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.
Inspired? Create and share by tagging @HallmarkStores.
70th birthday party theme and decor ideas
- Disco, obviously 🕺 🪩 ✨ 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:
Shop Birthday
See allYou may also like
See more-
Christmas Light up your tree with your love of Harry Potter
No need for the Lumos charm here—this set of 10 sculpted lights on a string are all you need to illuminate your tree ...
-
Christmas Help us celebrate 75 years with the Peanuts Gang
Fun fact: a 75th anniversary is a diamond anniversary! And we're excited to show Peanuts Snoopy and his pals just how...
-
Christmas From the tree to your tabletop
See how a beloved Keepsake Ornament from retired Hallmark Artist Ken Crow has been turned into a magical tabletop dec...
-
Christmas Complete your Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets collection this year!
Relive the mystery and adventure that fills Harry Potter's second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry ...
-
Christmas Celebrate the true meaning of Christmas with the Peanuts Gang
Featuring the iconic stage where Charlie Brown and his friends put on their Christmas pageant in "A Charlie Brown Chr...
-
Christmas Buddy and Jovie are here to spread cheer!
This adorable duo feature light and dialogue from favorite scenes from the movie "Elf." Of course, each ornament is a...
-
Christmas Celebrate the season in Dark Side style!
Little tree...BIG impact. Especially with this Mini Star Wars™ Darth Vader™ ShowToppers Musical Tree Topper. Just con...
-
Christmas Come inside, foolish mortal, if you dare!
Relive the fun and memories of a childhood trip to Disney Parks with the Haunted Mansion Keepsake Ornament collection...
-
Christmas Keepsake Ornament Premiere is almost here!
With more than 250 new Keepsake Ornament releases, you won't want to miss the start of Keepsake Ornament Premiere on ...
-
Christmas So many layers to this new collection of Keepsake Ornaments!
Watch as Keepsake Artist Charles Young explains how Hallmark's decades-long artistry in the world of papercraft has i...
-
Christmas The magic of Disney Parks is destined for your tree ✨
That feeling of seeing Cinderella’s castle in person. The dazzling wonder of the Main Street Electrical Para...
-
Christmas Keepsake hot takes: 10 new Keepsake Ornaments that are an automatic add-to-cart
Holiday lovers, we see you! While other people are drenched in summer sweat, we know you’re dreaming of a white Chris...
-
Card Ideas 10 new, trendy cards we’re loving right now
Hot take incoming: Cards are basically mini time capsules. Not only do you get to hold on to a piece of someone’s han...
-
Christmas Visit your favorites at Keepsake Village
Some of your favorite Hallmark friends have gathered for fun and festivities this holiday season! Keepsake Ornament c...
-
Christmas Welcome to Elfville!
We LOVE a new Keepsake Ornament series, and this one promises to be totally adorable. The Welcome to Elfville series ...
-
Calendar Flip Let’s celebrate, y’all! July 2025 Holidays and Celebrations
Get ready for friends, family and fireworks—and break out the red, white and blue for Independence Day. It’s time ...
-
Calendar Flip Welcome Autumn! September 2025 Holidays and Observances
Fall brings cooler nights, cute sweaters, homecoming games and tailgate parties. It’s time to flip the calendar page,...
-
Calendar Flip A (Very) Warm Hello! August 2025 Holidays and Observances
Is it hot enough for you? Well, we’re here to add some extra sizzle. It’s time to flip the calendar page, check ou...
-
Father's Day Give love back: 25+ Father’s Day ideas to celebrate Dad
We love dads. They’re uniquely brilliant, wise beyond reason, silly in the best way and caring in the sweetest. The r...
-
Christmas 2025 Dream Book week four SNEAK PEAK
This week we are closing in on the 2025 Dream Book cover and so much more in our week four behind the scenes look....