Although not the most loved holiday, New Year’s Eve is ranked the fourth most popular holiday in the United States, according to ABC News. It’s a holiday that’s celebrated by most people across the globe. As much as there are many different myths and superstitions surrounding what people shouldn’t do on NYE, there are various fun activities to add to your NYE schedule.
1. Reunite With Old Classmates
Whether you enjoyed it or not, the period you spent in school is a defining period in your life. Unfortunately, losing touch with classmates is common. Some may start going to new schools to further their education, get jobs at different locations, or get married and move to a new city.
Whatever the case, it becomes difficult for all of you to be physically present. At least social media has made it possible to stay in touch regardless of physical distance. However, as much as you may enjoy texting and video chatting with your former classmates, nothing beats meeting in person to laugh while discussing the glory days.
What better way to meet and reminisce with your classmates than to include a class reunion in your NYE schedule? It’s the perfect time to reconnect with old friends as you celebrate the end of the year. However, as expected, reconnecting with old friends can initially feel awkward. You’ll have undergone significant life changes, and rekindling those friendships can be daunting. Do they have the same fun memories as you do? Or do you share the same interests anymore?
2. Go Out for Drinks
As the holiday season slowly winds down, NYE celebrations officially mark the end of the year that was and welcome the new year. While some people may prefer to celebrate the holiday with their families indoors, others would rather go out for drinks. According to Evan Comen, 54% of people of the legal drinking age have drinks as part of their NYE schedule. In fact, NYE is one of the most drunken nights of the year, with 360 million glasses of wine consumed during the celebrations, according to Tri-County Times.
Typically, people don’t stay out all night during NYE. Most of them leave the parties a few hours after ringing in the new year. Unfortunately, since many people rely on vehicles for transport after the celebrations, the risk of getting into car accidents is eminent. According to NSC, roughly 42% of fatalities that happen on NYE result from drinking. Let’s face it: the last thing you want is to start the new year with an appointment with the local auto collision service, or worse, not even being present to see the new year. It’s, therefore, critical to have a designated driver or call a cab to take you to your next destination when you decide to leave the party.
3. Host a Lively Party
Although exciting, planning and hosting an NYE party can be stressful. Whether you have the party at your house or in a club or restaurant, you can be sure that coming up with the perfect NYE schedule won’t be a walk in the park. For instance, if you decide to host the party in a bar or restaurant, other than securing drinks and snacks for your guests, in most cases, you’ll need to purchase tickets or commit to a spending minimum well ahead of time. Therefore, if you have a limited budget, you can choose the other option of hosting the party in your house.
An at-home NYE party isn’t only cost-effective. It’s also more convenient compared to hosting at a bar or restaurant. Whether you host a casual gathering or a formal dinner party, there are various ways of ensuring you throw an unforgettable New Year’s Eve party. Of course, you must first confirm with your property manager to see if you can host a party on the premises. Review your NYE schedule with them to ensure you don’t violate any regulations during the party.
4. Go to a New Year’s Festival
The United States is a country that hosts 50 states. All throughout the country, plenty of tourist attractions bring in tourists year-round. Some tourist attractions include the Statue of Liberty, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Hollywood. Typically, you would expect to find thousands of people any day you visit these sites. However, over NYE celebrations, these tourist destinations can attract up to millions of people due to the different events and festivals held in different states.
If you’re hoping to spend NYE at some of the biggest, loudest, and hardest parties or festivals, you have different options depending on your location. For example, if you’re in New Orleans, the place to be on NYE is at a party held at Jackson Square. Any New York resident craving a festival on New Year should attend the party at Times Square, where thousands of people flock to watch the ball drop. Law enforcers are typically dispatched to these parties to help maintain order throughout the celebrations. In case you want to go on a bathroom break during the festival, you can easily locate a fancy porta potty rental within your proximity.
5. Freshen Up Your Home
As the year ends, it’s out with the old and in with the new. Well, you can take this literally by getting rid of old unwanted items in your house and bringing in new ones, or it could also mean renovating your house to give it a new look when starting the new year. Home improvements can help to reduce clutter and stress, and they can also make you feel more organized. What better way to start the year?
Regardless of how much refreshing your house needs, you must plan for it. The truth is a home refresh can be expensive. Depending on the amount of work that needs to be done and the contractor you hire, you can expect to spend any amount between $17,974 and $78,308, according to Stefanie Waldek. Therefore, you should draft a clear NYE schedule detailing all the priority areas you need to refresh to have a practical budget. For example, if deck restoration is one of the areas you wish to prioritize, according to Teak and Deck, you should set aside between $550 and $950.
6. Go On a Road Trip
Like many other holidays, a lot of traveling happens during NYE. In fact, according to a publication by Kamaron McNair, more than 80 million Americans plan to travel on NYE, and many of them plan to drive. While most may be traveling to be with their families and loved ones, others are going on road trips.
Imagine starting the new year by cleaning up the mess left behind from a party you hosted in your house or nursing a bad hangover from a party that wasn’t worth going to. That’s no ideal way to start the year, right? If you want to avoid all this and have some cash stashed away to cater to your NYE schedule, you should think about getting out of town.
Road trips are great, especially to avoid loud and crowded spaces. It’s just you, your car, and the breathtaking scenes you encounter on the road. However, if you want to spend the holiday with others, you can request a friend to tag along. Other than choosing the route to use during the road trip, ensuring your car is in perfect condition before embarking on your trip is equally important. Therefore, if your car has been making a noise and you’ve been ignoring it, hoping it’ll go away on its own, it’s important to pay a visit to your mechanic to assess the car for any auto body repair services that may be necessary.
7. Have an Outdoor Gathering
According to Heather Finn, 1 million people visit Times Square yearly to watch the ball drop and usher in the new year. Typically, there’s music, food, and dancing as the crowd eagerly awaits the 11th hour. Suppose you want to ring in the new year outdoors, surrounded by people and not necessarily in a crowded space. In that case, you can organize an outdoor gathering for you and a couple of friends and family.
Whether you have the gathering on your front lawn or backyard, you must decorate the space and ensure it’s well-maintained. Hire a contractor to trim the grass or offer tree trimming services if there are any trees around the house. Another essential factor to consider when planning the NYE schedule is the weather. This holiday season is typically characterized by blistery cold temperatures. Depending on your location, you may experience snow.
If your outdoor space doesn’t have a roof, consider leasing a tent to ensure your guests stay warm. You may also offer fleece blankets for your guests to cover themselves. It also helps to serve different hot beverages depending on your guest’s preferences.
If you have offered to host a New Year’s party and are unsure how to keep your guests entertained as you wait for the countdown to midnight, consider adding game night to your NYE schedule. The truth is, there will be more than a few parties on New Year’s Eve. The last thing you want is to throw a party, and no one shows up, or those who do leave early due to boredom. Therefore, you must devise ways to make your party the ideal spot to mingle and have fun.
8. Travel Abroad
31st December is when people from different walks of life get together to ring in the new year. Other than doing the same thing each year, plenty of different places can offer new experiences as you welcome the new year. Expand your boundaries during this holiday season and plan an abroad trip where you don’t have to worry about the different repairs your house needs, for example, plumbing and AC repairs.
When you have the entire globe to choose from for a NYE holiday destination, you want to ensure you get the best venues. Look through different websites online and settle for a destination that appeals to you the most. Ensure you have a budget to avoid starting the new year in a financial crisis.
9. Go on a Cruise
Most cruise lines offer combined Christmas and NYE cruises. Usually, they celebrate Christmas while sailing and dock on NYE for on-land celebrations. This is a deal they can’t afford to miss out on for some. It’s no wonder they sell out super-fast. However, if you’re tired of celebrating New Year’s Eve on land and wish to have a different experience, then you may want to add going on an NYE cruise ship to your NYE schedule.
Going on a cruise is one of the easiest ways to celebrate your new year. You don’t have to worry about preparing your space to host, tidying up or even spending so much time waiting for a cab to take you home after celebrations. In fact, if, for example, you had contacted a pest control contractor to fumigate your home as you were doing your end-of-year refresh, going on a cruise will not only help you create new experiences but will give you time for the harmful fumes to die down.
NYE cruises offer alternative ways to celebrate and usher in the new while onboard a ship. They typically have different activities to keep the guests entertained until midnight. According to Nathan Diller, some activities you can expect onboard an NYE ship include dancing, live bands, and singing.
10. Dance With Your Friends
You can’t go wrong when you add dancing with close friends and family at a local sports bar to your NYE plans. You only need a few drinks and a dance floor. From there, you can get down till midnight. While you can always go to your favorite spot, trying out a new spot might also be a good idea. After all, it’s the ”New Year.” You can always dance with friends at home if you’re an introvert. Just make sure you have a great playlist and purchase a few drinks.
Whether you plan on ringing in the new year at a loud countdown party or at an intimate dinner, there is a wide range of activities to ensure an unforgettable experience. Give yourself enough time to plan the perfect NYE schedule. Kickstart the new year on the right foot.