Self care

15 Fun Things to Do at a Sleepover for All Ages

The sleepover. It’s a sacred rite of passage. A cherished ritual of friendship built on a foundation of late-night talks, junk food, and the sheer, giddy joy of being together with no real agenda.

But as we get older, our sleepovers can sometimes fall into a rut. We default to just putting on a movie and scrolling on our phones until we fall asleep, missing the opportunity for the real, memory-making magic.

A great sleepover, no matter your age, is about one thing: connection. It’s about creating a fun, playful space to laugh, be silly, and have the kind of conversations that only seem to happen after midnight.

If you’re ready to upgrade your next night in from a casual hangout to an unforgettable memory-making session, here is your ultimate playbook.

15 Fun Things to Do at a Sleepover for All Ages

Creative & Crafty

  1. Host a “Bad Art” Night. Grab some cheap canvases and paint. The only goal is to create the most hilariously terrible piece of art you can. It’s all about the process, zero pressure allowed.
  2. Make Nostalgic Friendship Bracelets. All you need is some colorful embroidery floss and a few YouTube tutorials to be transported right back to your summer camp days.
  3. Have a Tie-Dye Party. Turn some boring old t-shirts or socks into vibrant, wearable souvenirs of your epic night. It’s fun, a little messy, and everyone leaves with a party favor.
  4. Concoct DIY Face Masks. Get out the yogurt, honey, and oatmeal and mix up some simple, all-natural face masks for a budget-friendly at-home spa session.

Games & Entertainment

  1. Build an Epic Living Room Fort. You are never too old for this. Use every pillow, blanket, and chair you own to construct a massive, cozy fortress to hang out in all night.
  2. Organize a Retro Video Game Tournament. Dust off an old console or find an emulator and battle it out in a nostalgic game of Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros., or Street Fighter.
  3. Tell Ghost Stories in the Dark. Turn off all the lights, get under the covers with a flashlight, and take turns telling the scariest urban legends and ghost stories you know.
  4. Host a “PowerPoint” Night. A hilarious new trend where each person prepares and presents a short, funny PowerPoint on a niche, passionate, or utterly ridiculous topic of their choice.

Foodie Fun

  1. Create a “Make-Your-Own” Pizza Bar. Provide the dough and a wild array of toppings—from the classic to the chaotic—and let everyone become their own pizza artist.
  2. Do a “Blind Taste Test” Challenge. Buy several different brands or flavors of one item (like potato chips, gummy bears, or soda). Blindfold your friends and see who can guess the most correctly.
  3. Build an Elaborate Ice Cream Sundae Bar. Go all out. Get all the best ice cream flavors and every topping you can think of: hot fudge, caramel, sprinkles, whipped cream, cherries, and crushed-up candy bars.
  4. Bake and Decorate Cookies. A classic for a reason. It’s a fun, creative, and collaborative activity that ends with a warm, delicious, and well-deserved treat.

Chill & Cozy Vibes

  1. Curate a Collaborative Playlist. Create a new, shared playlist. Throughout the night, take turns adding your favorite songs to build the ultimate, eclectic soundtrack for your sleepover.
  2. Have a “Comfort Movie” Marathon. The theme is pure comfort. Everyone gets to pick one of their go-to nostalgic, feel-good movies that feels like a warm hug for the soul.
  3. Do a Fun Tarot or Oracle Card Reading. You don’t have to be a true believer. Use a deck of tarot or oracle cards as fun, insightful prompts for deep conversations about life, dreams, and the future.

A great sleepover isn’t about a perfectly planned itinerary. It’s about creating the space for connection, laughter, and the kind of silly, wonderful moments that become the stories you tell for years to come.

Now, screenshot your favorite idea, send it to your bestie, and start planning your next epic night in.