If you’re here you are probably looking for some awesome 40th birthday party ideas. Our writer, Gene Urban, is a world class magician who has performed at 100’s of adult birthday celebrations. He has performed at spectacular events like Pavarotti birthday as well as quiet family gatherings. Today he’d like to share ideas and thoughts with you. First, the thoughts:

Thanks for stopping by. One of the elements that seems to make a milestone birthday party special is simple. The best celebrations focus on what delights the birthday person. It is often based on memories and likes from his or her teens to early 20’s. I’d recommend finding things that delight the celebrant or fulfill an untapped wish.

Amazing 40th Birthday Party Ideas: 

Surprise Trip:

This was a great 40th birthday party idea. My client, Brad, surprised his wife with a 4 day trip to New York City for her birthday. He hosted a cocktail birthday party with friends on Friday early evening. All seemed like a normal birthday party until I magically produced 2 airline tickets for the following morning. She was completely surprised. A great touch was the cocktail party had a NY theme complete with a poster for the Broadway show Brad had bought tickets.

Beach Party: 

Since so many people love hanging out at the beach, a beach side birthday party is a natural in the Santa Barbara area. The birthday man was treated to a fine afternoon at Leadbetters. His wife rented a couple kayaks and a friend had a Hobie Cat. I was there to add some strolling magic for the guests who weren’t into water activities. A nice trop rock music mix and great catered BBQ added to the fun and kept things simple for everyone. BTW: There are lots of outdoor opportunities and many require a reservation. Here is a link to the SB.gov site where you can check things out.

Las Vegas Theme:

A Las Vegas themed party is always a hit. Part of the allure is the many directions the event can take. Most any kind of music and entertainment is plausible. My client’s husband, Mike, loves to play blackjack and craps so this was a perfect party choice. She brought in 2 casino games, a DJ spinning 80’s music (her husbands fav), me adding a bit of fun & magic and some themed decor. The guests were encouraged to dress up Las Vegas style too. Yes, it was a success and the Mike really appreciated the attention to details that meant things to him.

Charity Birthday:

I’ve only been to one birthday party like this one. Richard and his wife have always given back to the community. So, when it was time to celebrate his milestone 50th she thought to make the birthday bash a fundraiser for one of their favorite causes. To keep things on course and easy they simply asked the guests to make a donation instead of bringing a gift or wine. The charity helped plan and execute the party so the couple got some help with the evening… a true win-win.

Wine Party:

Amazing 40th birthday parties revolving around a wine theme can be great fun, I’ve seen a few iterations on this theme. Some host the party at one of the Santa Ynez area wineries while others bring a sommelier in from one of the wine stores like the Winehound or a local winery into their home. Learning about wine is always popular a wonderful way to encourage intimacy and conversations. Plus, the cheese and other food pairings can’t help but be a hit.

Astrological Party with Outdoor Dinner:

I’ve been to a few adult birthday parties and several corporate events where they combined star gazing with dinner at a remote location. Places like the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History have experts who may be able to help. I’ve performed strolling magic at these gatherings adding texture to the event and have seen fortune tellers too. 

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