If you're planning a big bash for someone who is going to turn fifty, forget an over the hill theme.  Instead, it's time to celebrate a special person who is about to be a half century young.  Here are seven ideas to make it a lively, fun and memorable 50th birthday party.

1. This is your life - on wheels.  If the birthday boy or girl is currently living in the area in which he or she grew up, start the festivities by taking a trip to all the important places in the celebrant's life. Form a caravan of cars or hire a limo if your budget allows and print a program or map highlighting each destination. Places of interest could include houses in which he formerly lived, his old school, site of his first job and church where he got married.  Let the guest of honor point out the significance of each location.  For the last stop, pick a restaurant that holds special meaning to the person turning fifty.

2. Second childhood. Now that the celebrant has reached middle-aged maturity, it's the perfect time to throw him or her an authentic kid's party.  Hire a magician. Have face painting. Give out goodie bags. Line up for a pinata. Use paper plates decorated with his or her favorite action or cartoon character.  Serve cupcakes.

3. Top five lists.  Ask your guest before the party to let you know the top five things they like about Bob or their top five memories of Sue.  Email, text or even call people for this information to make it easier and quicker for them to respond.  Compile all the answers, with a credit to who said each item listed in a memory book.  Give it to the guest of honor at his or her celebration.  You might also want to edit down the answers to the best ones and make a top 50 book.

4. Birthday trivia. Another way to involve your guests in the celebration is to create a quiz as a party game that poses questions about the celebrant. Look for little known trivia in the guest of honor's life, like favorites and experiences that are not common knowledge. Let everyone guess the answers, and of course, give a prize to the person who proves they know the birthday boy or girl the best.

5. Blast from the past. For a 50th birthday party idea that will start everyone reminiscing, build the celebration around the past half century for the guest of honor and the world.  Start with photo invitations that showcase multiple pictures of the celebrant at different ages. Order personalized party favors that highlight facts and events from the year he was born. Play music that was popular when he was in his teens and twenties. Decorate with homemade poster size collages of photographs of both him and the world scene representing each decade of his life.

6. Missing persons. Track down old friends, classmates, coworkers and neighbors that the guest of honor lost track of over the years. Invite them to the 50th birthday party.  It will bring back old memories and may reestablish some friendships.

7. Getaway to an exotic locale. A weekend trip with a few close friends to a resort might actually cost less than a huge, elegant birthday party. Destination parties are becoming very popular alternatives to the standard celebration.  But if you can't get away just now, you can always fake it. Bring that fun location to you by going with a theme like Hawaiian luau, Mardi Gras or fiesta.

This birthday is a milestone that should be celebrated with style. So pull out all the stops and let that special person know how much he means to so many people. Let these ideas inspire you to throw a great 50th birthday party that will be truly unforgettable.