Entertainment

10 Ways to Spend your Birthday

Itzel Diaz and Stephanie Palomino • April 23, 2025

1.) Have a backyard dinner and make flower crowns with your friends

You and your friends can cater food, or have each one of you make a dish to share. You can set up warm lights or candles, a table and chairs, dishware, and decorations to make the setting more inviting and comfortable. You and your friends can make flower crowns, choosing which flowers to include. This idea will be really fun and low-budget!

A little cute setup for an outdoor movie night.

2.) Have an outdoor movie night with your friends

You and your friends can have a movie night outside in the backyard, with a projector and decorate the ground with pillows, blankets, and lights. Don’t forget to bring some snacks like chips, popcorn, drinks, and candies. This is a cute and budget-friendly idea to enjoy with friends.

Build-A-Bear that you can name and pick the clothing for.

3.) Make a Build-A-Bear with your friends

With this idea, you and whoever you decide to hangout with can go to Build-A-Bear and build your own personalized bear. This activity will evoke childhood memories as you get to create a bear however you would like—you can name it, and pick clothes for your bear. Additionally, you can choose to get matching bears with whoever you go with.

A pool party with friends while watching a movie.

4.) Pool movie night

With this idea, if you have a pool, you can make a movie night pool party. You can watch movies on a projector outside while in the pool with friends. Additionally, you can have snacks and drinks and just have fun enjoying the movie and swimming with your friends.

This picture is of when we had a beach picnic at Montrose Beach.

5.) Beach Picnic with friends

If you decide to do a beach picnic, you can each bring food or make food to bring. For example, you can bring any type of fast food you prefer, and each person can bring a dessert. You can go to a nearby beach, such as any beach in downtown Chicago, or if you want to go on an adventure, you can go on a one-hour road trip to Indiana Dunes National Park.

This shows the back of the car decorated with lights, pillows and blankets to watch a movie.

6.) Go to a drive-in

You can go to a drive-in with some friends, family, or someone special. Going to watch a movie in the back of the car is a fun and creative idea to spend time with someone. You can even decorate the back seat with items such as blankets, pillows, and lights, and bring along some snacks to enjoy during the movie. You can go to MOO-V-Night located in Westmont, IL, or ChiTown Movies located in Chicago.

7.) Throw yourself a party

Host a house party and invite a lot of people. We’re sure it will be a lot of fun, where both you and your guests can have a great time.

8.) Go to the mall to get your birthday freebies

If you do this to celebrate your birthday, make sure that you go to a big mall. Some options for big malls in the area are Woodfield Mall or Oakbrook Mall, as they offer rewards for your birthday!

9.) Going bowling with friends

With this idea, you and your friends can have a fun night by going bowling, as a hangout or celebration of their birthday or yours. Bowling alleys are a fun and engaging hangout spot because you get to have fun with your friends, play games, and compete with each other. Additionally, you can enjoy food and drinks at the bowling alley.

This shows a concert with people having fun and enjoying the music.

10.) Go to a concert

Finally, there are many upcoming concerts near the Chicago-land area. For example, artists such as Nicki Minaj will be at the United Center later this month, FEID, Jhene Aiko, and Justin Timberlake will be performing in Chicago very soon. Additionally, many other artists will be performing later this year, and you can attend any of them with your friends for your birthday!

In conclusion, all birthdays are celebrated differently and in a unique way. Hopefully this article can help you figure out what you want to do on your birthday.

Works Cited:

Cummings, R. (n.d.). Get Free Stuff on Your Birthday. Chicago on the Cheap. Retrieved April 12, 2024, from https://chicagoonthecheap.com/get-free-stuff-on-your-birthday/

Events & Tickets. (n.d.). United Center. Retrieved April 12, 2024, from https://www.unitedcenter.com/events-and-tickets/

Garden Dinner Party. (2023, September 20). Kayla’s Kitch and Fix. Retrieved April 12, 2024, from https://kaylaskitchandfix.com/garden-dinner-party/

Miller, J. (n.d.). How to Host a Pool Party Movie Night. Latham Pool. Retrieved April 12, 2024, from https://www.lathampool.com/blog/enjoy/how-to-host-a-pool-party-movie-night/

Salaky, K. (2020, December 4). TikTok Is Obsessed With This Hack For Cutting Birthday Cake Using Wine Glasses. Delish. Retrieved April 12, 2024, from https://www.delish.com/food-news/a34874666/tiktok-cake-wine-glass-hack/

The Ultimate Drive-in Movie Date Guide With Your Significant Other. (2023, May 9). Medium. Retrieved April 12, 2024, from https://medium.com/@moviesmove2021/the-ultimate-drive-in-movie-date-guide-with-your-significant-other-ac9ad3418f53

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About the Contributors

Itzel Diaz, Staff Reporter

Hi! My name is Itzel Diaz. This is my first year on Staff and I am a freshman in Elmwood Park High School. My favorite genres of music is Latin and R&B. I’m a beginner nail tech. I also like to crochet plushies, flower bouquets, and clothes. I want to study Cosmetology because I love doing makeup and nails.

Stephanie Palomino, Staff Reporter

Hi! I’m Stephanie Palomino. I am a freshman at Elmwood Park High School. This is my first year writing for The Tiger. I plan on studying Nursing to become an Registered Nurse. The goal is to attend Michigan State University. Outside of school, I enjoy traveling and exploring new places. I have visited Mexico and multiple islands in Texas and Michigan!