How to Throw a New Year's Eve Party

Co-authored by Stefanie Chu-Leong

Last Updated: December 8, 2024 Approved

New Year's Eve is one of the biggest celebrations of the year for many people. It's a great time to spend together with your family and friends as you say goodbye to the old and welcome the new. Throwing a great New Year's Eve party can help make the celebrations even more enjoyable. Get inspired and host the perfect party for you and those close to you.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Planning the Party

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1
Think of the location. Before you can start planning the party, you will need to think of a location to have it in. You'll need to find a space that you can easily access and that has enough space for everyone you're thinking of inviting. Take some time to think of the perfect space for your New Year's Eve party.
- If the party is at a club, and there will be admission charges, make sure that is on the invitation as well. Even if there is no charge, some people like to dedicate the party proceeds to a friend in need or a charity. The party can take place at a party hall too. You can even have someone be the DJ and blast some party music!
- You can host the party in your home. This can help cut down on costs. ^{[1]
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- Try asking a friend to co-host the party in their home if they have the space.
- You might rent a party hall if you need a lot of room for guests.
2
Consider who should attend the party. It's not a party unless there are guests. You'll want to consider who you want to invite to your party and how many people should come. Thinking of the perfect guest list can help make your party a good one.
- Make sure the uppers (party animals) and downers (wallflowers) ratio is balanced so that nothing will get broken and nobody injured, but everybody will have a good time. Generally you'll want to have 1 downer for every 5 uppers, but you may want to adjust this based on the location and availability of security and emergency services.
- Consider how many people can comfortably fit in the space you are hosting the party in.
- Inviting fewer people can help you keep the cost of the party low and let you connect better with your guests. ^{[2]
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3
Think of when you want guests to arrive and leave. Once you know who is coming and where you will host the party, you can begin to plan the party schedule. You'll need to consider when you want your guests to begin arriving and when they should expect the party to end. Creating this schedule will give you time to prepare before the party and will let your guests know what to expect.
- Not all New Year's Eve parties need to run late. You can end the party whenever you would like.
- If your guests are staying late, you should be prepared to offer them a bed or some place to sleep.
Make them lively looking, and make sure to write down any necessary gear or things they should bring, such as swimsuits, food, drinks, after Christmas sale gifts, or whatever.
5
Plan the party for everyone. Try to keep each guest in mind when you are planning your party. Ideally, your party will have something for everyone. It's important to think of all the ages, tastes, and preferences of your guests when planning your party. Take some time and review your guest list to make sure everyone will have a good time at your party.
- If there are children coming, make sure you have things that they may enjoy. You might leave out a video game or other fun activity for them.
- Think about what kinds of food and music all of your guests might like. Your guests may not have the same tastes, so try to pick things that you think everyone would agree on.
6
Think about food and drink options. Before you throw your New Year's Eve party, you will want to consider how you are going to handle food and drink. You may choose to offer all the food and drinks for your guests or ask them to bring something to share. Whichever option you go with, knowing what to expect in regards to refreshments can help make your party a success.
- If you want to provide all food and drink yourself, think about which items your guests might prefer. Try to provide something you think everyone would enjoy.
- It can help cut down on costs if you ask your guests to bring something to pass.
7
Plan out activities. It can be a good idea to tell your guests what they can expect to be doing during the party. Most New Year's Eve parties are centered around the ball drop and the midnight countdown. However, you can plan whatever fun events you might want to include in your party.
- Planning an evening of music, food, and good conversation can make for a simple and fun party.
- You might try offering board games for your guests to play together.
- Your party might feature a fun competition. For example, the best dressed guest could win a prize.
- Tell your guests what activities they can expect in the invitations.
8
Send out invitations. Once you've planned the location, the guest list, and the schedule, you can create and send out invitations. The invitation will list all the information about the party and will let your guest know that they are welcome. Consider some of these methods of sending the invitations:
- By mail.
- By email.
- Making an e-card. ^{[3]
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- Using social media.
- By phone call.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Setting Things Up

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1
Set out drinks. Most every party has some kind of beverage available to guests. Exactly what kind of beverages you offer will depend on your guest's preferences. Think about what your friends and family would like to drink and put them out during the party. Keep some of these tips in mind when considering which beverages might be a good idea:
- You should always provide water for your guests.
- Most adults will enjoy an alcoholic beverage. Try to provide some beer or wine for guests.
- It can be a good idea to have soft drinks available at your party.
- Your guests might enjoy coffee and tea.
- If there are children coming, you may want to have something like juice or milk ready.
- You can ask your friends and family to bring some drinks to the party. ^{[4]
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2
Offer the right food. Nearly all parties will offer some kind of food to guests. Exactly what kind of food will depend on how many people are attending, how much you can budget for the food, and how long the party goes on for. You can make a meal or just offer snacks, depending on what you think will be best for your guests. Consider some of these tips when providing food for your guests: ^{[5]
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- A simple snack tray is usually provided at parties. This snack tray may have things like crackers, cheese slices, and fruit or vegetables.
- You might try making a group meal for everyone. This might be a big pot of soup or stew, something that can feed a lot of people at once.
- You could try asking your guests to bring something for everyone to eat.
3
Provide tableware. Although food and drink are big parts of a party, you'll need to give your guests a way to enjoy them. Providing things like plates, cups, napkins, and silverware are just as important as providing the food and drink itself. Make sure you have enough supplies to help keep your party running smoothly.
- You should have enough plates and cups for everyone at the party.
- You might want to buy paper or plastic tableware. However, these can make the party more costly. ^{[6]
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- Make sure you have napkins or paper towels handy.
- It can be helpful to have a trashcan out for everyone to use.
4
Decorate. To help make your party feel complete, it can be a good idea to add some decorations. These decorations can be as extravagant or simple as you would like. Try using some of these simple decoration tips for your New Year's eve party: ^{[7]
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- Keep your Christmas decorations up to maintain the holiday look.
- Make your own decorations. For example, you can make a gold bow tie garland by painting bow-tie pasta noodles gold and stringing them together.
- Wrap tinsel around the end of a toothpick or drink stirrer.
Martha Stewart, Home, Garden, & Lifestyle Expert

Hosting at home creates a canvas for self-expression. "To entertain at home is a rediscovery–of rooms and settings, of your favorite things, and particularly of your own tastes and ideas."

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Entertaining Guests

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1
Have a way to watch the ball drop if applicable. A big part of New Year's Eve celebrations in the United States is watching the ball drop in Times Square at midnight. It can be a good idea to have some way for your guests to watch the ball as it descends at midnight. You might try using some of these methods to bring the ball drop to your guests:
- Make sure you subscribe to a television channel that covers the event.
- You can find live streaming coverage of the ball drop online.
- You might move the party to a local bar around midnight to watch the countdown together.
2
Play some music. A great party is often not complete without music. Music can help any party to feel alive, and your New Year's Eve celebration isn't any different. Think about what kind of music you and your guests might want to listen to and build a great playlist for the party. ^{[8]
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- Consider the musical taste of those attending your party. Avoid songs that might make some guests uncomfortable.
- Make sure you have enough music to cover the length of the party.
- You could try streaming services like Pandora to play music during your party.
- Try to find a good volume level for your party.
3
Make sure everyone is engaged. The point of a party is to celebrate. During the party, it's a good idea to spend some time with everyone who attended. This can help make them feel welcome and included in the celebration. Always keep an eye on guests to make sure they are having the best time possible.
- Plan fun group activities. For example, you might build a photo booth or offer some games for people to play. ^{[9]
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- If someone looks alone or bored, bring them into a conversation or start one up with them.
- Introduce new people to one another.
4
Countdown. The focus of the evening will be on the countdown to midnight and the new year. As the clock approaches 12, you'll want to gather everyone around and get ready for the countdown. This can be a great way to bring everyone together and end your New Year's Eve party on a high note. ^{[10]
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- Most people start counting down at 10 seconds from midnight.
- Some people enjoy opening a bottle of champagne once the clock strikes 12.
- Feel free to make up your own traditions for the countdown.
5
Wrap things up. Once your guests have enjoyed ringing in the New Year with you, it's time to bring the party to a close. Make sure your guests all have a safe way home or are comfortable with the accommodations that you have provided. You may also want to clean up a bit while the party is coming to a close. After the party is over, get some sleep and enjoy the new year.
- Before going to bed, it's a good idea to make sure that all the leftover food and drink are put away.
- You may also want to put all the trash in a bin or bag.
- Removing decorations, sweeping, and other cleaning can probably wait until the morning.
- Never let someone drive drunk. If your guests are driving home, make sure they are sober.

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What should I consider when I'm planning a New Year's Eve party?

Stefanie Chu-Leong
Owner & Senior Event Planner, Stellify Events
Stefanie Chu-Leong is the Owner and Senior Event Planner for Stellify Events, an event management business based in the San Francisco Bay Area and California Central Valley. Stefanie has over 15 years of event planning experience and specializes in large-scale events and special occasions. She has a BA in Marketing from San Francisco State University.

Stefanie Chu-Leong

Owner & Senior Event Planner, Stellify Events

Expert Answer

The top considerations are whether there is a theme, what the budget is, and how many people you are inviting. You can plan a New Year's Eve party a million different ways, but until you know your theme, budget, and guest list, you can't lock anything down.

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When do most house parties start on New Years Eve?

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It depends on your preference, but most start between 6:00 - 8:00 PM.

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What time should it start?

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Between 9:00-11:00 PM would be good, but it's really up to you, depending on what you want to do and how long you want the party to be.

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Think about what foods and drink your guests might like the most.

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Make sure you have enough room for everyone you plan on inviting.

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Properly planning your party can help make it a success.

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Plates, cups, and silverware
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How to Throw a New Year's Eve Party

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Planning the Party

Setting Things Up

Entertaining Guests

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Tips

Warnings

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