Anniversary Ideas

The fireworks display—reportedly the largest ever launched from a building's rooftop—drew thousands of onlookers in addition to the event's 2,000 guests.

More fireworks spelled out "100" on the building's facade.

The 12-foot-tall cake from Ron Ben-Israel—a replica of the building that included details as small as the planters out front and the bricks on the sides—took three days to build on-site.

Before the cake was cut, Fireworks by Grucci turned the landmark into a birthday cake of sorts, shooting pyrotechnics from the roof (simulating candles) as well as out of the building's windows.

With new lyrics poking fun at the Plaza, Paul Anka sang "My Way" to Isaac Tshuva, founder and chairman of El Ad Group.

The night ended with cake; hordes of silver-tray-carrying waiters delivered individual slices of cake packaged in white boxes with a disposable fork.

The 50-member Orchestra of St. Luke's performed in time to the fireworks and also opened the night with instrumental versions of songs such as "The Way You Look Tonight," "Moon River," and "Begin the Beguine."

Target marked its 50th year in October with a private event for partners and executives in New York. Producer ExtraExtra gave Center548 a festive look by placing bunches of balloons attached to gift-wrapped boxes atop circular seating.

Sanrio celebrated the 35th anniversary of Hello Kitty by opening a pop-up shop in California in 2009. The opening night party for the promotion had servers and guests dressed in outfits that channeled the brand's cutesy look.

When Mars Chocolate North America commemorated one year since the introduction of M&M's Pretzel, the public party also broke a Guinness World Record for the world's largest piñata. Standing 46 feet tall in New York's 69th Regiment Armory, the papier-mâché-clad replica of the orange M&M's Pretzel character—referred to by the brand as a "spokescandy"—held thousands of bags of the chocolate sweets, which were released and distributed to the audience.

Rather than go big, Toyota opted to hold a competition for the 10th anniversary of its Prius car in October 2010. Following a Facebook contest to find the most passionate driver of the eco-conscious vehicle, the carmaker hosted dinner for the winner as well as 150 Prius enthusiasts, musicians, members of the press, and Toyota executives at a private home in California.

This year marked L.L. Bean's 100th year in business, so the retailer built a giant scale replica of its most iconic product—the duck boot—put it on wheels, and took it on tour. Built by Florida-based fabricator Echo Artz, the 13-foot-tall, 20-foot-long "Bootmobile" was outfitted with a number of details, including oversize shoelaces and the "Bean Boot" stamp on the heel.

Audemars Piguet turned the 40th anniversary of its Royal Oak timepiece into a traveling art exhibit. The showcase, which kicked off in New York this past March, put the watches in custom cases that resembled rock fragments. Each of the structures had a steel exterior, walnut interior, and was underlit to create the illusion of floating.

Bullseye, Target's canine mascot, turned out for the retailer's 50th anniversary in October and proved one of the night's biggest attractions. The well-trained pooch sat patiently on a pedestal as guests posed for pictures with her.

For the Museum of Contemporary Art in North Miami's 15th anniversary in February, David Stark used past press releases, editorial clippings, photos, and invites to decorate the walls of the institution. The color-coded mosaic also covered lamp shades suspended from the ceiling.

At the October 2011 dinner for Boston's Institute of Contemporary Art's anniversary, each table number represented a year in the museum's 75-year history.

Hundreds of past issues formed an oversize wall that stood at the entrance to Women's Wear Daily's 100th anniversary party in 2010.

In 2007, the then-owners of New York's iconic Plaza hotel made a big splash by hosting a centennial celebration that had fireworks launched from the roof and the windows of the property. The outdoor spectacle was timed to live music from the 50-piece Orchestra of St. Luke's.

Vintage entertainment put a retro spin on the 50th anniversary gala for Washington, D.C., radio station WAMU 88.5 in November last year. In an homage to its popular "Hot Jazz Saturday Night" program, Doc Scantlin and His Imperial Palms Orchestra performed big-band hits, complete with costume changes and dance routines.

In January this year, Bacardi toasted its 150th anniversary with several events, including a party held at its headquarters in Miami. A 72-foot-long retrospective wall showcasing eight different illuminated Bacardi logos doubled as decor.

As a way to thank partners for helping build the company, Target gave guests at its 50th anniversary a brick from the retailer's first store. (The Roseville, Minnesota, location was reconstructed in 2005, and Target saved 1,000 bricks from the original structure.)

Diesel used its 30th anniversary concert and circus show to sell merchandise branded with the event's logo.

The Boston Institute of Contemporary Art's 75th anniversary in October last year put balloons behind the bar, forming a striking decor element at the after-party inside the museum.

This year the New York City Wine & Food Festival marked its fifth anniversary using late-night dessert showcase Sweet to celebrate the occasion. In addition to confetti garlands strung across the ceiling, there was a strolling entertainer handing out birthday hats to attendees.

Determined to mark its 30th anniversary with a bang, Diesel staged "Diesel xXx," a 24-hour party in 17 cities, spanning eight time zones in October 2008. The celebrations culminated with a blowout party called a Diesel Rock 'n' Roll Circus for as many as 6,700 revelers on Pier 3 in Brooklyn. Inside a tent, guests encountered a circus atmosphere more informed by old European traveling carnivals than Barnum & Bailey.

Oreo also turned 100 in 2012 and, as part of larger campaign, the Nabisco cookie brand put dancing flash mobs in seven cities across the country. The March publicity stunt, which each involved more than 40 dancers, also included cookie-dunking contests and a Web site for consumers to send virtual birthday messages.

At an event in March that kicked off the celebrations for Glenfiddich's 125th anniversary, guests could sign an oversize card, which was transported back to the William Grant & Sons distillery afterward.

Products, rather than its founding decade, were the focus of the entertainment for Target's 50th bash. The cabaret-style performance that spoofed “Be Our Guest” from Beauty and the Beast had costumes embellished with hoses, shoes, gift cards, and other wares sold by the retailer.

Like birthday parties, anniversary events typically involve cakes. But the tiered creations don't have to be edible—Bergdorf Goodman marked 111 years in business in October with a prop piece that had 25 sparklers instead of candles.

For another spin on a birthday cake, Mattel's 50th anniversary bash for Barbie in 2009 included a 1,000-pound-plus ice sculpture that resembled a giant cake.

Audemars Piguet's dinner toasting the Royal Oak timepiece's 40th year had a cake as well as an elaborate dessert crafted by Olivier Cheng. Hidden inside individual chocolate spheres was a silver sugar version of the 40th-anniversary logo.

When Mattel created a life-size version of Barbie's Malibu Dream House to fete the doll's 50th year in 2009, the toy brand used hundreds of Barbies—both contemporary ones and originals from 1959—to create an eye-catching wall.

Inside the 69th Regiment Armory on Thursday, Mars Chocolate North America created a 46-foot-tall replica of its M&M's Pretzel "spokescandy" Orange.

Attendees at the event were treated to all the traditional birthday party bells and whistles, including cupcakes topped with M&M's Pretzel candies, kid-friendly games like ladder toss and corn hole, and raffle prizes. There was also caricature stations, food carts serving pretzels and lemonade, and a temporary tattoo section.

Singer Cee Lo Green was at the event, making his appearance at noon to break open the giant piñata.

Filled with thousands of bags of M&M's Pretzel candy, the enormous structure took five days to build but only eight hours to break down.

The public promotion marked the first anniversary of the chocolate confection and broke the Guinness World Record for world's largest piñata.

The Prius 10th anniversary event honored a Facebook contest winner on October 10, 2010—10.10.10.

The event took over the home of Eric Wright at the Wright Organic Resource Center in Malibu.

A variety of workshops on environmental and eco-friendly topics took place.

A new vehicle was among the displays at the event.

Outstanding in the Field prepared the five-course dinner.

Multiple musical acts rounded out the entertainment.

Guests participated in interactive workshops and activities.

About 150 guests meandered throughout the event space.

Succulents and gadgets commingled in the party space.

The venue afforded sweeping views of the ocean and mountains.

Built to scale by Florida-based fabricator Echo Artz, the 13-foot-tall, 20-foot-long "Bootmobile" made its debut at the facility where L.L. Bean's iconic boots are made before traveling to New York. The retailer parked the vehicle outside the Nasdaq building in Times Square and will bring the promotion to other major cities later this year.

L.L. Bean constructed the over-size boot with as much detail as possible, including shoelaces made from 12-strand braided mooring rope. The vehicle is even eco-friendly, generating zero percent carbon dioxide emissions using a diesel engine with a urea tank and particulate filter.

On the sidewalk, staffers outfitted in the boots distributed hand warmers and details about its Million Moment Mission from 100th anniversary-branded L.L. Bean tote bags.

More than 40 dancers surprised shoppers at Mary Brickell Village in downtown Miami, singing and dancing to celebrate Oreo's 100th birthday.

The costumed character Oreo Man greeted adults and kids at the shopping area.

The birthday celebration continued with dancing, cookie giveaways, and cookie-dunking contests.

Guests at the Glenfiddich anniversary event traveled to Liberty Island via a private ferry that left from a dock in Battery Park. To establish the event's messaging early on, the organizers outfitted the boat with cocktail tables and branded binoculars, with waitstaff serving custom cocktails like the "Pioneering Spirit."

Glenfiddich also put its logo on the boat piers, with signage at the departure area in Manhattan and a gobo projection on the dock at Liberty Island.

Further into Liberty Island, more lighting and projections helped lead attendees to the event's location. The illumination of Lady Liberty added to the evening's atmosphere.

The event was housed inside a heated tent where black carpeting and draping created an intimate backdrop for the decor. A garden gate-like structure stood just beyond the step-and-repeat, marking the entrance to the reception.

A band performed from the stage during the early hours of Glenfiddich's anniversary celebration, providing an upbeat tempo for the reception.

The production team placed different activities around the open-plan reception space, including an oversize card that guests could sign with a silver-colored marker. The piece will be transported back to the William Grant & Sons distillery.

At iPad stations, attendees could sign up to become members of the Glenfiddich Explorers club, which provides access to news, upcoming events, and contests.

Other activities included Bring Into Being's photo-op area in front of the Statue of Liberty.

The surface of the main bar, a four-sided structure that stood at the center of the tent, was emblazoned with the Glenfiddich logo and imagery for the anniversary.

A separate group of bars offered tastings of the whiskey brand's single malts.

Liberty Island's in-house caterer, Evelyn Hill, provided the food for the affair, setting up buffet stations around the room with small plates of miniature pot pies in different flavors and grilled vegetables. At one table, a chef carved chili-dusted beef tenderloin and grilled marinated turkey breast.

The bottle of the Glenfiddich Janet Sheed Roberts Reserve, one of only 11 in the world, was on display for guests before the auction.

Glenfiddich malt master Brian Kinsman served as the host of the event, alongside actor Adrian Grenier. The brand's representative, who oversees the quality of the spirits, spoke about the bottle up for auction and the company's pride in its whiskeys.

Grenier also played host and, in addition to explaining SHFT, the nonprofit he started, offered himself up in the live auction.

Christie’s vice president, Rachel Orkin-Ramey (pictured, far right), oversaw the live auction.

Before the auction started, guests could pick up a branded bidding paddle.

The heated bidding war for the rare single malt ended with whiskey investor Mahesh Patel's bid of $94,000, which broke the record for the most expensive bottle of whiskey ever sold at auction.

Mattel hosted a 50th anniversary bash for the Barbie doll at a private beach house in Malibu.

Pink was the hue of choice—of course.

Decor included a Warhol and other artwork depicting Barbie.

Repeating rows of Barbie dolls provided eye-catching decor.

Guests picked up signature drinks such as Barbie Doll-icious, Ken's Caiprirosca, Strawberry Blonde, and It's a Pink Thing from an alfresco bar.

Copious fabric draped Barbie's bedroom.

A dessert bar featured a giant ice sculpture that evoked the look of a tiered cake.

Ottomans lined the pool, and a gobo channeling Barbie's perspective read, "Welcome to my dream house."

The venue featured views of the Malibu coast.

A pink carpet welcomed guests.