Top 10 New Year’s Eve Party Themes to Ring in the New Year
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If your goal is to throw a party that’s memorable, fun, and if you’re anything like me, just a little bit extra, you’ve come to the right place. Glitter? Glam? Golden Girls? I’ve created the perfect party themes to make your New Year’s Eve sparkle! Grab your confetti, pop the champagne – cheers with the pinkies out, and let’s shimmy on into the top 10 New Year’s Eve party themes that will start the New year heading in the best direction!
Table of Contents
- Clitter and Glam
- Golden Girls Party
- Masquerade Ball
- Hollywood Glam
- Great Gadsby
- Snow Globe Wonderland
- Casino Night
- Black and White Ball
- Around the World
- 80’s Dance Party
1. Glitter and Glam
Nothing says New Year’s Eve like a bit of sparkle. Turn your space into a dazzling wonderland with all things glitter and glam. Think sparkly decorations, shimmering dresses, and twinkling lights. Your guests will love dressing up in their most fabulous outfits and dancing the night away under a glittering disco ball. It’s all about that extra bling!
Decorations: Use metallic streamers, glittery tablecloths, and sparkling balloons. A disco ball is a must, and don’t forget the confetti cannons.
Food: Serve glittery cupcakes, shimmering cocktails, and a candy buffet with all things shiny and sweet.
Music: Create a playlist filled with dance hits and pop anthems. Think of songs that make people want to get up and dance.
Activities: Set up a glitter face-painting station and a photo booth with plenty of shiny props.
Keep polaroid cameras circulating throughout the night for people to capture the candid moments with a nostalgic feel.
2. Golden Girls Party
Thank you for being a friend! If you and your crew are up for a hilariously nostalgic New Year’s Eve, a Golden Girls theme is the perfect way to bid adieu to the old year and welcome the new one. Get ready for a night of cheesecake, witty banter, and an outrageous trip back to the 80s!
Decorations: Think Miami chic with palm leaf prints, pastel colors, and wicker furniture. Add some framed photos of the Golden Girls themselves – Blanche, Dorothy, Rose, and Sophia – for that authentic touch.
Food: Serve up all the classic comfort foods, starting with plenty of cheesecake (of course). Add some old-school snacks like deviled eggs, shrimp cocktails, and mini meatballs. Don’t forget the retro cocktails – how about some Cosmopolitans and Piña Coladas?
Music: Create a playlist filled with 80s hits and some big band classics that the Golden Girls would adore. Don’t forget the iconic theme song, “Thank You for Being a Friend” – it’s a must-play at midnight.
Activities: Host a trivia contest with questions about the Golden Girls show. Set up a “Picture It” storytelling corner where guests can embellish their funniest or most memorable moments of the past year, Sophia-style. Film it to have big laughs and memorabilia from the night. Have a costume contest for the best-dressed Golden Girl look-alike – bonus points for the perfect wig and shoulder pads!
3. Masquerade Ball
For a night of mystery and elegance, host a Masquerade Ball. Provide masks for your guests or encourage them to bring their own. Decorate with rich, opulent colors like gold, black, and deep red. A masquerade ball is perfect for those who want to add a touch of intrigue and sophistication to their New Year’s Eve celebration.
Decorations: Use rich fabrics like velvet and silk for drapes and tablecloths. Gold and black balloons, candelabras, and red roses will set the scene.
Food: Serve elegant hors d’oeuvres, cheese platters, and chocolate-dipped strawberries. Champagne and wine are musts.
Music: Classical music and elegant waltzes to keep the sophisticated vibe going.
Activities: Host a best mask contest and a dance competition. Provide masks and props for a themed photo booth.
4. Hollywood Glam
Roll out the red carpet and let your guests feel like stars with a Hollywood Glam theme. Encourage everyone to dress like their favorite celebrity or in their most glamorous attire. Set up a photo booth with props for some paparazzi-style shots. Serve champagne and fancy hors d’oeuvres to make everyone feel like they’re at the Oscars.
Decorations: Use red carpets, gold stars, and Hollywood signs. Set up a “Walk of Fame” with star-shaped stickers with each guest’s name.
Food: Serve fancy hors d’oeuvres like caviar, bruschetta, and mini quiches. Champagne is essential, of course.
Music: Create a playlist with classic Hollywood film scores and modern pop hits.
Activities: Host an award ceremony with fun categories and hand out mini-Oscars. Set up a paparazzi-style photo booth. Go the extra mile and send ballots with category and guest list for guests to vote for each award as their RSVP.
5. Great Gatsby
If you loved “The Great Gatsby” and all things lavish, this theme is for you. Decorate with gold and black accents, and make sure to have plenty of champagne on hand. Encourage guests to dress in 1920s-inspired attire. This theme is all about luxury, excess, and celebrating in style.
Decorations: Gold and black streamers, art deco posters, and feather centerpieces. Use plenty of fairy lights for a magical touch.
Food: Serve oysters, shrimp cocktails, and other decadent appetizers. Champagne and martinis are the drinks of choice.
Music: Jazz and swing music to keep the vibe authentic. Create a playlist with 1920s classics.
Activities: Set up a dance floor for Charleston dancing. Host a best-dressed contest and a trivia game based on “The Great Gatsby.”
A fun way to celebrate the New Year is to rent a 360 photobooth, add a art Gatsby-style New Year backdrop, cue the bubbles and have guest take turns being the center of the celebration. Have everyone else hold sparklers around the outside while the 360 booth does its magic! This will allow your guests to have a video keepsake from the evening to share far and wide on their socials!
6. Snow Globe Wonderland
Turn your home into a snowy paradise with a Snow Globe Wonderland theme. Encourage guests to dress in all white. Decorate with white and silver accents, fake snow, and icicle lights. Serve winter-themed drinks like hot toddies and spiked hot chocolate. This theme is perfect for those who want to embrace the winter season and create a magical atmosphere.
Decorations: Use white and silver balloons, fake snow, and icicle lights. Decorate with snowflakes, pinecones, and winter greenery.
Food: Serve warm comfort foods like fondue, hot cocoa, and cookies. Winter-themed cocktails like mulled wine, White Russians, and spiked hot chocolate are perfect. Obviously, any non-alcoholic versions of winter drinks like apple cider, or non-spiked hot chocolate can be served too.
Music: Create a playlist with winter and holiday classics, from “Let It Snow” to “Winter Wonderland.”
Activities: Set up a snowflake crafting station and a hot cocoa bar. Host a snowball fight with cotton balls for some indoor fun.
Or purchase one of the fun Inflatable Bubble Balloon Houses that look like a snow globe, fill it with wintery props and have a fan blow white balloons around to look like snow inside the snow globe.
7. Casino Night
Bring the excitement of Las Vegas to your living room with a Casino Night theme. Set up card tables for poker, blackjack, and roulette. Provide plenty of fake money for your guests to gamble with. This theme is perfect for those who enjoy a little friendly competition and want to try their luck.
Decorations: Use green felt tablecloths, playing card decorations, and plenty of dice and chips. Hang up neon signs and create a casino atmosphere.
Food: Serve finger foods like sliders, chicken wings, and nachos. Cocktails like martinis and whiskey sours are a must.
Music: Create a playlist with upbeat and jazzy tunes to mimic the sounds of a casino.
Activities: Set up poker, blackjack, and roulette tables. Host a tournament with prizes for the biggest winners.
8. Black and White Ball
Keep it classy with a Black and White Ball. Decorate with elegant black and white accents, and encourage guests to dress in their best black and white attire. This theme is simple, yet sophisticated, and perfect for those who love a timeless look.
Decorations: Use black and white balloons, streamers, and tablecloths. Add some silver accents for a touch of elegance.
Food: Serve black and white cookies, chocolate-dipped strawberries, and other monochromatic treats. Champagne and sparkling water are ideal drinks.
Music: Create a playlist with classical music and jazz standards for a sophisticated atmosphere.
Activities: Host a best-dressed contest and a dance competition. Set up a black-and-white photo booth with fun props.
Consider having the photobooth set up as a “Glam Booth” meaning the photos are elegant, black and white, with a slight filter to add a glow-up effect and highlight each guests’ best features.
9. Around the World
Celebrate New Year’s Eve with a global twist by hosting an Around the World party. Decorate different areas of your home to represent various countries and serve international foods and drinks. This theme is perfect for those who love to travel and want to celebrate cultures from around the world.
Decorations: Use flags, maps, and travel-themed decorations. Set up different areas or rooms to represent different countries.
Food: Serve a variety of international dishes, from sushi to tacos to pasta. Or decide on a potluck style dinner where guests can each bring their favorite dish from their own cultural background. Offer drinks like margaritas, sake, and sangria.
Side note: I got a hangover just typing those out together! Drink responsibly please.
Music: Create a playlist with music from around the world. Include songs from different countries and cultures.
Activities: Set up stations with traditional games and activities from different countries. Host a trivia game with questions about world geography and cultures.
10. 80s Dance Party
Get ready to bust out the neon, leg warmers, and big hair with an 80s Dance Party. Play all the best hits from the 80s and encourage guests to dress in their most outrageous 80s outfits. This theme is all about having fun, dancing, and reminiscing about the good old days. P.S. the decor was neon and loud. So go crazy!
Decorations: Use neon balloons, cassette tapes, and posters of 80s bands. Set up a dance floor with colorful lights.
Food: Serve classic 80s snacks like cheese puffs, pizza rolls, and Jell-O shots. Fun cocktails like blue lagoons and cosmopolitans are perfect.
Music: Create a playlist with all the best 80s hits. Think Madonna, Michael Jackson, and Prince.
Activities: Host a dance-off, karaoke contest, and an 80s trivia game. Set up a photo booth with 80s-themed props.
With these New Year’s Eve party themes, you’re sure to find the perfect way to ring in the new year. I hope this list got your creative juices going and starts the beginning of a beautiful year! Share your own ideas for a New Year Party below or come back and share your fun photos from the night!
Cheers to a fabulous New Year’s Eve and an even better year ahead!
Yours in glitter and good times,
Anna
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