14 Fun New Year’s Eve Ideas for a Fabulous Countdown
A new year is fast approaching and it’s time to start creating an action plan for the best NYE yet. If you’re looking for fresh celebration inspiration, these fun New Year’s Eve ideas are exactly what you need. Discover party themes, activities, and fun ways to remember the past year and look ahead to a scintillating future.
Fun New Year’s Eve Ideas: 14 Ways to Make It Count
There’s no “right” way to celebrate New Year’s Eve — what matters most is planning an event, party, or moment that feels right for you. Get inspired with this list of fun New Year’s Eve ideas that includes something for everyone.
1. Host a Themed New Year’s Eve Party
Design: Loree Mayer Design
Invitation inspiration: Misbehave Invitation
Break out the confetti poppers, party hats, and party favors! It’s time for a New Year’s Eve bash! And why not make it even more memorable by hosting a themed New Year’s Eve party?
Plan a disco-themed dance party or decade-specific celebration like a 70s-era party or 80s theme party. Maybe you and your pals prefer a Disney-inspired event where you watch the countdown to midnight in fairytale gowns or fancy dresses.
Don’t care for costumes? Host a brunch at night (why not?!), an around-the-world potluck feast, or an ice cream party — the choice is yours.
2. Put Together a Playlist for the Year
If you want to remember the past year in a fun way, put together your ultimate playlist featuring your favorite hits, songs that made you cry, and other memorable tunes from the year. Do this solo or make it a collaborative effort by inviting friends or family members to contribute to the playlist.
3. Dress Up in Something Special
The holiday season can be the perfect excuse to get dressed up in something that feels more special than your usual outfits. Take a look through your closet to find something you’d love to wear for NYE and create an occasion for it. Plan a date night, invite friends for a get-together, or simply dress up in your favorite outfit for a cozy night at home — who says you can’t ring in the New Year in your best dress while lounging in your living room?
4. Set a Theme for the Next Year
For a twist on setting a traditional New Year’s resolution, why not set a theme for the year ahead instead? This can be a great activity for New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day to help you start your year intentionally. Think of a word, theme, feeling, or goal you’d like to achieve in the next year and let that guide you towards a new habit or lifestyle.
5. Mix Your Own Cocktails or Mocktails
People often celebrate with a glass of champagne on NYE, but there’s no reason you can’t go all out and mix up your own cocktails or mocktails instead.
Plan a solo evening of learning how to make cocktails or make it a group activity. Make sure you have plenty of ingredients and mix up some wild and wonderful creations.
6. Plan a Relaxed New Year’s Eve Get-Together
Design: TM Stationery
Invitation inspiration: Game Night Invitation
New Year’s Eve parties don’t have to be all glitz and glam. Try hosting a New Year’s Eve game night for a laid-back feel. (Bonus: You can also do a virtual game night for folks who can’t gather in person.)
Grab your board games or video games to ring in the New Year with your closest friends or family members. Invite everyone over, order pizza, or serve simple NYE appetizers, for an evening of games and laughter.
7. Make a Scrapbook of Memories
A lot has happened in the last year, even if it doesn’t feel like it. Take a moment to sit down, reflect on the last 12 months, and capture some of those memories forever.
Gather together photos, mementos, and words from the last year and make your own scrapbook — either a physical scrapbook or a digital memory board. Make this a solo activity or invite loved ones to contribute to a family or friend group version.
8. Try a New Hobby or Activity
Plenty of people use the New Year as an opportunity to try something new, but why wait until after midnight? Use this New Year’s Eve as a chance to try a new hobby or activity before the year ends.
Find a fun activity for you to complete alone or with loved ones — like a DIY project, an art tutorial, or baking a family recipe. Get your materials ready, invite people over, and spend the evening learning something new or trying a new activity.
9. Watch the Ball Drop
We love new and interesting ideas, but there’s nothing wrong with sticking with tried-and-true New Year’s traditions like watching the ball drop in New York’s Times Square. Switch on the TV and stream the moment live, grab a glass of bubbly and some noisemakers, and celebrate the start of the new year from the comfort of your own home.
10. Host a Virtual New Year’s Eve Party
Design: Signature Greenvelope
Invitation inspiration: BYOW Invitation
It’s not always possible to gather with all your favorite people in real life, which is why virtual parties are one of the most fun New Year’s Eve ideas. If you have friends and family members scattered across the world, try hosting a virtual get-together for your New Year’s Eve celebration.
Set a date and time, then get the virtual New Year’s Eve party details out to everyone with one of Greenvelope’s online invitations. Plan virtual games, send everyone links to festive virtual backdrops they can use, and get ready to wish everyone a Happy New Year.
11. Write In Your Journal
The end of the year can be a time of reflection, and what better way to honor this than by writing one final journal entry of the year? Whether you journal regularly or want to pick up the habit, NYE is an ideal time to note down your thoughts and feelings about the past year — along with your hopes and dreams for the future.
12. Capture NYE in Photos
New Year’s Eve is a time for celebration, reflection, and excitement. Take this opportunity to capture plenty of photos from the night, whether you’re celebrating solo or hosting a grand party.
If you’re planning a party, create a photo booth area with a simple backdrop and themed props and party hats. If you’re hitting the town, look for a bar or venue with a photo booth. If that’s not possible, snap some selfies on your phone — your photos don’t have to be fancy to be memorable!
13. Host a Dinner Party
Design: Butter London
Invitation Inspiration: New Years Grid Invitation
If you don’t want a raucous bash, a dinner party is a perfect alternative. You can keep it cozy and casual or use NYE as an excuse to throw a lavish dinner party for your favorite people.
Decide what type of dinner party you want to host, then look for New Year’s Eve dinner party recipes to cook for your guests. Match your cuisine to your party style, but fondue, pasta dishes, risotto, and steak are all great options. Celebrate over dinner, and also use this as a time to exchange New Year gifts and have fun with dinner party games.
14. Plan a Scavenger Hunt
For a fun idea that involves lots of creativity and getting people moving, plan a scavenger hunt.
Scavenger hunts are ideal for people of all ages as you can tailor the experience for kids, adults, or both. Send your guests on a hunt to find all the items on your list, then return back for some NYE goodies. Reward your guests with cupcakes, snacks, handmade gifts, or simply the kudos of being the winning person or team.
Make This NYE Extra Special
Whether you want to go big or keep it small, these fun New Year’s Eve ideas will help you create an experience to remember. If you’re hosting a celebration of any kind, use our New Year’s Eve invitations to get the party started. There’s something for every type of event or gathering, and each design is customizable so you can turn our templates into a beautifully bespoke invite for your NYE celebration. Happy New Year!
