Born in 2013: fun facts, prices and a free printable 13th birthday party kit

How do you play the 13th birthday party games in the kit?

Here is what each game asks of your guests, how to play it and why it lands, so you can pick the ones that suit your crowd before you print.

1. 01

   Meet & mingle bingo

   Find a guest for every square. The perfect icebreaker.

   Players

   Everyone, on their own

   Time

   10 to 15 minutes

   In the kit

   Page 3

   You need

   • One card per guest
   • Pens

   How to play

   1. Hand everyone a card and a pen as they arrive.
   2. Mingle! When a guest fits a square, ask them to sign their name in it.
   3. Each guest can sign your card only once. The guest of honor may sign twice.
   4. First to fill a row, column or diagonal calls "Bingo!" and the host checks the names.

   Why it’s fun: Strangers become friends in minutes, and everyone ends up swapping stories about the guest of honor.

   The 2013 twist: The 2013 card has squares like “Can name a hit song from 2013” and “Has played a Pokémon game”.

2. 02

   The 2013 headline quiz

   Ten questions about the year it all began.

   Players

   Teams of 2 to 6

   Time

   10 minutes

   In the kit

   Page 4

   You need

   • One sheet per team
   • Pens

   How to play

   1. Split into teams and pick a team name.
   2. Read each question aloud, or let teams work through the sheet at their own pace.
   3. Fill in one bubble per question. Changed your mind? Cross it out clearly.
   4. Swap sheets to mark them: one point per right answer. Answers are in the host guide.

   Why it’s fun: Big moments from 2013, with answers that spark "I remember that!" stories.

   Play it on this page, no sign-in
3. 03

   What did it cost in 2013?

   Everyday prices from 2013: guess what they cost.

   Players

   Teams or solo

   Time

   10 minutes

   In the kit

   Page 5

   You need

   • One sheet per team
   • Pens

   How to play

   1. Every price is a real 2013 figure; the host guide says where each one comes from.
   2. Write your best guess in dollars and cents on each tag.
   3. The host reveals the real prices one at a time, for maximum gasps.
   4. The closest guess on each tag wins a point. For extra drama, play closest without going over.

   Why it’s fun: Everyone has an opinion about prices, and the real 2013 numbers always get a reaction.

4. 04

   The 2013 birthday club

   Three of these stars were born in 2013. Can you spot them?

   Players

   Teams or solo

   Time

   5 to 10 minutes

   In the kit

   Page 6

   You need

   • One sheet per team
   • Pens

   How to play

   1. Read each famous name.
   2. Decide whether they were born before 2013, in 2013, or after 2013.
   3. Fill in one bubble for each person.
   4. One point per right answer. Watch out for the close calls!

   Why it’s fun: Quick to play and full of surprises: it is hard to believe some of these stars share the guest of honor's birth year.

5. 05

   Movies & music of 2013

   Match the films to their stars and the hits to their singers.

   Players

   Teams or solo

   Time

   10 minutes

   In the kit

   Page 7

   You need

   • One sheet per team
   • Pens

   How to play

   1. Match each film to a famous name from the box, writing the letter beside it.
   2. Do the same for each 2013 hit song and its artist.
   3. Each letter is used once per side.
   4. One point per match, plus a bonus point for naming the song that was No. 1 on Billboard's 2013 Year-End Hot 100.

   Why it’s fun: It turns into a sing-along. Play the songs as you reveal the answers.

6. 06

   Before or after 2013?

   Toys, games and gadgets: did each arrive before or after 2013?

   Players

   Teams or solo

   Time

   5 to 10 minutes

   In the kit

   Page 8

   You need

   • One sheet per team
   • Pens

   How to play

   1. Read each milestone.
   2. Fill in the bubble on the left for before 2013, or on the right for after 2013.
   3. None of these happened in 2013 itself.
   4. One point per right answer. Some of them are very close calls!

   Why it’s fun: Everyone has a memory of these, and the close calls start friendly arguments.

7. 07

   Timeline shuffle

   Put eight milestones in order around the 2013 card.

   Players

   Teams of 2 to 6

   Time

   10 minutes

   In the kit

   Page 9

   You need

   • One sheet per team
   • Scissors
   • A table to lay the cards on

   How to play

   1. Before the party, cut out one set of cards per team along the dashed lines.
   2. Each team lays the 2013 card in the middle of their table.
   3. Place the other eight cards in order from earliest to latest, around the 2013 card.
   4. The host reads out the right order: one point for each card in the right spot.

   Why it’s fun: Hands-on and loud: teams debate, shuffle and change their minds right up to the reveal.

8. 08

   The 2013 word search

   Fourteen words from 2013 are hidden in the grid.

   Players

   Solo or pairs

   Time

   10 to 15 minutes

   In the kit

   Page 10

   You need

   • One sheet per player
   • Pens or pencils

   How to play

   1. Find each word from the list in the grid.
   2. Words run across, down or diagonally, and some run backwards.
   3. Circle each word in the grid and tick it off the list.
   4. First to find all fourteen wins. The solution is in the host guide.

   Why it’s fun: A calm game for anyone who wants a break from the crowd, including the youngest guests.

9. 09

   Who knows them best?

   How well do you really know the guest of honor?

   Players

   Teams or solo

   Time

   10 minutes

   In the kit

   Page 11

   You need

   • One sheet per team
   • Pens
   • The guest of honor's answers

   How to play

   1. Before the party, ask the guest of honor to answer the questions privately.
   2. Teams write down what they think the guest of honor said.
   3. The guest of honor reveals each answer, with the story behind it.
   4. One point per match. The host decides on close answers.

   Why it’s fun: The reveals are the best part: every answer comes with a story.

   The 2013 twist: Add a 2013 bonus question: which hit from that year would they pick as their theme song, “Thrift Shop” or “Radioactive”?

10. 10

    Two truths & a tall tale

    Two true stories and one invention. Spot the tall tale.

    Players

    Everyone, on their own

    Time

    10 to 15 minutes

    In the kit

    Page 12

    You need

    • One slip per guest (two per sheet)
    • Pens

    How to play

    1. Write three short statements about yourself: two true, one made up.
    2. Fill in the bubble for your tall tale, then fold that corner over to hide it.
    3. Take turns reading your three statements aloud.
    4. Everyone guesses the tall tale. Fool the room and you win a point.

    Why it’s fun: Guests learn surprising things about each other, and the guest of honor's turn is always a highlight.

    The 2013 twist: Guests may swap one statement for a fact from 2013, like “The Ravens win Super Bowl XLVII” (February 3), and the room decides whether it really happened that year.

11. 11

    Toasts & memory prompts

    Twelve prompts that turn shy guests into storytellers.

    Players

    Everyone

    Time

    Any time, 10 minutes or more

    In the kit

    Page 13

    You need

    • One sheet, cut into cards
    • A bowl or hat

    How to play

    1. Cut the cards apart along the dashed lines and put them in a bowl.
    2. When it is time for toasts, pass the bowl around.
    3. Draw a card and finish the sentence, out loud, to the guest of honor.
    4. Raise a glass after each one. No points, just good stories.

    Why it’s fun: Nobody has to prepare a speech, yet everyone ends up saying something lovely.

    The 2013 twist: One card is all 2013: “If 2013 had a headline about your arrival, it would say…”

12. 12

    Wishes for the next chapter

    A keepsake card for every guest to fill in.

    Players

    Everyone

    Time

    Any time

    In the kit

    Page 14

    You need

    • One card per guest (two per sheet)
    • Pens
    • A box or envelope to collect them

    How to play

    1. Cut each sheet in half along the dashed line.
    2. Put the cards out on a table with pens, or hand them out at the start.
    3. Guests write a wish, a memory and their name.
    4. Collect them in a box for the guest of honor to read later.

    Why it’s fun: The one thing from the party the guest of honor will keep for years.

    The 2013 twist: Set the 2013 history card beside the wish box, so guests can tie a wish to a moment like “Voyager 1 reaches interstellar space” (September 12).

Can you beat the 2013 headline quiz?

This is game 2 from the kit, playable right here with no sign-in. Tap an answer to see whether you got it, and why. At the party, teams play it on paper and the host guide holds the answers.

How do you run the kit at a 13th birthday party?

Example: a 90-minute 13th birthday party for 16 guests, born-in-2013 style, in four teams of four. Swap games in or out to suit your crowd; the host guide has every answer.

What happened in 2013?

The biggest events of 2013, each with the source it comes from.

1. February 3

   The Ravens win Super Bowl XLVII

   Baltimore beat San Francisco 34-31 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.

   Source: Super Bowl Winners by Year - ESPN
2. March 13

   Pope Francis is elected

   Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina was elected after Benedict XVI resigned. He became the first pope from the Americas and chose the name Francis.

   Source: Vatican: Biography of Pope Francis
3. June 21

   Monsters University opens

   Pixar's prequel followed Mike and Sulley to college, with Billy Crystal and John Goodman returning to voice them.

   Source: Monsters University | Disney Movies
4. July 3

   Despicable Me 2 arrives

   The sequel reached US theaters on July 3 and went on to earn about $368 million at the domestic box office.

   Source: Despicable Me 2 (2013) - Box Office Mojo
5. July 7

   Andy Murray wins Wimbledon

   Murray beat Novak Djokovic in straight sets in the final and became the first British winner of the men's singles title since Fred Perry in 1936, 77 years earlier.

   Source: Channel 4 News: Murray is first Brit Wimbledon champion for 77 years (July 7, 2013)
6. July 22

   Prince George is born

   The first child of the Prince and Princess of Wales, then the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, was born at 4:24 p.m. at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, London.

   Source: The Royal Family: Prince George of Wales
7. September 12

   Voyager 1 is confirmed in interstellar space

   NASA announced that Voyager 1, about 12 billion miles from the Sun, had entered interstellar space. The team dates the crossing to August 25, 2012.

   Source: NASA JPL: NASA Spacecraft Embarks on Historic Journey Into Interstellar Space (September 12, 2013)
8. September 20

   The iPhone 5s goes on sale

   Apple announced the iPhone 5s on September 10. The 16GB model was priced at $199 for qualified customers.

   Source: Apple Newsroom: Apple Announces iPhone 5s (September 10, 2013)
9. October 12

   Pokémon X and Y launch

   The Nintendo 3DS games took trainers to the Kalos region in a 3D adventure. They added Mega Evolution and the Fairy type.

   Source: Pokémon X and Pokémon Y | Pokemon.com
10. October 30

    The Red Sox win the World Series

    Boston beat St. Louis 6-1 in Game 6 to take the Series four games to two. David Ortiz was named World Series MVP.

    Source: Baseball-Reference: 2013 World Series, Boston Red Sox over St. Louis Cardinals (4-2)
11. November 15

    PlayStation 4 launches in North America

    Sony's new console arrived with 23 launch games, including Knack, Killzone Shadow Fall and Resogun.

    Source: PlayStation Blog: PS4 Available Now in North America (November 15, 2013)
12. November 18

    MAVEN heads to Mars

    NASA's MAVEN spacecraft launched on an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral. It was the first NASA mission devoted to studying the upper atmosphere of Mars.

    Source: NASA Science: MAVEN
13. November 27

    Frozen opens in theaters

    Disney's animated film, directed by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee, starred Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Josh Gad and Jonathan Groff as the voices of Anna, Elsa, Olaf and Kristoff.

    Source: Frozen | Disney Movies

How much did things cost in 2013?

A snapshot of the cost of living in 2013, from a stamp to a pound of coffee. Every price is a US figure from a government source, shown next to what that money is worth in September 2026.

Worth today: each 2013 price scaled up by the rise in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U, U.S. city average, all items) from its 2013 average to September 2026, the newest month published. It shows what that money is worth now, not what the item costs today. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI-U (series CUUR0000SA0), via FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (CPIAUCNS).

What was popular in 2013?

Which famous people were born in 2013?

A few familiar faces who share the birth year, all born in 2013.

• March 31, 2013Sofía OteroSpanish actor who won the 2023 Berlinale Silver Bear for Best Leading Performance in 20,000 Species of Bees, becoming the youngest person to win a Silver Bear.Source: Hola: Sofía Otero, la joven actriz que revoluciona la comedia española
• June 15, 2013North WestDaughter of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, born in Los Angeles.Source: Biography.com: Kim Kardashian
• July 15, 2013Mei Lun the giant pandaTwin cub born at Zoo Atlanta, part of the first surviving pair of giant panda twins born in the United States.Source: Zoo Atlanta: Giant Pandas
• July 15, 2013Mei Huan the giant pandaMei Lun's twin at Zoo Atlanta, part of the first surviving pair of giant panda twins born in the United States.Source: Zoo Atlanta: Giant Pandas
• July 22, 2013Prince George of WalesEldest child of the Prince and Princess of Wales and second in line to the throne, born at St Mary's Hospital in London.Source: The Royal Family: Prince George of Wales
• August 23, 2013Bao Bao the giant pandaCub born at the Smithsonian's National Zoo to mother Mei Xiang, named at a ceremony marking her first 100 days. Her name means "precious" or "treasure."Source: Smithsonian's National Zoo: Her Name Is Bao Bao!
• October 14, 2013Faustino OroArgentine chess prodigy nicknamed "the Messi of Chess." In June 2024 he became the youngest international master in history at the time and earned the grandmaster title in 2026.Source: Chess.com: IM Faustino Oro
• December 16, 2013Yiheng WangChinese speedcuber who has set repeated world-record averages for solving the 3x3 Rubik's Cube.Source: Ruwix: New Rubik's Cube Average Record by YiHeng Wang, 4.03 Seconds

What are some fun facts about 2013?

1. Voyager 1 was about 12 billion miles from the Sun when NASA confirmed it had entered interstellar space. It launched in 1977, 16 days after its twin, Voyager 2.

   Source: NASA JPL: NASA Spacecraft Embarks on Historic Journey Into Interstellar Space (September 12, 2013)

2. Frozen earned more than $400 million at the domestic box office and about $1.28 billion worldwide in its original release.

   Source: Frozen (2013) - Box Office Mojo

3. At the Oscars, "Let It Go" beat "Happy" from Despicable Me 2 for Best Original Song. Both films also competed for Best Animated Feature, which Frozen won.

   Source: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences: The 86th Academy Awards (2014), honoring 2013 films

4. The earliest rubber ducks were solid chew toys that did not float. The classic floating bath duck joined the National Toy Hall of Fame in 2013.

   Source: The Strong National Museum of Play: Rubber Duck

5. Pokémon X and Y added the Fairy type, the first new Pokémon type since Dark and Steel. Fairy moves are super effective against Dragon types.

   Source: Pokémon X and Pokémon Y | Pokemon.com

6. In December, China's Chang'e 3 made the first soft landing on the Moon since the Soviet Luna 24 in 1976, and its Yutu rover was the first lunar rover deployed since Lunokhod 2 in 1973.

   Source: NASA Science: APOD 2013 December 16, Yutu Rover Rolls onto the Moon

7. MAVEN, launched on November 18, was the first NASA mission devoted to the upper atmosphere of Mars. It rode an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral.

   Source: NASA Science: MAVEN

8. The PlayStation 4 box included a 500GB console, a wireless controller, a charging cable, a mono headset and an HDMI cable.

   Source: PlayStation Blog: PS4, The Ultimate FAQ (North America, October 30, 2013)

9. Zoo Atlanta's giant panda twins Mei Lun and Mei Huan were the first surviving pair of giant panda twins born in the US.

   Source: Zoo Atlanta: Giant Pandas

10. Bao Bao's name was announced at a ceremony marking her first 100 days. It means "precious" or "treasure."

    Source: Smithsonian's National Zoo: Her Name Is Bao Bao!

Can you answer these 2013 trivia questions?

Tap a question to see the answer. The party kit has a full round of 2013 trivia ready to print.

1. 1

   What did NASA confirm about Voyager 1 on September 12, 2013?

   Answer: That it had entered interstellar space. Source: NASA JPL: NASA Spacecraft Embarks on Historic Journey Into Interstellar Space (September 12, 2013)

2. 2

   Which film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature for 2013?

   Answer: Frozen. Source: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences: The 86th Academy Awards (2014), honoring 2013 films

3. 3

   Which song finished 2013 at No. 1 on Billboard's Year-End Hot 100?

   Answer: "Thrift Shop" by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Wanz. Source: Billboard: Hot 100 Songs, Year-End 2013

4. 4

   Which Sony console launched in North America on November 15, 2013?

   Answer: The PlayStation 4. Source: PlayStation Blog: PS4 Available Now in North America (November 15, 2013)

5. 5

   Which two Pokémon games launched for the Nintendo 3DS on October 12, 2013?

   Answer: Pokémon X and Pokémon Y. Source: Pokémon X and Pokémon Y | Pokemon.com

6. 6

   Which team won the 2013 World Series?

   Answer: The Boston Red Sox, four games to two over the St. Louis Cardinals. Source: Baseball-Reference: 2013 World Series, Boston Red Sox over St. Louis Cardinals (4-2)

7. 7

   Which film earned the most at the domestic box office during calendar-year 2013?

   Answer: Iron Man 3, with about $409 million. Source: Domestic Box Office For 2013 - Box Office Mojo

8. 8

   What is the name of the royal baby born at St Mary's Hospital in London on July 22, 2013?

   Answer: Prince George. Source: The Royal Family: Prince George of Wales

9. 9

   Which team won Super Bowl XLVII on February 3, 2013?

   Answer: The Baltimore Ravens, 34-31 over San Francisco. Source: Super Bowl Winners by Year - ESPN

10. 10

    Which NASA spacecraft launched on November 18, 2013, to study the upper atmosphere of Mars?

    Answer: MAVEN. Source: NASA Science: MAVEN

How do you throw a 2013-themed 13th birthday party?

• Spin the 2013 playlist

  Queue up 2013 chart favorites like "Roar," "Royals," "Radioactive," "Mirrors" and "Wake Me Up!" Let guests vote on which song gets the whole room singing.

• Let it snow indoors

  Frozen opened in November 2013, so hang paper snowflakes, set out a snowflake-cutting table and serve marshmallow snowballs. Finish with a sing-along of "Let It Go."

• Voyager scavenger hunt

  Voyager 1 was confirmed in interstellar space in 2013. Hide clue cards around the house, each with a trivia question from this page, and let the last clue lead to the cake.

• Trainer battle night

  Pokémon X and Y arrived on October 12, 2013. Set up a card-battle table or a console bracket, and hand out cardboard gym badges to the winners.

• Crown and photo booth

  Prince George was born on July 22, so decorate paper crowns and set up a cardboard throne as a photo backdrop. Print the pictures for a party scrapbook.

• Game-night bracket

  PlayStation 4 and Wii U gave 2013 plenty of living-room contests. Run a family-friendly tournament with a scoreboard, and award a golden controller made from cardboard.

• A Despicable Me mission

  Despicable Me 2 reached theaters on July 3, so write secret-mission cards for guests to complete, like a relay or a silly-voice challenge. Add paper-plate goggles for every agent.

• Baby photos beside the headlines

  Pin up photos from 2013 beside the year's news: Prince George, Frozen and the iPhone 5s. Add recent pictures so guests can see how far the guest of honor has come.

• What did it cost?

  Put a gallon of milk, a stamp and a loaf of bread on index cards and ask guests for a price guess on each. Check the prices section above for the real 2013 numbers and reward the nearest guess.

• A time capsule of notes

  Hand every guest a blank postcard for a favorite memory, an inside joke or a hope for the future. Tape the postcards into a shoebox for the guest of honor to open years from now.

Which invitations and cards fit a 13th birthday?

Born in 2013 means turning 13 in 2026. These designs follow the calendar: next year this page shows 14th birthday picks instead.

What else do people ask about 2013?