There are quite a few ways to ring in the New Year, from large and extravagant fireworks to small intimate get-togethers. Here are some fun and memorable ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve and the New Year.
Casual Party
Instead of throwing a huge and crazy party, plan for a smaller and more sophisticated get together with some of your closest friends and family. A smaller scale party allows for more meaningful conversations and a less chaotic atmosphere than traditional New Year's extravaganzas. Have some fun with your cocktail party by having a "make your own cocktail" bar or simply serving some festive cocktails other than the traditional champagne. Some fun takes on traditional champagne are red current champagne cocktails, mandarin liqueur champagne, and a non-alcoholic cranberry spritzer made with fruit juice and puree and sparkling water.
Night on the Town
New Year's parties can be hectic and complicated to organize, so if you want to avoid the preparation involved in throwing your own party, plan a night out on the town with a few good friends and family. Select a location or a few locations that will be festive enough for the occasion such as a lounge or cocktail bar. Make sure to dress for the occasion as well, wearing something a little more special than any other night on the town.
Big and Festive Party
If smaller gatherings do not seem appropriate for your New Year's Eve celebration, go for a much larger scale party, which involved a few more things to consider. When choosing food and drinks for the party, make sure you serve many different choices of finger food and small hors d'oeuvres instead of one large meal; it makes socializing and enjoying the party much easier to have a small bite along with your drinks as midnight approaches. Some fun ideas for small dishes are min burgers, deviled eggs and spring rolls. When decorating for your big bash, remember to keep things festive, which means minimal lighting (such as Christmas lights strung around the room) and to do something extra special for your guests. This can be anything from gift bags at the end of the party or cups with their names printed on them when they arrive.
Crafts and Games Night
Ring in the New Year with good friends and family and a little creativity. Throw a get together full of crafts and games geared toward the New Year and stock the house with basic art supplies and materials. Examples of some fun and festive crafts to make are party blowers, party hats or noisemakers. Some great games for you and your guests to play before and after the clock strikes mid-night are charades, twenty questions and dictionary.
Dinner Party
Have a low-key New Year's celebration by throwing an intimate and gourmet dinner party for friends and family. To make the party New Year's themed, set the table with shiny or metallic dishes and sprinkle confetti over the entire table (before setting the table). Keep the wine flowing and end the meal with a special dessert, such as crème brulée or chocolate mousse.
