Party Ideas / Party Themes / Party Supplies


“He's so old that when he orders a three-minute egg, they ask for the money up front.” – Milton Berle


Congratulations! You are helping to plan an Over the Hill party for a friend or loved one. Pull it off and you will cement your reputation as a premiere fun-arranger. Drop the ball and you will subject everyone to hours of painful lameness.

But don’t worry. Spend a few minutes here, and with our partner OverTheHill.com, and you will plan a party that people will talk about for years.

Over the Hill Party Kit

What is an Over the Hill party?

Unlike an ordinary birthday party, the guest of honor is also the victim. Your job is to help him or her, and all your guests, realize that he is no longer young and vibrant. In fact, he is falling apart in front of your eyes! And you will deliver this awful message in as funny a way as possible.


What are the best ages for an Over the Hill party?

Any “0” birthday makes a great milestone, starting with age 30. Each decade brings a new understanding of our fragile mortality, and every birthday boy or girl needs to have this understanding rubbed into his face. Each milestone can be handled appropriately but here’s a rule of thumb: Plan the funny as though the victim is about 20 years older than her actual age. Treating a 30 year old like she’s 50, or a 40 like she’s 60, sends the right message.


Are there rules for an Over the Hill party?

Rule #1: Know your victim

The best Over the Hill parties are held for people who can easily laugh at themselves and who enjoy being the center of attention. So, how does your victim rate using this Over the Hill fun standard? Is she a full 10, without any self-consciousness or an ego that demands continuous praise? Or is she a 1 -- someone who takes offense easily and has no sense of humor?

Unless you can rate your victim as at least a 5 on this scale, then it probably isn’t worth holding an Over The Hill party at all. (Or hold the party, and don’t invite the victim!) Unless she can at least pretend to enjoy good-natured ridicule, the experience will leave your guests squirming uncomfortably for hours on end. For victims rated from 5 to 10, you can dial the heat up or down appropriately, always making sure that she knows that this is meant to be in good fun.

Over the Hill Whoopee Cushion

As much as possible, tailor the party for the specific guest of honor. Is she more than a little vain? Concentrate on her supposedly deteriorating looks. Prudish? Sex-related fun is your best weapon. Easily embarrassed? Age-related fart jokes never fail. Use your knowledge of the victim’s specific foibles to zing her properly.

Again, your victim’s Over the Hill fun rating will help you plan the right kind of party. Don’t be afraid of going a little too far or you won’t go far enough. This is not the time to play it completely safe. On the other hand, gasps of horror at your rudeness are not a good sign either. Don’t make your guests wish they were somewhere else.


Rule #2: Know your guests

It also is important to consider the people attending the party. They are your co-conspirators, so unless they are onboard with your foolishness, you will be flapping in the wind by yourself. Will they get a little crazy with you? Then, push the limits and have fun.

As the planner, you set the tone of your Over the Hill party. While you cannot control the behavior of all your guests, your preparations will encourage people to let their hair down, while preventing the most inappropriate antics.

You also need to watch out for two specific types of guests: spouses and children. An uncooperative spouse can dampen everyone’s enjoyment, especially the victim’s. Do a little pre-party preparation with the spouse to gauge what she will and won’t tolerate. Overcome resistance, or modify your plans accordingly.

Pin the Part on the Old Fart

Children, especially those younger than 10, present another challenge. Jokes about grandpa’s wrinkled wiener, or emphasizing that he is teetering over his grave, could be traumatic to this age group.

Follow these rules and you are on your way to planning an outstanding Over the Hill party. Now look through the rest of this website to find other great suggestions for making your party work.

We have broken OverTheHillPartyIdeas.com into 3 sections. Go back and forth to get the information you need. Here’s how they are organized:

Over the Hill Party Ideas:
Suggestions to make any type of Over the Hill party more fun and successful. These can be used with almost any party theme.

Over the Hill Party Themes:
Complete themes for your entire party.

Over the Hill Party Supplies:
Descriptions of decorations, gag gifts and geegaws, and where to buy them.


Of course, don’t forget to visit OverTheHill.com for much more!

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Looking for more great information you can use? Check out some of our other PriveCo websites: Hair Loss Hoaxes, How to Do a Beer Bong, Jack and Jill Party Ideas, Bachelorette Party Music, Party Ideas for a 40th Birthday, Over the Hill Cake Ideas, Over the Hill Party Invitations, Over the Hill Party Recipes, Why Am I Losing My Hair, Party Ideas for a 60th Birthday, Songs for Romance, Minoxidil Safety, Reviews by Hemingway, Romantic Gift of the Year, How to Remove Back Hair, and Fun Bachelorette Party Games.