Entertaining
10 creative New Years party ideas
Image courtesy of Smitten Events/Jamie Lauren Photography
Entertaining
10 creative New Years party ideas
Celebrate New Year's Eve in style with one of these fun party themes.
Five. Four. Three. Two. One! Say goodbye to 2019 and hello to the New Year by hosting a theme party for friends and family. Whether you're looking for over-the-top fun or a more low-key celebration, the countdown to midnight will pass in a flash with these ten fun New Year's party ideas. You won't want the night to end!
1. Decade party
We may be heading into 2020, but who says we can't party like it's the '60s or '90s? Centre your New Year's party theme around your favourite decade and invite your guests to come dressed to impress for your chosen time period. If the '60s are your decade of choice, think retro, whether it be with psychedelic décor colours (think electric blue, orange, pink and purple) or food that defined the era like crescent rolls stuffed with hot dogs, also known as "Pigs in a Blanket." The possibilities are endless with every decade, so be sure to get creative no matter which nostalgic way you decide to celebrate the New Year.
2. Old Hollywood glam
Serve up some Old Hollywood glamour as you celebrate the New Year with this throwback-themed party idea. Encourage your guests to come dressed to the nines—think red-carpet-worthy gowns for the women and classic tuxes for the men. A cocktail-party setup works best for this theme, as it allows guests to mingle while they sip on drinks and munch on appetizers. For your décor, use accents in classic Old Hollywood colours like black, red and gold. Wow your guests by adding a red carpet to your front entryway and place lit candles around the party setting to create a romantic mood. Remember, it's all in the details!
3. Countdown to the End of the World
With the popularity of TV shows like The Walking Dead and its spinoff, Fear the Walking Dead, zombie mania doesn't seem to be letting up, so why not throw a zombie-themed End of the World party? Sarah Conley, owner and operator of Celebrations by Sarah in St. Andrews, New Brunswick, suggests inviting your guests to dress up as zombies or a character from their favourite zombie-themed show or movie. To achieve an apocalyptic atmosphere, Conley recommends staging areas of your home with overturned furniture, having almost-empty kitchen cupboards and a playing a video reel of a fake news broadcast about the rise of the zombies. "At midnight you could really freak your guests out by shutting off the power, getting a strobe light going and having zombie actors move through your space," she says. It's a fun and unforgettable way to ring in the New Year
4. Potluck party
Invite your guests to contribute to the execution of a successful New Year's party by hosting a potluck. Ask each guest to bring a savoury food dish, dessert or drink. Ensure there's a variety of things to feast on by making a list of specific items you want (keeping in mind dietary restrictions) and assigning one to each guest. It's the best way to make sure you provide options for all your guests to enjoy. These 11 potluck recipes are sure to be a hit if you're looking for recipes that make great sharing dishes. Remember to let guests know ahead of time in order to avoid duplicate or disappointing dishes. In the end, it's all about coming together and counting down to a New Year.
5. Black and gold event
Deck your home with black and gold accents to celebrate the New Year in luxe style. Start by incorporating black and gold helium balloons—they will float up to the ceiling and hang dramatically as your guests walk through your home. If you plan on having a sit-down dinner, your dinnerware should follow the same colour scheme as your theme. Adorn your table with gold candelabras and black candles to add a touch of sophistication and romance to the overall setting. Hints of gold glitter add an extra-special touch and tie the theme together. Stuck for ideas? How about edible glitter on the rim of cocktail glasses, or a DIY gold glitter ‘Cheers' garland that can be used as a backdrop for a photo station where your guests can goof around with props and capture some of these memorable moments.
6. Minute to Win It game night
Who needs to get dressed up for a night on the town when you can stay in the comforts of your home and host friends and family for a fun-filled game night inspired by the popular show Minute to Win It? "Anyone can compete at these silly, yet challenging games, so this New Year's Eve party idea would be great for families, especially those with tweens tagging along," says Conley. The challenges require supplies ranging from pencils and plastic cups, to pantyhose and cotton balls—mostly items you'd have around the house or can be easily found at your local dollar store.
7. Masquerade ball
Bring out the masks and celebrate the New Year in Venetian style with a masquerade ball. Adorn your home with table linens, pillow throws and props in jeweled-tone colours such as quartz purple, emerald green, ruby red and sapphire blue. And let's not forget the most important element: the masks. Encourage your guests to come dressed the part and remind them that over-the-top masks and elaborate costumes are welcome. Create an extravagant menu made of simple foods like hors d'oeuvres and other light finger foods. Set the mood by serving champagne cocktails as your guests arrive. It also wouldn't hurt to have the Phantom of the Opera theme song playing in the background to complete the overall atmosphere as you ring in the New Year.
8. Indulgence party
Say one last goodbye to those decadent foods that most people plan on giving up after New Year's with this indulgence-themed party. Are some of your guests cutting back on sugar? Dairy? Red meat? Create a dessert table with everyone's favourite treats, or serve the cheese and charcuterie platters of their dreams! The possibilities are endless with this theme, so be sure to enjoy these guilty pleasures one last time with those you love before it's time to stick to those New Year's resolutions.
9. A Downton affair
Celebrate the New Year and a new season of the popular British period drama Downton Abbey by throwing a formal dinner party based around the 1920s aesthetic of the show. To execute, Jordan Maxey and Devon Dunn of Smitten Events, a Vancouver-based event planning company, suggest you focus your attention on the details. "Think place cards, menu cards, beautiful place settings and multiple forks," says Maxey. To create the perfect table setting, check out these helpful tips on how to set your dinner table. For the menu, start your posh dinner party off with class by serving up Raw Oysters on the Half Shelf as an appetizer. For the main, this Porchetta-Style Barbecue Pork Roast is the perfect dish to serve with sophisticated cocktails like this Orange Fizz. If a formal dinner party isn't your style, an elegant tea party is another way to execute this theme. Of course, you can't forget to look the part! Invite your guests to dress up in fashions from the 1920s: flapper dresses for the women and classic and sophisticated suits for the men.
10. Colourful confetti-themed brunch
If you're not a fan of staying up late and celebrating into the night, why not host a confetti-themed New Year's Day brunch? To bring this theme to life, simply purchase ready-made confetti, or source colourful construction or scrapbook paper from your local craft store and do it yourself by cutting small circles out of the paper. Scatter confetti around your brunch table and fill clear balloons with it to create a festive atmosphere. Invite your guests to wear pastel-coloured clothing to complement your theme. Serve brunch in style by creating a buffet table filled with brunch staples like, pancakes, waffles, crepes. Let's not forget the mimosas or Caesars—it wouldn't be brunch without them!
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