How To Have A Simple New Years Eve Party That’s A Poppin’ Good Time

In a perfect world, I would be one of two things: either at a party with champagne fountains and chocolate dipped strawberries galore, or I would be at home in my jammies ready for bed at 12:01am.

There is no gray area. It would be one or the other. LOL!!

But, we aren’t living in a perfect world now, are we?!?

So, I need to put on my big girl panties, and start doing adulty things — like hosting a fun party for a fun New Year’s Eve celebration.

This year I want to try something a bit new for New Year’s Eve. I want to invite some good friends and family over for a quaint New Years Eve get together.

I want it to be relaxed, but I also want it to be hella fun — like, I want them talking about it around the work cooler come Monday.

10 Ideas For A New Year’s Eve That Pops

1) Invitations

First of all, get some enticing invitations, something that will make all the people WANT to show up at your house on December 31st.

You can totally buy some awesome party invitations, or you can bust out the colored paper, scissors, and glue, and make your own amazing invitations!!

If you have a Cricut Machine, you can do this super easy by cutting out some fun New Years shapes to use in your invitations — champagne glasses, gold starbursts, balloons, etc.

2) Clean the main areas

If your house is anything like mine, it is a WRECK from Christmas. Now might not be the time to try and get your whole house spotless, but you definitely need a pristine party space.

Pick one room, far off the beaten track, put all your Christmas remnants in there, and then SHUT THE DOOR!

Now, bust out that vacuum, your Swiffer Duster, Windex, and some all-purpose cleaner. You want to make sure you deep clean your front room, the bathroom, the kitchen, and any hallways that might see foot traffic from your party guests.

Here’s a pro tip (I’m not really a pro) — light a smelly good candle in the big areas (bathroom, kitchen, front room). You’d be surprised how that little detail will go such a long way!

3) Make it a dressed up affair

Have everyone dress up. I’m not saying they have to wear tuxes and ball gowns, but make it a gaudy fun affair!

Maybe have some New Year’s accessories available in your front entryway as the people come in.

If you are having kids join you — which will definitely be the case at our house — get them in on the fun by letting them dress up however they want!

4) Countdown Bags

You can totally do this on the cheap. See what the Dollar Tree and Walmart has to offer.

Get clear plastic cello bags, and fill them with things like poppers, noise makers, New Year’s Glasses, and maybe a door prize drawing slip*.

Wrap it up with a colorful bow, and have them available — maybe in a big tub — for people to take before the big hour arrives.

If you are making countdown bags for kids, you can include things like crayons and other activity related items.

5) *Have a door prize

This doesn’t have to be huge, but it will add a level of excitement for your party guests.

Some ideas for prizes are a small clock, a nice wine glass, a planner that starts January 1, or a bottle of wine or sparkling cider.

6) BYOB

Yes, have drinks available, but have each person bring a bottle of their favorite to share. That way, there is more variety, and everyone is covered in case you run short.

7) Calendar Swap

A fun idea is to have each person bring a calendar for the new year. Wrap it up in decorative wrapping paper, but don’t put name tags on it. Put all the calendars in a box, and let each guest choose one as a sort of party favor for the evening.

8) Finger Foods

Have plenty of foods available that people can just pick up and go. You don’t have to get super fancy, just keep it simple but yummy!

Some ideas for finger-type foods are chocolate dipped strawberries (these are so easy to make), Christmas Tree Cake Dip, fun charcuterie boards, Cranberry Pinwheels, Ritz Cracker Turtles, or these Cheddar Bacon Ranch Pinwheels.

9) Who needs fancy glasses

Use plastic or acrylic glasses for wine and champagne, and Solo-type cups for other beverages.

That way, if things get wild and rowdy — or if you are on the clumsy side, like me — you won’t be cleaning up broken glass shards all night long.

10) Keep it social

This is totally up to you and your style.

You can have a cool playlist from Spotify going in the background. You can plan games — like Minute To Win It games. You can even have Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve playing on the TV.

Keep it simple. Keep it your style. Keep it fun.