Your 21st birthday should be one of your most memorable nights and one of your most memorable birthdays ever. You have to do it right and you have to do it big! I very recently celebrated mine and it will be the best night I’ll never remember. With the help of my friends I have come up with the top 10 things you must do on your big day!

1. Midnight Crawl

If you are like me, then waiting on the actual night of your birthday to celebrate is too far away! Doing the midnight crawl means that you go to the bars at exactly midnight on the eve of your birthday, right when you turn 21. You may only have a few hours to rage but trust me that is all you need with this list! Plus, the rush of completing everything so quickly only adds to the excitement.

2. Shots, shots, shots!

21 shots. Yes, I repeat, 21 shots. This is the night to go hard or go home, balls to the wall, push it to the limit! But, in all seriousness if you know that you are physically incapable of doing this then please, please do not push yourself. You want to make it to the end of your celebration all in one piece!

3. Do some scandalous shots!

For those of you who are a bit more shy, leave your dignity at the door this night (ok, maybe not all of it) because your wild side needs to come out and play. Many bars offer special kinds of shots for birthdays, like a body shot, so just go up to the bartender and tell them it is your 21st! I personally found the Blow Job shot to be quite enjoyable if you get a cute bartender.

4. Pop Champagne

This is a celebration!!! What is more appropriate than poppin’ bottles like you’re all rap stars. The first bar I went to put me up on stage and handed me a bottle of champagne and I felt like a million bucks. See what your bars will offer because you know they are carrying the bubbly.

5. Crown and sash

Guys if you really want to you are more than welcome to wear a crown and sparkly sash on your birthday ventures, but somehow I think this is more for the ladies. Now, I do not consider my self a Diva or attention whore but that night-hell ya I was. My wonderful friends bought me a light up crown and made me a bright blue sash with sequins; I was pretty hard to miss downtown. It’s your big day, you deserve to have the attention and a couple of stares so enjoy it!

6. Party Bus or Limo

You want your grand entrance right? What better way to arrive downtown than in a stretch Hummer or Limo-the correct answer is there is none. You get to feel like a super star for one night, so like I said you have to do it right. Party Buses are also great if you have to travel a little while to reach the bars because you and your friends can drink and party even before the real festivities begin!! The ones with stripper poles are extra classy.

7. Dance on a bar

This is a classic, classic 21st birthday move right here. You’re getting down those 21 shots, feeling a little more crazy now and want every one to know how good you are feeling. Express yourself as Madonna would up on that bar and shake that booty! Guys, I’ve seen some of you drop, drop it low before so I know you are capable of this. It’s even more fun when you convince the rest of your crew to get up and dance with you. My friends never need any persuading!

8. Ride a mechanical bull

Ok, I realize that not every city will have that bar with the bull, but luckily for me I live in Texas so that is never a problem. Don’t even worry about embarrassing yourself because everyone who goes on there will, and you left most of your dignity at the door, right? It’s your birthday and you can’t back down now so pull up your hypothetical chaps (assless most likely this night) and ride em’ Cowboy(or girl)!

9. Kiss a stranger

With all that liquid courage you have been consuming this may come easier to you than you thought, and because it’s your birthday who would have the heart to tell you no?? So be sure to put on that chap stick and grab some mints because things could get down and dirty. Go for the person standing right next to you, a bartender, even a bouncer! According to my friends, I prefer the latter.

10. Take a picture with an officer

This is one of the most glorious and liberating things you could do this night! It’s like you want to Can-Can all over their smug little faces because guess what?? You are legal! Although I highly recommend doing this towards the beginning of the night rather than the end, you can still get a P.I. unfortunately.

With this list of extraordinary things to do on the birthday you’ve been waiting for all your life, you may come out looking a bit rough the next day but the stories and pictures from your friends will be well worth the hangover. So enjoy the hell out of your 21st, you’re only young once!