In this story:
- Activities for a kids party
- Things to do for a tween's birthday party
- Birthday party ideas for your teenager
- Fun things to do at your 21st
- Celebrate your 40th with these party ideas
- 50th birthday party ideas
- 60th birthday party ideas
- 70th birthday party ideas
- Activities for a Christmas party
- Fun things to do at any birthday party
What sets the good party ideas in Sydney apart from the bad ones?
Well, it’s not just a matter of nailing the food, drinks and music. Making sure you have a fun party activity for your guests sets the mood for lively conversation and breaks the ice, avoiding awkward or timid encounters between different friend groups. Even if all your guests know each other, a fun activity gives them something exciting to yap about!
That’s what makes workshop parties such a diverse and unique option for all occasions and ages in 2026
Whether you're planning a 5th birthday party, looking for 30th birthday ideas, or you're gearing up for your work's Christmas bash, our ultimate list of party ideas is the best place to find fun things to do at all your parties this year.
Activities for a kids party
Coming up with party ideas for 5 year olds can be tricky—hosting at home is logistically difficult, while renting out a venue can be a little pricey. The best idea when rounding up a room of rambunctious kids is to keep their hands busy and their minds curious!
For craft-loving kindergarteners, try a trinket tray and pot party, where kids make their own terrazzo trinkets—something to do and something to keep that they can be proud of. Or maybe they’d be more interested in a comic book workshop where they work on their drawing skills and use their imagination to make their own comic books. Now that’s a cool story to read before bed!
For the little sweet tooth in your life, get into a baking class with this cupcake decorating party in Sydney. They’ll be excited to impress their friends and family with some new master chef decorating skills, just like Felicity S’s two girls!:
“My two girls had a wonderful time at their cupcake decorating class! They were proud of their achievements and the whole family devoured them.”
For kids around five or older, find your local Sydney slime making workshop and let them get messy without worrying about the clean-up.
With a range of party ideas for all kids, you're sure to host an unforgettable event for your little one's big day—no matter their personality or preferences.
Things to do for a tween's birthday party
Tweens can be hard to impress! They’re caught somewhere between their childlike love of silliness and the need to be seen as more mature and grown-up than their younger selves.
There’s nothing worse than party ideas for tweens that fail to hit that sweet spot, pitching too young or too old for the crowd. We have some tween-specific workshop parties that cater perfectly to this age group.
Sewing classes for beginners are a great way to tap into kids’ love of creativity without being too childish; otherwise, you could try a skateboarding or woodwork session—two unique and inspiring activities to do at a party for 10 to 12 year olds.
If your tween is obsessed with makeup, beauty and body products, they will love this kids raw skincare workshop, where they’ll learn to make their own natural lip balm, body scrub and face mask! Perfect for pampering your tween. We love this awesome review from Simone, which highlights just how great this class is for every tween:
“For my daughter's 12th Birthday party, we did the Organic Skin Care class. Both the boys and girls absolutely loved the class and learnt so much. They made a clay mask, body scrub and lip balm. Polly was amazing with the kids, pitched the learning right at their level, keeping all 11 of them engaged. The space was lovely, and the ingredients were high quality!”
Birthday party ideas for your teenager
If you’re looking for party ideas for teens that go a bit beyond the classic formula of salty snacks, soft drinks and the top 100, look no further. Teenagers are increasingly interested in learning new skills, broadening their horizons and creating things with their own two hands. And a workshop party is a great way to tap into this (and to take the pressure off the parents to make sure everyone’s kids stay safe).
If your teen is an aspiring artist, nurture their emerging passion with an abstract art class where they can get weird with it and explore mixed media, making something unique and Instagrammable with their friends.
Teens with a keen eye for design will love learning how to make their own bright and funky polymer clay jewellery (this is a great sweet 16 party idea, as everyone will have a keepsake from the day to take home) while those who aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty can try a handbuilding pottery workshop where they’ll be able to make something to proudly decorate their room.
Fun things to do at your 21st
A 21st birthday is all about leaving teenagehood behind and celebrating becoming an official ‘adult’. That means 21st birthday parties are often a mix of multiple generations. While some drinks, cake and speeches might fit the bill for some, others may want a party that’s a little different!
Thinking of 21st party ideas that break the mould while still hitting the mark can be tricky, but the key is to keep a spark of childlike fun. You could draw with a drag queen to bring the glam, make a cute crochet handbag for your inner fashionista, or blend your own fancy perfumes. Bring along a playful attitude, and your 21st birthday will go down in history as the party that made everyone feel young and fun. Anna especially loved her day out making a crochet handbag:
“I attended this workshop as a fun weekend outing with my friends, and it was extremely enjoyable! The atmosphere was very warm and supportive.”
And just because you’re choosing some quirky activities for your party doesn’t mean you can’t honour the age-old tradition of getting a little boozy on your 21st. A cocktail class in Sydney is a great option for those looking to celebrate with a few drinks but want something a little more fun than just going down to the local pub.
Celebrate your 40th with these party ideas
Your 40th birthday is a big one, so it’s worth doing something special to mark the occasion, but hosting a party can be more stressful than enjoyable for the birthday boy or girl.
Instead, gather your friends and get ready to learn something new to celebrate all the lessons you’ve learned so far and everything that’s yet to come.
A group photography class, whether it’s iPhone photography, sunrise photography, or night photography, is a great way to take in some beautiful scenery while learning the skills to capture beautiful shots in the future. At the end, you can create a photo of all the attendees for a picture-perfect memento of your 40th birthday.
If you’re feeling a bit worse for wear and are leaning toward something wholesome and positive for a fresh party idea, why not choose a yoga, meditation and massage class or learn how to master your energy and manifest your dream life in an inspiring vision board workshop?
Of course, if you’d prefer to just kick back and have fun, a paint and sip workshop where you enjoy a wine (or two) while taking an art class is always a classy, fun and enjoyable option!
50th birthday party ideas
Need some good party ideas for your 50th? If you don’t want to invite hundreds of guests, consider a fun and intimate activity or experience for your party. They’re perfect for making sure everything runs smoothly with minimal fuss.
A great activity for a woman’s 50th party is a beauty-based experience to share with her best girlfriends. She could make her own organic skincare, blend a signature scent, or learn how to perfect a natural makeup look.
For women looking to add another creative skill to their repertoire, why not explore a jewellery-making class like a resin jewellery workshop where you’ll make your own pendant, a pair of earrings and a ring.
“Took my bestie to a resin jewellery-making class for her birthday and we had so much fun! The teacher was super helpful, the jewellery is gorgeous, and we had a blast. Can't wait to try out the skills we learned at home.” - Isabel L.
There are plenty of good party ideas perfect for men’s 50th birthdays, too. For food lovers, there are BBQ classes all around Sydney, ranging from American smoking BBQ in Centennial Park to a seafood barbeque and even South American BBQ’ing!
While those who appreciate a fine wine can take a Hunter Valley wine tour. Plant lovers can spend a half-day with their friends making their own magical rainforest in this terrarium workshop, or crafting the perfect Kokedama ball to hang at home and admire peacefully.
Check out these other great 50th party ideas, perfect for your dad!
60th birthday party ideas
Your 60th birthday is a momentous occasion, celebrating your life and all your incredible achievements to date! Whether you’re celebrating with family, a close group of friends, or a mix of both, your guests will love doing something a little different to mark the special day.
A great way to celebrate turning 60 is to try something you’ve never done before. Why not grab your guests and learn what all the fuss about fermenting is in a one-hour Kombucha making class complete with a three-course dinner? Or take a pasta masterclass and learn how to make delicious fresh pasta from scratch. Of course, if you’d rather stick to a safer bet while still doing something a little different, try a calming, private paint and sip class by the water in Cremorne Point!
70th birthday party ideas
There’s no reason why a 70th birthday can’t be just as exciting as a 21st. In fact, there are a bunch of awesome activities to do at a 70th party that can minimise all the tedious prep work and maximise fun for a lovely afternoon. The best part? Pretty much every option is suitable for all ages.
If you love having a laugh (who doesn’t?), you can bring everyone together, let go of public perception and get silly with a comedy improv class! If your idea of a good time involves a cup of tea, check out our huge range of tea workshops in Sydney, from matcha making to peaceful tea ceremonies to blending your own tea mixture. The choice is yours!
If you’re more of a chocolate lover, there’s always the ultimate chocolate making class, perfect for the whole family! For those who have a creative flair, get your friends and family involved and learn a new skill yourself in a palette knife painting workshop where you’ll paint a beautiful bunch of textured flowers you can keep and admire forever.
Activities for a Christmas party
This year, more than ever, there is a movement away from consuming endless new items and an emphasis on gifting sustainable or handmade gifts with a lot more heart. Combine your Christmas shopping with your Christmas party at a natural skincare making workshop where you learn to make your own natural cosmetics to give as gifts. Or learn to craft your own unique Christmas cards online with a Christmas brush lettering class. That’s one way to leave a lasting impression this holiday season.
If you’re just looking to have fun and get everyone into the Christmas spirit, opt for a sip and paint Christmas ceramics class, where festive ceramic painting is accompanied by nibbles and Pinot or give yourself an excuse to eat cookies with a Christmas-themed iced cookie decorating class. A great party activity for team building, too!
Fun things to do at any birthday party
As you can see, there are heaps of activities to do at your party. And any celebration is made better with something unique to the person or theme being celebrated. We’ll leave you with a few extra fun things to do at your party in Sydney—sure to be a winner no matter your age, personality type or gender! These ideas are universally awesome.
Winning ideas for your next party in Sydney:
- Paint and sip in the dark in Chatswood
- Italian cooking class in Potts Point
- Resin art class in St Peters (or mobile!)
- Private pottery party in Artarmon
11 years in business
Runs regularly
Marrickville
1 to 30 guests
$150
