It is almost time to say goodbye to 2016 and hello to 2017. As I get older I find I am having a harder and harder time staying up to welcome in the New Year. And it is especially hard if I am sedentary. Those of you in your teens, 20’s, 30’s and 40’s are thinking WHAT??? You can’t stay awake until midnight – lame! And to you a little older than that – you are saying to yourself, how early is too early to say “Happy New Year” to your loved one(s), knowing that it is still hours away! Then you say to yourself – hey it is New Years in Asia or Europe, even New York for those of us on the west coast – you pick your region of the world that is hours ahead of your time zone that helps you justify going to bed early!!!
Now I grew up in Sierra Madre, CA which is right next to Pasadena, which is home to the Rose Parade. For us, a New Year’s Eve party WAS Colorado Blvd (the Rose parade route). Thousands of people lining the street – prepared to spend the night out on the boulevard, bumper to bumper cars in no hurry to move down the boulevard, people that are not spending the night just hanging out until after midnight having a grand ol’ time. Everyone wishing each other a “happy new year”, whether you know the person or not. Just one big street party! Now that’s a New Year’s Eve party that rivals all New Year’s Eve parties with the exception of Time Square in New York.
A few years back we were invited to our friend’s New Year’s Eve party. All the guests (including our hosts) were Russian with the exception of a few lucky ones like us. Now, if you have never celebrated New Year’s Russian style, you are missing out! Want to know how to throw a New Year’s Eve party – throw a party like they did. We were the first to leave at 3:30 am – and the party was still going strong! They started their party with what I would I thought was the main meal – lots of great food (not just appetizers) and of course beverages. And nope – not dinner. Dinner was served at around 11:00 pm. We sat down for a feast that included multiple types of caviar. After dinner was finished and the New Year brought in, the party really started – there was dancing (both traditional Russian dances and just plain old dancing). It was a time of celebration and comradery. No worries about trying to stay awake at this party! What fun and what memories!
So are you thinking or planning a New Year’s Eve party? How do you keep your guests engaged as you wait for that magical hour? You want your guests to be a part of ringing in the New Year with you. You don’t have to have multiple types of caviar or serve a full sit down dinner at 11 pm as our friends do, or you don’t have to give up because you don’t live close to Pasadena and the Rose parade route. What you do have to do, is come up with a plan to keep your guests engaged until the New Year is brought in with enthusiasm. What are some things you can do if your party starts to “slow down” with an hour or so until midnight!
Here are a few suggestions, but you know your style and your guests, so adjust accordingly.
- Adjust your music. If you have a DJ – have them kick up the music to get people dancing. If you are using a playlist or a mobile device, play some favorites that you know will get people up and dancing, no matter how silly it might seem – a conga line, Macarena, YMCA, you know the rest!
- Play a game. Who/what/where am I? Each guest gets a person, thing, place placed on their back and they have to figure out who/what/where they are by asking other guests questions that can only be answered with “yes or no”! This keeps people moving and engaging!
- Have your guests write down the best thing that happened to them in this past year and 1 or 2 things they want to do or want for the new year. Collect them and read them out loud – of course they must all be appropriate to read aloud. You don’t even have to read names – your guests will start guessing who said what!! There will be a lot of laughter and fun!
- A year in review. Start the list and ask your guests to recall other memorable (both good and bad) events that happened this past year. Who played in the Super Bowl – and who won, famous people we lost this past year, etc. Since 2016 was an election year – there is lots of material there.
You know your guests! Use your creativity to get and keep them engaged IF your party starts to lose momentum.
….4.3.2.1. HAPPY NEW YEAR!
You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream! CS Lewis
Great party ideas!! I’ll have to find some people with Russian heritage to party with! Really liked the goal guessing game. Think that would be great for our family! Thanks.
Thanks Pat! Happy New Year!