Fun & Festive Ways to Ring in the New Year at Home
I’m a few years removed from spending my New Year’s Eve dancing in sequins and stilettos at crowded parties and watching fireworks in the fog along the river. These days, I’m more likely to be curled up watching Netflix with my husband (and the baby monitor) on the couch.
But that doesn’t mean my days celebrating the New Year are quiet. In fact, with three kids ages 5, 3, and 2, literally NOTHING in my days is quiet anymore.
Of course, there have been some changes. The biggest one is that we now celebrate Noon Year’s Eve at, you guessed it, noon on New Year’s Eve. (And if my husband and I are still up at midnight, the two of us share a toast then too.)
I like to use black & gold New Year’s decor every year because it’s traditional and easy to find. I also try to buy mostly generic “Cheers” or “Celebrate” items without a specific year so we can reuse them year after year. The few things that have the year on them I don’t spend much money on, usually snagging them from the Target Dollar Spot or Dollar Tree.
You can help the kids make a fun countdown using balloons or bags or construction paper chains with a different activity every hour (or, in our case, every half hour from 7:30 AM – 11:00 and then every 15 minutes from 11:00-12:00 noon).
Here’s what our countdown of activities looks like for my family of 5 early risers:
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- 7:30 AM – Say something you loved about this past year
- 8:00 AM – Play charades
- 8:30 AM – Surprise Breakfast! (Think: pancakes in fun colors or shapes)
- 9:00 AM – Sam turn to play DJ for 3 songs
- 9:30 AM – Sloane’s turn to play DJ for 3 songs
- 10:00 AM – Nicky’s turn to play DJ for 3 songs
- 10:30 AM – Say something you’re excited for in 2025
- 11:00 AM – Make s’mores
- 11:15 AM – Daddy’s turn to play DJ for 3 songs
- 11:30 AM – Mommy’s turn to play DJ for 3 songs
- 11:45 AM – Color NYE coloring sheets
- 12:00 PM – Toast with mocktails and noisemakers and then DANCE PARTY!
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As far as food goes, I love a “make your own” station or board because it’s a fun and easy way to please everyone. Here are a few of my family’s favorites:
- A hot cocoa station: Can be as simple or elaborate as you’d like! The basics are really just hot chocolate and marshmallows, but feel free to throw in some candy canes that are leftover from Christmas, some whipped cream, chocolate chips, and sprinkles. If you want to get extra creative, you can freeze Cool Whip shaped with cookie cutters and decorated with sprinkles.
- A s’mores station: Again, this can be as simple or crazy as you want. The basics are just graham crackers, chocolate bars & marshmallows, but jazz it up with different cookies like vanilla wafers or chocolate chip and different candy bars like Reese’s peanut butter cups. If you don’t mind a mess, add in peanut butter or Nutella!
- A fun finger foods board: I just throw a bunch of frozen appetizers in the air fryer and oven, but you could also swing by a drive-thru or a restaurant and get some apps. Squirt an array of condiments in some cups and you’re done. I love a decorative platter, but a baking sheet does the same job!
- Create A Pizza: I just love these make-your-own pizzas because they’re super easy and everyone can customize their own!

- Ring Pop Mocktail: Pour your bubbly first and then drop your Ring Pops in! I like to use 2 Ring Pops in each glass. The candy will color and flavor the drink in just a few minutes as it dissolves.
- Gummy Bear Mocktail: Drop as few or as many gummy bears in your glass and then top with bubbly. For a fun garnish, skewer some gummy bears on a toothpick.
- Cotton Candy Mocktail: This one’s a bit trickier as the cotton candy dissolves instantly, so make sure the kiddos are paying attention or they’ll miss it! Fill the glass with cotton candy and then pour in the bubbly so they can watch the cotton candy disappear. You can find Fluffy Stuff cotton candy at Dollar Tree year-round.