New Years Eve Party Ideas – How to Ring in 2023 Safely and on a Budget

Out With the Old and In With the New

It’s been another stressful year because of Covid, and this New Year’s Eve, perhaps more than ever, the party symbolizes new beginnings and new hope for the end of the Coronavirus in all its forms.   At least we can hope so, right?!  To start off the year with a bang keep reading for some fun New Years Eve party ideas!  There’s no need to break the bank when planning a party for the New Year.  Here are some great ways you can have an enjoyable party without spending too much cash. But first…  let’s stay healthy.  Here, straight from the CDC’s website, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, of course, are important things to think about when celebrating this holiday season.

Safer Ways to Celebrate Holidays… From the CDC

Holiday traditions are important for families and children. There are several ways to enjoy holiday traditions and protect your health. Because many generations tend to gather to celebrate holidays, the best way to minimize COVID-19 risk and keep your family and friends safer is to get vaccinated if you’re eligible.

How to Protect Yourself

Important Ways to Slow the Spread of COVID-19

• Get a COVID-19 vaccineas soon as you can. Find a vaccine.
• Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouthto help protect yourself and others.
• Stay 6 feet apart from otherswho don’t live with you.
• Avoid crowds and poorly ventilated indoor spaces.
• Testto prevent spread to others.
• Wash your hands oftenwith soap and water. Use hand sanitizer if soap and water aren’t available.

Generally:

• • Protect those not yet eligible for vaccination such as young children by getting yourself and other eligible people around them vaccinated.
  • Wear well-fitting masks over your nose and mouth if you are in public indoor settings and you are not fully vaccinated.
    • Even those who are fully vaccinated should wear a mask in public indoor settings in communities with substantial to high transmission.
      • Outdoors is safer than indoors.
    • Avoid crowded, poorly ventilated spaces.
    • If you are sick or have symptoms, don’t host or attend a gathering.
    • Testing can give you information about your risk of spreading COVID-19.
    • Consider using a self-test before joining indoor gatherings with others who are not in your household.
      • A positive self-test result means that you have an infection and should avoid indoor gatherings to reduce the risk of spreading disease to someone else.
      • A negative self-test result means that you may not have an infection. Repeating the test with at least 24 hours between tests will increase the confidence that you are not infected.
      • Ask your healthcare provider if you need help interpreting your test results.

If you are considering traveling for a holiday or event, visit CDC’s Travel page to help you decide what is best for you and your family. CDC still recommends delaying travel until you are fully vaccinated.

• If you are not fully vaccinated and must travel, follow CDC’s domestic travel or international travel recommendations for unvaccinated people.
• If you will be traveling in a group or family with unvaccinated people, choose safer travel options.
• Everyone, even people who are fully vaccinated, is required to wear a mask on public transportation and follow international travel recommendations.

 Special considerations:

• People who have a condition or are taking medications that weaken their immune system may not be fully protected even if they are fully vaccinated and have received an additional dose. They should continue to take all precautions recommended for unvaccinated people, including wearing a well-fitted mask, until advised otherwise by their healthcare provider.
• You might choose to wear a mask regardless of the level of transmission if a member of your household has a weakened immune system, is at increased risk for severe disease, or is unvaccinated.
• If you are gathering with a group of people from multiple households and potentially from different parts of the country, you could consider additional precautions (e.g., avoiding crowded indoor spaces before travel, taking a test) in advance of gathering to further reduce risk.
• Do NOT put a mask on children younger than 2 years old.

By working together, we can enjoy safer holidays, travel, and protect our own health as well as the health of our family and friends.

Thanks for reading the important safety stuff from the CDC…  now on to the fun stuff so you can party like it’s 1999… or 2019!

Party Supplies

Some fun and inexpensive party supplies that are perfect for New Year celebrations include hats, leis, noise makers, party poppers, tiaras, and streamers.  You can even purchase a package of New Year party items based on your budget.  The most inexpensive packages of New Years Eve party supplies are in the $25 to $30 range.  And of course you can’t have a New Year celebration without decorating with some balloons.  Better yet, you can get a balloon drop bag.  Balloon drop bags are very inexpensive and come with a release cord.  They serve as a great decoration as well as a colorful way to usher in the New Year!

Fun Theme Ideas

If you want to do something unique this New Year, consider planning your party around a theme.  Some fun themes include masquerades, hat parties, 80’s retro parties, and pajama parties.  Choosing a theme also makes it a lot easier for you to decorate.  For example, for an 80’s retro party you can decorate the house with 80’s memorabilia like posters from teeny bopper magazines and neon colored streamers.  Of course you would listen to 80’s music all night and the guests would dress up in 80s outfits.  You can also sit down together earlier in the night to watch classic 80’s movies like Sixteen Candles and Flashdance.  What about a Hollywood party theme?  Everyone dresses up like their favorite movie star or movie character.  A family game night can feature charades or piñatas, pin the tail on the donkey, or board games—and no one will be board!  I mean, bored!!   If you’re not crazy about an 80’s retro party, how about a 70’s disco party, a roaring 20’s party, a 60’s hippie party, a 50’s sock hop party, a 30’s-40’s bash with big band music playing?!  How about an Outer Space theme?  Think NASA, SpaceX, Mars, the Moon, Asteroids– you name it!  Come up with games, food, drinks, costumes, etc. all about getting off this crazy planet of Earth. Use your imagination and have fun with any of these ideas, or create your own.  Do some brainstorming with your friends or family.  You might be surprised how dreaming up a theme can really add fun to your new years eve.

Decorations

If you would really like to keep costs and planning to a minimum without sacrificing elegance, adorn your home with sparkly décor, dim the lights, and serve yummy appetizers.  You can create a centerpiece by adding some water to a large bowl, lighting votive candles, and letting them float on the water.  To keep guests entertained before countdown, a fun game involves having everyone write their resolutions on small slips of paper and putting them in a bowl.  Each person has to take one of the slips, read the resolution out loud, and guess whose resolution it is.

Yummy Food and Drinks

For added elegance, place individual servings of food in martini glasses.  Some dishes you can serve that are inexpensive yet chic include chocolate fondue, pasta salad, cocktail cookies, and pesto cream cheese with crackers.  There are a multitude of different cocktails you can make with champagne and there is no need to buy an expensive bottle of bubbly.  “Real” champagne must be produced in the Champagne region of France.  However, there’s no need to buy real champagne if you are on a budget.  Brut is an economical alternative that is just as delicious.  Some great tasting, elegant cocktails you can make with inexpensive champagne include the mimosa and the raspberry sparkler.  To make a mimosa, all you have to do is add orange juice to a glass of champagne.  To make a raspberry sparkler, add a dash of raspberry liquor and a few fresh raspberries to a glass of champagne.

Keep these tips in mind when planning your next New Year celebration.  There is no need to spend lots of money purchasing expensive New Years Eve party supplies, decorations, food, and champagne.  Create an elegant yet affordable celebration by adding these simple touches to your upcoming New Year’s party!

Author: The Party Hound

Our favorite imaginary dog, 'The Partyhound', didn't write this blog post, as you probably guessed. We like to think he's a smart pooch, but he's not that smart!! 'The Partyhound' simply represents one or more of Partyhound Media's creative staff of researchers, journalists, writers, photographers, and cinematographers. These are actual real live people who are excited to share their thoughts with you. If you'd like to learn more about joining our staff, please throw us a bone! Email: ted@partyhound.com.