January is a fresh start for the new year and follows all the chaos of the holidays. But let us not forget to celebrate our friends and family for their January birthdays! My mother’s birthday is January 2nd and honestly, it can go overlooked due to the holiday craziness. Most years she prefers to stay home or do something cozy, no fancy dinner reservations or big party get togethers. This list is inspired by that! I can imagine most January birthdays, especially early in the month, you want to relax and do something fun and casual. Lets go over a few birthday ideas that can be done at any price point.

Wine, Bonfire and Food

I absolutely love the idea of being around a bonfire with some live music and food. New Jersey is cold and icy and a cozy day with your favorite people is a great relaxing way to celebrate. This is a really good idea for any age group and whether you enjoy a glass of wine or not you can enjoy the vibes. To spruce up the experience, plan to bring number balloons for the birthday person from the dollar tree that are about a foot long to have at the table and their favorite chocolate or dessert. You could even have everyone wear the birthday person’s favorite color or bring a bunch of birthday party hats for everyone to wear. Remember to celebrate the birthday person and if the budget is fitting maybe grabbing breakfast or dinner before the festivities is an option. 

A location option is White Horse Winery in Hammonton, New Jersey. Every Saturday in January they have a Live Music series where they have live music, bonfires or indoor seating, with food trucks.

Enjoy the last of the Holiday Season 

I know I know, by this point you may be completely over the holidays BUT if your birthday person loves the holidays this may be an option. I for one am a huge fan of Christmas and I always look forward to celebrating. Most festive locations wrap up their holiday decor around January 13th or so, this time would be the best chance to take advantage of the small crowds. Google some areas near you that still have some decorations up to enjoy. 

Think of visiting the Rockefeller Center Ice Skating rink but keep in mind that the tree will be unlit on 1/11/2025. Also, consider the Bryant Park Holiday Market that ends on 1/05/2025  but they will have the ice rink bumper cars.

Cozy Birthday Party at Home

Being home is comforting and if you are celebrating a homebody, bring the fun to them! Choose the birthday persons’ favorite color, hit the dollar tree or Walmart for some simple party decor in that color, buy or make a cake, and enjoy! Do a movie marathon or have board games ready to play. Order some take out or make some cozy soup to dive into as you play or watch your movie. Keep in mind the personality of your birthday person and consider what they like to determine which activity would be more fun. 

Think of board games like Uno, Sorry, or Really Loud Librarian for a fun board game everyone could laugh and be loud. If you don’t have time to purchase any board games, look to your phones for Apps like Pictionary or Party Up.

Fun Things to do in Your Area

Google some events in your area that may spark some interest and get you out to celebrate! Take advantage of what’s happening in your area to celebrate your birthday person in a new way. There may be comedy shows, festivals, restaurant week discounted menu, the options are truly endless. This can be especially nice if you are new to the area or don’t explore much. It’s not a traditional way to celebrate but in an intimate group it can be fun and relaxing. 

Think of the Rahway Soup Stroll that takes place every Saturday in January. Different restaurants in the area participate by offering a free cup of soup and registration is not a requirement! Also, on January 25th, 2025 there is a Mount Holly Fire & Ice Festival in downtown Mount Holly and Mill Race Village. Lastly, consider Wheaton Arts’ Mid-Winter Antique Show at just $7 per person on 1/25 & 1/26.

Spa Day

A spa day is obviously THE MOST relaxing, cozy way to celebrate a January birthday. I wont list all the options because there are tons. From a sauna spa, to couples massages, the options are endless. However, out of all the options listed this is likely to be the priciest. My husband and I like to use Groupon to find some really good deals and try to spas in our area.

All in all, don’t forget to celebrate a January birthday in the best way you can. Not all birthdays need a large budget but they all need a lot of love!