10 New Year’s Eve Activities for Families
New Year’s Eve with kids can be tricky! You want to keep the little ones entertained while still making it fun for the bigger kids. And with digital clocks everywhere, the days of calling it “midnight” when it’s really only 9:30 are long gone. But with a little planning, New Year’s Eve can be such a fun holiday. I’ve put together a list of 10 New Year’s Eve activities for families, complete with the supplies and snacks you’ll need to make the night memorable. You can find additional supplies and decorations here! 🙂
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New Year’s Eve Activities for Families Idea #1: DIY Party Hats & Snackle Boxes
Craft-loving kids will have a blast with this activity! Gather some party hats, pom-poms, glitter glue, and any other fun decorations you’d like. Let your little ones personalize their hats however they like.
Then, set the hats aside to dry while everyone assembles their own Snackle boxes. I like to include a mix of sweet and savory treats, like chips, pretzels, chocolate, and sour candy. You can also add fruits or veggies for a healthier twist. Once the boxes are ready, wear your newly decorated hats and enjoy the snacks throughout the night!
Idea #2: Balloon Countdown
Blow up some balloons (I highly recommend an electric balloon pump) and write countdown numbers on each one. These numbers will correlate with each hour until the clock reaches midnight! It’s up to you what number you start at (and it really depends on how long you want to hear popping balloons for, haha).
If you want to add to the fun, fill each balloon with confetti or small prizes like stickers or tiny toys. That will make the countdown even more exciting!
New Year’s Eve Activities for Families Idea #3: Minute-to-Win-It Games
Many of these fast, silly challenges can be done with items you already have around the house! Just gather up the supplies, set a timer for a minute, and get ready to laugh! Here are a few ideas:
- Moving an Oreo from your forehead to your mouth without using your hands
- Stack plastic cups into a pyramid
- Keep balloons from touching the floor, adding more balloons into the mix every few seconds
- Use a straw to suck up mini marshmallows and transfer them to another container
Idea #4: “Midnight” Toast
Reduce the FOMO of a pre-midnight bedtime by creating an early countdown celebration! Pair it with sparkling cider in fancy (but kid-friendly) cups and “cheers” to the new year. You could also provide party poppers or confetti cannons to make it extra special! There’s also the tried-and-true option of banging on pots and pans (just make it quick so you don’t disturb the neighbors!).
Idea #5: Family Game Tournament
Rotate through quick family games, letting each child choose 1-2 of their favorites to play with everyone. I’ve included some of our top picks below!
Idea #6: Record Memories & Wishes
Take some time to reflect on the past year by inviting everyone to write down (or draw) their favorite moments on a poster board. It might be a family vacation, a sport they tried, or a challenge they overcame. This is a great way to remind both kids and adults how much they’ve grown!
You can also invite them to share something difficult they faced, because looking back on those moments helps highlight resilience and progress, too. Remind them they can do hard things! This activity can become a yearly tradition and a special way to capture family memories.
Next, have everyone write down three wishes for the year ahead on note cards. You can set guidelines for those three wishes if you want, like something they want to learn, a skill or hobby they’d like to improve, and a place they hope to visit. Encourage them to turn those wishes into mini, achievable goals and talk about how you can provide support in working toward them. Since they’re on small note cards, their wishes or goals can go somewhere they’ll see them often: their rooms, the kitchen, the mudroom, etc.
New Year’s Eve Activities for Families Idea #7: Glow in the Dark Dance Party
This is an activity even the littlest member of your family can participate in. Queue up the kids’ favorite songs (there’s sure to be a few Disney songs on my family’s playlist), hand out glow sticks, and turn off the lights and dance! You could even get a small disco ball to add to the fun.
This is also a good way to let the kids get their energy out before bedtime!
Idea #8: Movie Night
A low-key movie night is always a good idea. Ask the kids to get ready for bed, and once they’re in their pajamas, gather some movie theater snacks. Then, take a vote on what movie to watch.
If you start early enough, you can fit in a couple of movies. Pause between them each hour to mark the countdown to midnight. This is a fun way to keep the excitement going! You can use the balloons from activity #2 to make each countdown feel extra festive.
Idea #9: New Year’s Eve Photo Booth
I love looking back on past holidays and seeing how much my kids have changed, which is why a photo booth is such a fun idea. It doesn’t need to be elaborate; a plain white wall and a few props will do! If you want to add a little extra pizzazz to your New Year’s Eve photoshoot, try adding a fun backdrop or lights. Then, put your phone on a timer (or use this kid-approved Polaroid camera), set it up with a tripod (this one comes with a Bluetooth remote!), and get ready to strike a pose!
New Year’s Eve Activities for Families Idea #10: Crafts & Ice Cream Sundae Bar
If you have kids who love coloring or anything DIY, they’ll have a blast with the crafts below! While they’re busy with that, prep the ice cream sundae bar.
Get a few varieties and some special toppings, like sprinkles, crushed cookies, and different syrups. Have everyone create and enjoy their ice cream masterpieces together and talk about what they’re looking forward to in the new year.
Bonus: Look for Local Events!
If you want to leave the house for your evening of fun, many areas have fun, free (or fairly inexpensive) New Year’s Eve activities for families! I like to follow Instagram accounts that post local ideas, and most places also share any special events online. Nearby libraries and shopping centers often host affordable activities as well. And when in doubt, Google “New Year’s Eve fireworks near me”.
Here are some ideas if you’re in Northern Utah:
- Children’s Annual New Year’s Celebration at Treehouse Museum (Ogden)
- Zoo Lights at Hogle Zoo (Salt Lake City)
- Light Walk at Tracy Aviary (Salt Lake City)
- Noon Year’s Eve at Loveland Living Planet Aquarium (Draper)
- Luminaria at Thanksgiving Point – A bit pricier but so much fun! (Lehi)
- Ice Skating Rinks (Murray, Kearns, Herriman, Millcreek, West Valley City, and several in Salt Lake City. The Gallivan Center is particularly fun around the holidays!)
Which of these New Year’s Eve activities for families is your favorite?
Are there any New Year’s Eve traditions your family already loves that we should try? I’d love to hear them!
Wishing you and your family a safe, healthy, and happy New Year! ❤️
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