I’ve always looked forward to New Year’s every year, and for more reasons than just the obvious. Of course, it always comes along with the refreshing thoughts of new beginnings and resolutions you are certain you will keep. It brings hope for a better, more prosperous year. It brings along, time with family and friends. There are the possibilities of attending a fun New Year’s Eve party or other event to celebrate all of those things. It is one night of the year we as adults, can let loose a bit and feel perfectly justified in doing so.
There are many reasons to anticipate New Year’s.
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New Year’s And Kids
My childhood was probably very much the same as most of you. It typically involved great snacks, comfortable living room seating, a warm blanket, and Dick Clark’s New Year’s Eve Special. It was also the one night a year mom and dad simply could not tell you to go to bed before midnight. (That would make them terrible parents!)
Since I’ve entered adult hood, I have celebrated New Year’s Eve in various ways, all having proven to be really fun options. No one year has ever really been celebrated the exact same way in our family. There is usually some type of variable to mix things up. Admittedly, we have had more stay-at-home New Year’s celebrations in recent years, than celebrations out and about. Lining up babysitting can be quite a challenge on that night of the year, as many of you probably know.
While there are plenty of activities and ideas for spending the evening at home with your family, I decided to make this post mostly about the adults. Especially, the moms and dads who need a much deserved break from the home scene on New Year’s Eve! If you do happen to have a babysitting option available, I high recommend you take advantage of one of these awesome ways to ring in the New Year.
Arm your babysitter with loads of snacks and movies to entertain the kids with, and escape for a few hours!
Some of these suggestions make for really romantic date ideas for couples. You might even want to refer back to this list for Valentine’s Day!
New Year’s Eve Out On The Town…
1. Have A Staycation At A Nearby Hotel Or B & B
A simple change of scenery can be refreshing, even if it is only a few miles away from home. Plan a staycation with your romantic partner or even your best friend. Book a room at a nearby hotel or B & B, and enjoy some quiet time in a new setting. If you opt for the cozier, more personal touch of a B & B, you will also typically be served a delicious home cooked breakfast in the morning. Awesome way to ring in the New Year!
2. Book A Reservation At Your Favorite Restaurant
Most restaurants will have some sort of special dinner option planned for New Year’s Eve. Whether it be your favorite restaurant or one you’ve been meaning to try, a nice dinner out is always a great way to start the New Year off. Maybe dinner isn’t ideal timing, but brunch is an option. Why not? Avoid the crowded roadways on New Year’s Eve, by celebrating earlier than everyone else that day!
3. Dinner & A Show
If you do a little digging for New Year’s Eve dinner and entertainment events, you will probably come across at least a few nearby. Some events may include a 3 course dinner along with a concert or band performance. Some involve dinner and a theatrical style performance.
One year, I enjoyed a dinner and comedy show event at a nearby restaurant. The food was delicious and the comedian, very talented. The show and 3 course dinner combo was very affordable and a great way to spend the holiday evening!
4. Go Dancing
Check with certain inns, resorts, or clubs local to you, to see what dancing celebrations may be planned for New Year’s Eve. Some establishments will offer formal parties with pre-fixe menu and dancing packages. Other more casual events may include dinner, a DJ and a dance floor. Either way, dancing your way into the next year, is definitely a fun idea!
5. Go See Fireworks Or A Light Show
A lot of cities across the U.S. put on beautiful firework displays or light shows of sorts. If you look up your area, the chances are you will find a light show nearby or at least, fireworks to bring in the New Year. Check out this article on the best light show events for New Year’s, across the states. Do you live near any of these locations? If so, Lucky you!
6. Attend a New Year’s Eve Party At Your Local Bar Or Club
Virtually every establishment that sells alcohol, has Something planned for New Year’s Eve celebrations. Most will throw a party, with DJ and dancing involved. Others may have a band or drink specials. Check out your local bars or clubs to see what kind of entertainment they have planned for the evening. No reservations needed!
7. Go To The Movies
Not the party type? Why not hit your local movie theatre to catch a new release everyone is raving about? Quiet. Low Key. Snacks. Likely to be small to no crowds. Sounds like a plan to me!
8. Go To The Casinos
It isn’t often that we go to the casinos nearby, but when we do go, it’s always a fabulous time. New Year’s Eve is certain to be a night when the casinos offer various live entertainment and shows for the evening. Check the calendar of events for a casino near you to see what kind of packages you might be able to take advantage of! Better yet…skip the show and see if you have any luck going into the next year a winner! Good fun either way!
9. Rent A Limo & Go Bar/Club Hopping With Friends
End the year in style by hiring a limo driver to escort you around town for the evening! Grab a few friends and pitch in for the rental fee. Get decked out in your best evening attire and make a stop in at several bars or clubs, while maintaining safety the whole way. See where the night takes you!
10. Go On A Dinner Boat Cruise
A Dinner Boat Cruise is an excellent way to bring in the New Year! Most dinner boat cruises will have a DJ, band, or other live entertainment. The dinner may be a pre-fixe menu or a buffet style, depending on the cruise. A New Year’s dinner boat cruise will typically end with a champagne toast and a fireworks show. I have been on a dinner boat cruise before and loved it!
New Year’s Eve At Home…
1. Get Dressed Up
Getting all decked out, is part of the fun on New Year’s Eve! There aren’t too many days of the year most of us have an opportunity to dress up for a fancy occasion. Even if you plan on staying at home for the evening, dressing up for a night out on the town, will no doubt, add to the ambiance! Why not light a couple of candles for a romantic dinner for two? Order take out, pour some champagne and enjoy the holiday without leaving the comforts of your home!
2. Host A Dinner Party
One of the best New Year’s Eve celebrations we’ve been to over the years, was a dinner party hosted by friends of ours. They transformed their garage into a miniature dining hall with seating for about 20 people. They had a mini bar set up, music going with a small dance floor area, and a menu with lobster and steak for the main course options. Everyone pitched in some cash for the food, so it was affordable. We all wore our evening attire and enjoyed a low key celebration among friends. Beautiful way to ring in the New Year!
3. Create Or Make A New Cocktail
Looking to bring in the New Year with something New? Why not experiment a bit with mixology and create a new drink? Take an ingredient from a few of your favorite drinks and combine the ones you think will compliment one another, and get to mixing! We’ve done this a few times before and we are usually pleasantly surprised by the end results.
Need a bit of inspiration? Grab a copy of Death & Co: Modern Classic Cocktails and choose one of the popular listed drinks as a starting point!
4. Create a Vision Board
Most of us tend to make resolutions and have certain life goals in mind to accomplish in the New Year. Why not take it a step further by creating a vision board? When you have your dreams and goals displayed as a reminder of what you are aiming for, it then becomes a useful tool in creating or manifesting the life you want. Seeing that visual reminder often enough, will naturally lead you to make decisions that will further lead you to your goals. Great way to start the new year!
5. Clean Your Home/Put Decorations Away
New Year’s Day is actually the day we tend to take all of our Christmas decorations down and pack away for next year. New Year’s Eve has been that day, on occasion. There’s nothing wrong with getting a head start on holiday clean up, while watching your favorite New Year’s Eve special on tv. When everything has been put away, give your home a good cleaning for a fresh start to the new year. It’s both, productive and satisfying.
6. Walk Around The Neighborhood With A Suitcase
I really did only just come across this idea recently, while browsing the internet and I love it! Apparently, there is a tradition in certain Latin American cultures that entails walking around your block or across the threshold of your home with a suitcase. The purpose of this is to indicate to the universe, how often you wish to travel in the new year. By using this method of placing focus and intent on your desire for travel, it is believed that you can actually manifest those desires in real life. What a unique and positive approach to your New Year’s travel goals!
7. Go On A Hike Or Bike Ride
…Or anything else you enjoy doing in the outdoors. Ice skating is also a great idea if you have a rink nearby. It doesn’t matter what you choose to do outside. The point is to get out of the house, move around and take in some fresh air. Another refreshing way to start the new year off!
8. Take A Virtual Cooking Class
There are plenty of mini classes, courses, and tutorials online to teach you how to cook virtually anything you can think of! Why not get into the kitchen with your device of choice, throw on a video and learn to make something new and delicious for the new year?
Better yet…have a cooking competition with your love or a friend! Sounds like a super fun and yummy way to end the year!
9. Movie Marathon
One of the best ways to spend New Year’s Eve, costs nothing at all…well, aside from streaming service and snacks :/ So, make a bunch of appetizers or other goodies, and settle in with a warm blanket for an evening of tv. Whether you binge watch your favorite show or opt for an inspirational flick to start off the new year, you are sure to find plenty of entertainment at your fingertips. Quiet, comfy, and low key. Perfect.
10. Board Game Beat Down
Spend the evening trying to beat your family and friends at your favorite board games. Grab some snacks, drinks, and laugh your way into the next year! Another great way to enjoy New Year’s Eve with no stress.
11. Host a New Year’s Eve Party
Invite some friends over to your house, for an evening of music and fun. Put out some hors d’oeuvres, set up a mini bar, and throw on some good tunes. End the year dancing and exchanging anecdotes with some of your favorite people. Count me in!
12. Make Boozy Desserts
Yes Please! Can’t decide between dessert and an after dinner drink? Why choose when you can combine both into a decadent booze infused treat? Check out these delicious 21 Boozy Dessert Recipes You Need In Your Life or 50 boozy dessert recipes for New Year’s Eve Celebrations for inspiration!
13. Indulge In “Me” Time
Why do anything at all, really? Anything that requires energy, that is. Feeling tired after the festive holiday season? Need a minute to relax and breathe? Take off completely for New Year’s Eve! Pour a glass of wine, put on some relaxing music, and loose yourself in a hot bubble bath or a good book next to the fireplace. Ah, yes. The act of doing absolutely nothing, is sometimes all you need for a great holiday!
14. Make a 2024 Bucket List
This is yet another good way to keep your goals at the top of mind. Sit down with a nice cup of tea and make a list of all of the things you want to do and experience over the next year. Check them off as you go and see how many are left next New Year’s Eve!
15. Plan Your 2024 Vacation
A lot of folks plan to spend at least one week a year on vacation, doing lots of fun things they don’t otherwise have much time for. Why not spend New Year’s Eve getting started on the initial outline of what you want to do for your next getaway? Start researching the various activities and travel options for your trip now, and you may stumble on some good deals. At the very least, it will get the ball rolling on your plans and start the new year off on a positive note.
16. Shop For Post Holiday Deals
Right after the holiday season, stores begin running sales on certain things, to make room for new inventory. This is the time of year you should pay attention to Christmas supplies and decorations. You can find some really good deals on that sort of thing. Aside from holiday items, you can usually find household items and clothing at lower sale prices as well. You never know what you might stumble across!
17. Host A Wine Tasting Party
This is yet another super easy way of entertaining on New Year’s Eve without spending a fortune. Invite a few friends over for appetizers and wine pairing. Put on some relaxing music and enjoy a low key New Year’s celebration. Sounds awesome to me!
18. Play A Drinking Game
For those of you who opt for a more casual affair, invite a few friends over for a Beer Pong tournament and snacks! Not good at Beer Pong? No worries! Check out Amazon. They have a bunch of drinking games you can purchase for the event!
Wrapping It Up
For a lot of folks, New Year’s Eve is one of the biggest celebrations of the year. They may even anticipate this holiday so much that they begin making plans months in advance. Some events and celebrations actually require this, due to popularity.
Some folks like to treat New Year’s Eve a bit more spontaneously and make their final plans at the last minute. No matter which group you fall into, any of these ideas are perfect for ending 2023 on a positive and entertaining note!
With that, my friends, I wish you all a Very Happy Holiday Season and an even better New Year!
Cheers!
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That’s a nice post with Christmas ideas. Thanks for sharing
I’m glad you enjoyed and hope you can use one of the ideas 🙂 Thank you for reading!
Lots of great ideas. Now, if I can just stay awake…
Haha. I’ve definitely had that problem a time or two! Thanks for reading 🙂
Wow, so many great ideas! I love all of the creativity in the stay-at-home options too! This year is probably a stay at home year for me and I love the idea of planning a vacation or even manifesting it with a suitcase and walk around the block!
I love the suitcase idea! I actually just purchased a small travel accessory to help the manifestation part along. I fully intend to begin planning for a vacation on New Year’s!
For me, having to deal with a double celebration(New Year’s Eve & Anniversary), can be a bit of a headache. But I’m glad I came across your posts that will make it easier to find some ideas.
Thanks for this post.
I’m sure it is challenging to celebrate both at the same time. Hopefully one of these ideas will be unique and fit into your plans nicely 🙂 Thank you for reading!
So many great ideas. Worth remembering.
Thank you!
You have some great ideas in this list. I especially like the idea of going on a hike, I’m all for outdoor activities. Thanks for sharing!
I’m with you. The fresh crisp air of cooler months does so much for your mental state of being 🙂 Thanks for reading!