the most of it with a few 70th birthday ideas. Which means if you need any help coming up with thoughtful ideas, creative details and meaningful gifts and messages, then you’ve definitely clicked the right article.
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70th birthday party theme and decor ideas
- Disco, obviously
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There are SO many fun ’70s-inspired things that are trendy right now, having a ’70s 70th birthday party would be really cute, fun and easy! It can go as far as having disco music, fondue and flared pants, or it can just be a great playlist with a simple decor theme that adds some sparkle and fun.
- Their favorite era
We’re defining “era” in the Taylor Swift way, not the geological way, here. What period of life was one of the birthday person’s favorites? It could be a decade or any time that they’re nostalgic for. Feel free to create a multi-era theme to really capture their favorites! For example: ’60s music, ’70s pants, ’80s hair and ’90s television references.
- Be prideful
Whatever things the birthday person is most proud of, base the theme on them! Maybe it was where they went to school, their job, when they started a family, their participation in a social movement, a work of art they created—whatever it is, make a big deal about it to celebrate their identity!
- Destination party
Make the theme about one of their favorite places in the world. It could be somewhere they travelled, the city they grew up in, or the diner they still like to frequent. This offers lots of opportunities for reminiscing and storytelling.
- Hobby it up
Being 70 doesn’t mean the birthday person only wants to celebrate the past. Base the party around one of their current favorite hobbies! This gives them a chance to show off what they’re up to.
70th birthday cake ideas
- Go seasonal. Sometimes it’s fun to tie the birthday in with the season—especially if it happens to be the birthday person’s favorite! Plus, you know, poetic stuff about the seasons of life and all that.
- Indulge the inner kid. There’s a chance the birthday person had way more years with fancy grown-up desserts than they’ve had with the ones they dreamt of as a kid. Break out the chocolate lava cake!
- Get a little boozy. Childhood-schmildhood…70 years means the cake’s allowed to give you a placebo buzz! Go for a favorite rum cake or this Black Russian cake made with Kahlua and vodka. If there are kids at the party, don’t worry—the alcohol evaporates during the cooking process.
70th birthday food ideas
- Bev-entieth birthday
This is the food category, but the right beverage can totally be as filling as food! Smoothies, protein shakes, milkshakes with lots of cookie chunks…you name it.
- Charcuterie
Diets can need a lot of structure at 70, so a party charcuterie spread that offers yummy bites from multiple food groups at a custom serving size is perfect. Plus, there are so many fun ways to arrange charcuterie boards, and cute boards to arrange on!
- Dip party
First of all, if you get 10 7-layer dips, that’s technically 70 layers! What a way to honor the milestone! Second, dips pair well with healthy veggies while also helping folks avoid too much chewing strain if they have any teeth sensitivities.
70th birthday gift Ideas
- Something to display. If the birthday person is spending more time at home, it can be fun to add new home decor. Print a favorite picture and frame it, gift a vase that you can regularly bring flowers for, or a quote block to give kind words whenever they see it.
- Something to do. Since the birthday person is hopefully retired, they might have time to do new things! You could get them a starter set for a hobby they’ve always wanted to try, or go classic with board games and puzzles.
- Something to commemorate. Having a birthday means one very obvious thing: Life is still going on! Get the birthday person something to help commemorate not just their milestone birthday, but the days they have ahead of them. Could be photo albums, journals, memory boxes or whatever you can dream up.
70th birthday card message ideas
- Congratulations! You’re 70?! That means you get a passing grade in life! Good job and happy birthday!
- Guess what? The “time of your life” is right now. Always has been, always will be. Happy 70th Birthday!
- You’ve filled your 70 years with fantastic stories, beautiful friendships, and so much loving kindness. Happy birthday, and cheers to more amazing life to come!
- It might sound cheesy, but your life has made (and continues to make) a difference in this world. I truly believe that things are brighter, happier, and better because you exist. So thank you, and happy 70th birthday!
- It’s been 70 years of you being you. That means growing, learning, loving, and giving it all you’ve got, especially when it comes to the people you love most. It’s no wonder we all love you back times infinity. Remember that, on your birthday and always!
We hope this article has inspired you to go all out for the 70th birthday occasion(s) in your life. Now go show those birthday people how meaningful their life is and how much they’re loved!
Find more birthday ideas to help you celebrate honorees of any age here:
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