New Year's Eve sits right there at the top of celebrations worth planning for. The clock counts down to midnight. You want the night to feel special and memorable. Maybe you've spent past New Year's Eves feeling a bit lost about what to do. You scroll through party invites or wonder if staying home sounds boring. The pressure to have the "perfect" night can make you forget what really matters.
Here's what I've learned after years of trying different ways to celebrate: the best New Year's Eve is the one that feels right for you. Some years call for sparkly dresses and champagne toasts. Other years need cozy sweatshirts and family game nights. We're going to walk through Things To Do On New Year's Eve that bring good luck, activities that work for families, fun ideas to keep kids entertained, and ways to add some laughter to your countdown.
The clock strikes twelve. You turn to someone you love and share a kiss. This tradition isn't just romantic. It's about starting the year with affection and warmth.
The belief says that the person you kiss at midnight sets the emotional tone for your entire year. Singles can kiss a friend on the cheek or blow a kiss to someone they care about.
Southern families know this meal well. The plate holds black-eyed peas, hen, rice, and collard or turnip greens with cornbread on the side. Each ingredient carries meaning.
The black-eyed peas represent coins and financial luck. Greens symbolize paper money. Rice means abundance. This hearty meal fills your stomach and supposedly fills your pockets with prosperity for the coming year.
Pop goes the cork. Bubbles rise in crystal glasses. The noise and fizz serve a double purpose at midnight. Champagne has become the drink of celebration for good reason.
The sound of clinking glasses and popping bottles was once thought to scare away evil spirits. Now it simply marks the joy of a new beginning with the people gathered around you. If you loved celebrating with family tonight, check out our Christmas Eve traditions for families to make the holiday season even more special.
Your outfit choice might bring you luck. Red underwear, red dresses, red shirts. This tradition shows up in cultures around the world. Red symbolizes love, passion, and good fortune in many traditions.
Some people swear by red undergarments specifically. They believe wearing red close to your skin invites romance into the new year. Plus, red looks stunning in party photos.
This Spanish tradition requires quick eating and good timing. You need one grape for each stroke of midnight. Each grape represents one month of the coming year.
The challenge is real. Twelve grapes in twelve seconds takes practice. Some people prep by removing seeds ahead of time. If you manage to eat all twelve before the last bell rings, legend says you'll have twelve months of prosperity.
Want to travel more? This Latin American tradition might be for you. Grab an empty suitcase when the clock strikes midnight. Walk around your house or down your street.
The action symbolizes future adventures and journeys. Some people walk around the block with their luggage. Others just circle their living room. The gesture tells the universe you're ready for new places and experiences in the year ahead.
The giant ball descends in New York City while millions watch from home. This tradition connects you to people celebrating across the country. Kids love counting down with the crowd.
Set up a cozy viewing area with blankets and pillows. Make your own noisemakers from pots and wooden spoons. Some families do practice countdowns at earlier hours so younger kids can participate before bedtime. Looking for the perfect words to share with loved ones at midnight? Our New Year messages for families have heartfelt ideas you can send or say.
Resolutions don't have to feel like pressure. Turn them into a family conversation about hopes and dreams. Everyone gets to share what they want to try or improve.
Give each person paper and markers to write or draw their goals. Little ones can draw pictures of what they want to do. Put all the resolutions in a jar and read them together next New Year's Eve to see what came true.
Fireworks light up the sky in brilliant colors. Many cities host public displays on New Year's Eve. The booms and sparkles create excitement for all ages.
Check local listings for displays near you. Arrive early to snag a good viewing spot. If you're staying home, some neighborhoods allow safe backyard sparklers. Bundle up in warm layers and bring thermoses of hot chocolate.
A time capsule preserves this moment forever. Each family member contributes items that represent their current life. You seal it up and promise not to open it for years.
Include photos, handwritten notes about your favorite things, ticket stubs, or small trinkets. Kids can add drawings or lists of their friends. Write predictions about where you'll be in five or ten years. Store it in a custom tote bag marked with the opening date.
Parades bring spectacle and tradition to the holiday. The Rose Parade in Pasadena features elaborate floats covered in flowers. Other cities host their own celebrations with marching bands and performers.
Make it an event by serving special breakfast foods while you watch. Kids love spotting their favorite characters on floats. Recording the parade lets you pause for bathroom breaks or snack runs without missing anything.
Dining out takes the cooking stress off your shoulders. Many restaurants create special New Year's Eve menus. The festive atmosphere adds to the celebration without cleanup duty.
Book your table weeks in advance. Popular spots fill up fast on this night. Look for family-friendly restaurants that welcome children. Some places offer early dinner seating perfect for families with young kids.
Charades gets everyone moving and laughing. Players act out words or phrases without speaking. The rest of the group tries to guess what they're showing.
Create New Year themed cards with actions like "popping champagne" or "wearing a party hat." Split into teams or play all together. Even shy kids get brave when it's their turn to perform.
Darkness plus glow sticks equals instant magic. Turn off the lights and crank up the music. Kids wave their glowing sticks and dance like nobody's watching.
Buy glow sticks in bulk from party stores. They're safe and create amazing light patterns in the dark. Make glow stick bracelets and necklaces for everyone. The dancing burns off energy before midnight.
Music plays and bodies move. When the music stops, everyone freezes in place. Anyone who moves is out until the next round.
Choose upbeat songs kids love. Mix in some silly New Year themed tunes. The game works perfectly for mixed age groups. Toddlers and teenagers can all play together.
Bingo cards keep kids engaged throughout the evening. Create cards with New Year activities like "blow a noisemaker" or "eat a cookie." Players mark off squares as they complete each action.
Print custom cards online or make your own. Use small candies as markers that kids can eat afterward. The winner gets to pick the next activity or choose a small prize.
This one sounds like work but kids can surprise you. Frame it as preparing for good luck in the new year. Give each child a specific area to tidy.
Turn on energetic music and set a timer. Race against the clock to see how much you can accomplish. Starting the year with a clean space feels satisfying for the whole family.
Pure dancing needs no complicated rules. Clear furniture from the living room. Let kids take turns being the DJ and choosing songs.
Create a simple light show with lamps and flashlights. Teach kids dances from when you were young. They'll teach you the latest TikTok moves. Match your outfits with custom embroidered hoodies for the whole family.
Each person shares three statements about themselves. Two statements are true. One is a complete lie. Everyone else guesses which one is fake.
New Year's Eve is perfect for this game because you can focus on events from the past year. Make your lies outrageous for extra laughs. You'll learn surprising things about people you thought you knew well.
Singing badly in front of friends builds character. Karaoke lets everyone channel their inner rock star. The worse you sound, the more fun everyone has.
Set up a karaoke machine or use a phone app with a speaker. Create a stage area with a pretend microphone. Props like boas and sunglasses make performances even better. Custom caps can serve as your performer gear.
This takes karaoke to the next level. Performers mouth the words to songs while acting out elaborate performances. Judges rate each performance on entertainment value.
Pick songs everyone knows. Go full commitment with costumes and props. Film the battles to watch later when you need a good laugh. The person who goes most over the top usually wins.
Everyone has embarrassing photos buried in their camera roll. This game brings them to light. Scroll through your photos and stop at the tenth one. You have to show it to the group.
The randomness creates hilarious moments. You might land on an accidental screenshot or an unflattering selfie. Set ground rules about truly private photos beforehand. The laughter comes from unexpected discoveries.
Arrange cups in triangle formations at each end of a table. Players try to toss ping pong balls into the opposing team's cups. Make it family friendly by filling cups with water or juice.
Adults can play the traditional version with drinks. Kids love the game just as much with apple juice. Set up a tournament bracket for serious competition. Winners get bragging rights for the entire next year.
Sometimes the simplest ideas work best. Deal the cards and settle in for hours of games. Conversation flows naturally between rounds.
Choose games everyone knows or teach a new one. Poker, Hearts, Spades, and Rummy all work great for groups. Snacks and drinks within reach keep everyone comfortable. This low key option lets you actually talk to the people you're celebrating with.
Your perfect New Year's Eve doesn't need to match anyone else's. Pick the traditions that make you smile. Choose activities that fit the people around your table.
Some years call for quiet reflection with close friends. Other years need loud music and dancing until dawn. The magic happens when you stop worrying about doing it "right" and start enjoying the people you're with. Here's to a year filled with moments worth celebrating. Happy New Year.
There's no single "right" way to celebrate New Year's Eve. Popular activities include watching the ball drop at midnight, sharing a kiss with someone special, eating traditional lucky foods like black-eyed peas, and toasting with champagne. The best celebrations match your personality, whether that means a quiet night at home with family or a big party with friends.
Focus on creating meaningful moments rather than expensive plans. Try starting new traditions like making a family time capsule, wearing red for good luck, or eating 12 grapes at midnight. Personal touches like custom embroidered hoodies for your group or handwritten resolutions make the night memorable. The key is choosing activities that bring you joy and connection with the people around you.
Many cultures have lucky New Year's traditions. Kissing someone at midnight is believed to set your emotional tone for the year. Eating black-eyed peas with collard greens represents financial prosperity. Wearing red, especially red underwear, invites love and passion. Carrying an empty suitcase around your house symbolizes future travel adventures. These traditions add fun even if you don't take them too seriously.
Family celebrations work best when everyone participates. Watch the Times Square ball drop together, make resolutions as a group, or create a family time capsule to open in future years. Going out to a restaurant takes pressure off the host. Watching fireworks or a New Year's Day parade gives you shared experiences. The goal is finding activities that work for all ages, from grandparents to toddlers.
Keep kids engaged with active games and special activities. Glow stick dance parties create magical moments in the dark. Freeze dance and charades get everyone moving and laughing. New Year's bingo gives them something to complete throughout the evening. For younger children, do practice countdowns at earlier hours so they can participate before bedtime. Let them help with preparations to build excitement.
Cameron Hayes
Meet Cameron Hayes, the 32-year-old wordsmith behind Embroly LLC's heartwarming content. This self-taught writer turned his passion for family stories into a career, weaving tales of love and laughter from his bustling Chicago home office. With six years in the content creation world, Cameron has mastered the art of making Gen X and millennials alike misty-eyed over their morning coffee. When he's not crafting the perfect emotional hook, you'll find him attempting DIY projects or coaching little league. His gift-giving advice is significantly more reliable than his home improvement skills.
