25 Ideas From Anniversary Events: Decor, Catering, Entertainment, and More

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.