Skip to main content

5 Fun Ways to Celebrate a Much-Welcomed New Year

Plate of pancakes with syrup, berries, and sparklers on top.

While big, bustling parties and champagne toasts may be a no-go this year, that doesn’t mean you have to cancel your New Year’s Eve events. You can still say goodbye to 2020 and hello to 2021 with a socially-distanced, COVID-safe celebration—and have a great time doing it. We’re sharing our five favorite New Year's Eve celebrations to help you safely ring in the new year without sacrificing the fun and excitement we all look forward to!

Serve Midnight Brunch

Staying up until midnight to watch the famous ball drop in Times Square calls for refueling. Instead of the typical New Year's Eve party snacks and appetizers, start 2021 off with the most important meal of the day—even if it’s a bit off the usual schedule. Get the whole family involved in making a midnight brunch by divvying up responsibility for preparing dishes, then when everything's ready to eat, serve the feast breakfast brunch-style. Our personal favorite for this kind of meal is the crazy pancake recipe featured in the Associa Cookbook Volume II: Fan Favorites!     

Prepping for a midnight meal is the perfect time to test out a slow cooker. Check out some of our favorite low and slow recipes today!

Have a Movie Marathon

What’s better than one New Year’s Eve movie? A whole marathon of them, of course! While the New Year’s Eve movie selection may be a little limited compared to holidays like Christmas or Halloween, there are still plenty of flicks with big moments taking place on December 31st. So grab some popcorn, cozy up on the couch, and watch some of your favorite movies or a give a new flick that features the holiday a try like: 

  • Ocean's Eleven (2001)

  • When Harry Met Sally (1989)

  • High School Musical (2006)

  • 200 Cigarettes (1999)

  • Rent (2005) 

  • About a Boy (2002)

  • Bridget Jones's Diary (2001)

  • Sleepless in Seattle (1993)

  • About Time (2013)

  • New Year's Eve (2011) 

New Year's Eve isn’t the only good time for a movie marathon. If you love documentaries, check out our list of some of the best to watch right now.

Take a Socially Distant Getaway

After this year, a change of scenery may be what you need. Take social distancing to a whole new level by booking a quick, secluded getaway for some New Year's fun. Getaway offers simple escapes to tiny cabins nestled in nature so you can unplug and relax. They’re also taking extra steps to ensure a safe and enjoyable travel experience for their team and guests amid the pandemic.

Create a Vision Board

For many, New Year's Eve is all about setting goals and making resolutions. Get a head start by spending the night creating a vision or dream board depicting your wishes and plans for 2021. Gather the following supplies in advance so you’ll be set for the night:

  • Posterboard

  • Magazine

  • Glue

  • Markers

  • Stickers

  • Personal souvenirs or trinkets

For added entertainment and inspiration, you can hop on Zoom and make this a big New Year's virtual activity with all your family and friends. Have everyone put their magazine images on their posterboard along with any words, quotes, or ideas that they want to have stick with them over the next year. Once everyone is done, showcase your boards with one another and explain what everything means. At the end of the year, you can touch base and see how things turned out and do it all over again, creating a wonderful New Year’s tradition for all! 

Throw a Slumber Party

One great way to see New Year's Eve events from home and bring the entire family together is to host a slumber party. Have everyone put on their favorite pajamas, grab their pillows, and camp out in the living room for some fun and games for all ages. Need some ideas? Check out our article, “Four Board Games Your Crew Will Love,” on page 25 of the Fall/Winter 2020 issue of Coming Home.

Have a Very Cozy New Year

With these ideas for New Year’s Events, you have some great ways to celebrate before getting some rest or heading out to see everything the beginning of the year has to offer. Whichever way you choose to go, you’ll want to make sure you’re cozy and comfortable. To keep cozy clothes and accessories clean, check out our guide on “How to Wash Your Favorite Cozy Items”. From sweaters and coats to hats, gloves, and blankets, you’ll get all the info you need to properly wash your winter wardrobe, staving off shrinking while maximizing a great feel.