Fun things to do for birthday in chicago

A birthday should be a memorable occasion each year. Certain birthdays stand out--that surprise party at 30, or the long weekend with friends at 25. The city of Chicago offers an abundance of activities to make a birthday special. For visitors or Chicago natives, whether it is a romantic evening or a wild party with friends, a birthday in Chicago can be one to remember.

Advertisement

Video of the Day

Karaoke at Trader Todd's

A karaoke party at Trader Todd's is a perfect birthday outing with a group of friends. This mid-town spot has a fun and casual atmosphere, with karaoke on stage seven nights a week. With 30,000 songs to choose from, everyone in the group will find titles to sing. Trader Todd's has a full menu of appetizers, sandwiches and entrees, and specialty cocktails are available from the fully-stocked bar. Enjoy your refreshments in the karaoke room year-round, or in the beer garden during summer.

Advertisement

Trader Todd's 3216 N. Sheffield Ave. Chicago, IL 60657 773-348-3250 tradertodd.com

"Spirit of Chicago"

Whether it's a romantic birthday date, or a large party of family and friends, a trip on "Spirit of Chicago" is an unforgettable treat. This entertainment cruise ship sails from Navy Pier in River East Plaza. A cocktail hour is followed by a freshly-prepared dinner buffet. Guests can stroll the outdoor deck and gaze at the Chicago nighttime skyline before returning inside for dancing. Brunch, moonlight and theme cruises are available. The entire ship may be rented for large parties.

Advertisement

"Spirit of Chicago" River East Plaza 401 E. Illinois St., Suite 310 Chicago, IL 60611 866-273-2469 spiritofchicago.com

Spa Party

A birthday spent with girlfriends can be marked with a relaxing spa party. Diana's Nail and Spa, in Chicago's downtown Loop area, was voted "Best Manicures and Pedicures" by Citysearch in 2008. This full-service spa provides manicure and pedicure services, waxing, facials and massages. Diana's offers a "BYOB" birthday party--guests bring their own drinks and food, and choose spa services a la carte; or, birthday parties can receive a discount for group manicures and/or pedicures.

Advertisement

Diana's Nail and Spa 175 N. Franklin St. Chicago, IL 60606 312-332-2662 diananailspa.com

Whirly Ball

WhirlyBall is an establishment housing the raucous activity of the same name. A birthday celebration with the guys, or even a large co-ed group of friends, could be well-spent playing WhirlyBall. The "sport" mixes techniques used in basketball, hockey and lacrosse, with the sheer fun of driving in bumper cars. Players use plastic scoops to toss a whiffle ball to each other, and try to score baskets, while ramming into each other in bumper cars. WhirlyBall's downtown Chicago location also features an international menu, full-service bar, laser tag, pool tables and video games.

Here’s the deal: Chicago is one of the best cities in the world to celebrate your ___th (doesn’t matter what age you are). Our city is teeming with possibilities to make your celebration memorable.

Here are 7 absolutely amazing things to do in Chicago on your birthday!

Have a pizza birthday party!

Pizza is the ultimate party food in Chicago.

Reason no. 1: It’s uniquely shareable.

Reason no. 1: Pizza - especially deep dish pizza - is a well-known Chicago food.

Now, every Chicagoan has their own fav pizza joint…but if you were to ask me, I’d point you towards Malnati’s in the Loop as the best place to get your birthday pizza from!

Party tip: If you’re going for Malnati’s, go for their fried calamari and/or salad with vinaigrette dressing, along with the pizza. And they even have a gluten free option for anyone that needs it!

Birthday at the beach

You probably know this: Chicago has 26 miles of freshwater coastline (along the shores of Lake Michigan). And we have over 20 public beaches, which means you don’t have to pay a dime to have a party with lots of swimming, sunbathing, having a sandcastle contest, playing beach volleyball, and on and on.

Don’t worry - the views are as dazzling as you would get at a seaside beach.

Party tip: Remember to carry along a beer cooler, especially if your birthday falls during the summer months.

Pro tip: One of our most popular beaches is Oak Street beach. On the other hand, if you’re looking for more of a get-together than a party (i.e. quieter) you can have it at Loyola Beach.

Escape room birthday adventure

Yep, this is gonna be an adventure all right!

Those dreams you’ve had since childhood - of breaking free from your daily existence and going on a daredevil quest with your mates - those are gonna be coming true.

If you’re asking “how?”, you’ve never heard of an escape room, so I’ll explain to you how it works:

You and your friends will choose a mission that you’ll have to fulfill within 60 minutes.

The entire thing takes place inside the game space, which has been set up (with room decor, props and special effects) to simulate the mission environment.

You’ll have to work as a team to spot clues, unravel puzzles, execute tasks to find your way forward, and ultimately out of the room.

Sounds exciting?

Take a look through our escape room games and see which one(s) makes/make a good fit for your birthday party.

You can also find out more about why escape rooms are the birthday idea Chicagoans are raving about!

Go on a hike

If you’re looking for a birthday party that gets you moving, go for some of our hiking trails.

There’s the North Branch Trail, the Lakefront Trail, the Indiana Dunes Park…to name just a few.

This will be one party your guests won’t forget in a hurry!

Catch a movie at a theater

I know.

Watching a movie is one of the oldest suggestions when it comes to ideas for a birthday party - and you’re probably rolling your eyes at me for even having suggested it!

Here’s the deal, though.

Sometimes, the simplest ideas are the best ones.

And, catching a flick with family and friends might turn out to be the best idea for a birthday that you’ve had yet!

Whether it’s a blockbuster at a multiplex that you fancy or a classic motion picture screening at the Music Box Theater, Chicago has all kinds of options you can opt for.

Belly laughs at a comedy club

Did you know that Tina Fey emerged from the Chicago comedy circuit? The same goes for Steve Farrell, Stephen Colbert, and a lot more of the comedy talents that you see today.

And given the kind of atmosphere we’re living through - with inflation hitting the roof, jobs becoming more and more demanding and precarious, people getting into quarrels and fights over everything - a birthday party that sees you chortling, emitting belly laughs may in fact turn out to be just what you need at this point in your life.

If that sounds just about right, look at Chicago venues like The Comedy Bar, The Second City and Lincoln Lodge for your birthday.

Enjoy blues and jazz

If you’re the sort that enjoys music genres like blues and jazz (I bring those up specifically as Chicago is well-known for hosting a lot of talent in them), you could be in for a real treat on your bday.

Start off your party at the Jazz Showcase which hosts  local and global acts nightly, and has had some of the biggest names in jazz.

And as the night (these kinds of music are best enjoyed at night) goes on, shift to Buddy Guy’s Legends, set up by the legendary Buddy Guy himself (and he still plays there) for some beautiful blues.

Have your birthday dinner at Buddy Guy’s - they have a New Orleans-inspired menu that’s got some absolutely mouthwatering dishes!

You can also check out Green Mill, a jazz venue that used to be a Frank Sinatra haunt.

Celebrating your birthday in Chicago - key takeaways

As you can see, there are all kinds of fun birthday celebration options in Chicago. From having a pizza party to an escape room adventure, from catching a movie to enjoying music and/or comedy - there are various kinds of activities, that will appeal to various kinds of people.

Of course, a lot of this depends on you - how many people you want to invite, when (morning, afternoon, evening or night) you want to have it, how long you want it to be, and so on.

What is a unique way to celebrate your birthday?

What to do for a birthday in downtown Chicago?

What are fun ideas for a birthday party?

What is the best thing to do on my birthday?