The golden birthday is a special life-marker worthy of a big celebration. Honor your Birthday Guest with ideas for themes, decorations, and favors that will have him laughing all the way to 51.

Everybody's Elaine

This game will take your Guest of Honor by complete surprise if you can keep from telling. Ask all of your guests to dress like the Birthday Girl, but to keep it a surprise. When Elaine shows up at the party, everyone (male and female alike) are trying to look just like her! Funny and sweet, this makes a great 50th birthday party sendup.

Old Fashioned Roast

To pull this one off well, you need a gregarious friend (or friends) willing to emcee the roast. Before the party, choose friends and family to tell stories about the Birthday Boy, then watch the sparks fly as guests confess never-before-told stories, or embarrassing stories the Guest of Honor has chosen to forget. As long as you remain within good taste (for the most part), you will have a great time with this one!

50 Things We Know About Tom

You can do this one of two ways: either ask each guest to fill out a card that comes with their invitation, naming one piece of trivia they know about the Birthday Guest, or hang a huge banner at the party where each guest gets to write their favorite "Tom" story. Read them aloud later in the party for everyone's entertainment, or give as a memento of the celebration to read at home.