Happy birthday, Jane Austen! Janeites from all over the globe are gathering to celebrate the incredible 250th anniversary of her life in so many ways, and we wanted to get in on the fun. Whether you’re reading from sunny California, snowy England, or somewhere in between, we’ve come up with a list of eight ways you can partake in his literary holiday.

Jane Austen’s 250th Birthday Party at the Jane Austen Centre on December 16th, 2025

Don your best Regency-era garb and be transported back in time in Bath as you celebrate Jane Austen’s bi-and-a-half centennial birthday in style. To brace against the cold you will be welcomed with a hot cup of mulled wine as you enjoy readings from her works. Access to the party also allows guests to the Jane Austen exhibit, where you can write with a traditional quill and ink just as the author herself did, meet her wax statue, and even try on Regency garments. And, of course, there will be birthday cake.

Jane Austen’s Birthday Celebration at Jane Austen’s House from December 12th to December 16th, 2025

Pack your bags and head to Chawton, Hampshire, because there’s going to be a party at Jane’s house, and it’s going to be a four-day-long rager. There are going to be quilt workshops, tours of the house at twilight, live performances, and even Austen-themed salons. Inside the house visitors can find first editions of her novels, pieces of her jewelry, and see the table where she penned her greatest works.

Cook Some Meals to Share That Austen May Have Had on Her Table

What better way to celebrate a birthday than with a warm meal with friends? While hosting a high tea in her honor might be fun, it would also be historically inaccurate. If you truly want to celebrate in a way she might have, why not prepare a supper with truly delicious boiled potatoes, white soup, and a toasted cheese– a favorite of Austen’s. If you’re up for dessert, you can always prepare a delicious set of strawberries and cream or a plate of baked apples.

Rewatch the 2005 Pride and Prejudice to Prepare for Sense and Sensibility in 2026

You know it, you love it, and its spiritual cinematic successor is less than a year away. Both are being produced by Working Title Films. Whether the last time you watched the 2005 adaptation was earlier today or five months ago, it’s been too long. Get yourself cozied up at home, light some candles, and prepare to celebrate Jane Austen’s work come to life.

Yuletide Jane Austen Ball in Bath on December 13th, 2025

Live music, a multi-course meal, and full Regency attire await you at this Yuletide ball held in Austen’s honor. You can even prepare your dance moves earlier in the day at a dance workshop. Lovers of Jane Austen can all delight together on a festive evening in Bath where the weather outside might be frightful, but the good cheer and ballroom dances keep guests jovial and warm indoors.

In California: A Very Austentatious Birthday Bash on December 6th, 2025

Down at California State University, you can celebrate Jane Austen on this side of the Atlantic as well. With public speakers present, the day will be a full affair including Austen-themed activities and food. Join your fellow west coast Janeites for the fun!

In South Carolina: Jane Austen’s Lowcountry Birthday Ball on December 13th, 2025

Make your way down south to celebrate Austen’s birthday, because here in the United States her birthday parties are nation-wide. Period costuming is optional, yet always encouraged for the greatest amount of Austen English propriety. Partake in English country dancing and keep yourself up and moving by partaking in light refreshments for a more relaxed celebration of the day.

Have a Back-to-Back Screening of Clueless and Bridget Jones’s Diary

Ugh, as if! Any Janeite knows that Austen’s novels were quite contemporary back in the day, so why don’t we sit down and see how love for the work of Jane Austen can be adapted for a more modern audience. Whether you’re a fan of seeing the hilarious mishaps of Bridget Jones in the hunt for love or seeing the adorkable Cher find her sense of self in the rolling Beverly Hills, any Austen fan will have a field day pointing out similarities and differences between these modern films and the novels they’re based on.