What time is it? P-A-R-T-Y time! Ready to see the old year out with a bang? We bet you are!
There’s more than one way to have a great party too. Party people have been thinking of alternative ways to celebrate New Year rather than heading to packed clubs or fireworks displays for a while. There are loads of fun New Year's Eve party ideas, including amazing themes and celebrations you can try at home, or online with a virtual party.
There's always pressure for bringing in the New Year, but we're not about that - we only focus on fun at Barefoot. That's why we're going to run down some of our faves for you to grab your pals and see in the New Year full of giggles.
How to celebrate the New Year
1. Turn your home into a sophisticated bar
2. Transform a space into a theatre or cinema
3. Host your besties
4. Enjoy a themed games night
1. Turn your home into a sophisticated bar
Getting to the bar on New Year's Eve is notoriously difficult, so why not bring the bar home for your party? Rearrange your space to create a sophisticated vibe with a bar in the corner. Get your cocktail shakers out, line up your wines, fizz, spirits and softs. You can then either elect someone to be in charge of drinks or allow people to help themselves.
But, how do you create that vibe at home? Think a slick, classic, 1920s theme – and try this:
- Create invitations and send them out with a secret password to get in - this works amazingly if the party has to be virtual as the password could get them into the group call.
- Dress the room with tables and cosy seating in darker corners.
- Dim the lights and create an atmosphere with warm lighting - think small lamps on tables.
- Create a playlist of 20s jazz and blues songs. If you've got a screen in the room, have a screening of a classic film from the era on in the background.
Make it extra
What to eat and drink?
The great news about having a sophisticated 1920s style party as part of your New Year's Eve plans is that the food is going to be fab. Hors d'oeuvres and appetizers were commonplace in the 20s - so go for things like platters of cheese and biscuits, antipasto skewers and small bruschetta bites.
When it comes to drinks, cocktails can be the star of the show - we love our Bubbly Pink Cocktail, Pink New Year's Cocktail or this Maple Rummy recipe.
Have a selection of stunning Barefoot wines to choose from on your bar, too. Here’s some quick suggestions on which wines to pair with party food:
- Pinot Grigio and pasta or pizza
- Buttery Chardonnay and cheese
- Chardonnay with fish
- Shiraz and barbecue food
- Pink Moscato and cheescake
What to wear?
The 1920s theme is so perfect for New Year's Eve celebrations as it's full on glitz and glam. Think Great Gatsby - maybe even watch the movie to get you in the mood and give you inspo! Go for the following:
- Beaded dresses with scalloped designs
- Neutral colours overlaid with golds, silvers, sequins, beads, pearls
- Embrace vintage items including headwear
- Tuxedo with tails, waistcoat and bowtie
- Suits with waistcoats, a tie and bowler hat
Don’t forget the coupette glass for your Barefoot bubbly! Very stylish!
2. Transform a space into a theatre or cinema
If a bar or party celebration isn't what you're feeling this year, you can still bring something you'd usually experience on a night out at home this New Year's Eve. Why not completely dress up your entertaining space like a cinema or theatre?
Have a go at creating a space with the following:
- Pop up some black out curtains
- Bring in some soft lighting
- Add some twinkly lights to the ceiling (you’ll have plenty of these still up from Christmas)
- Create a great sound experience with speakers
- Make a cool and comfy seating arrangement - all the cushions!
This can be done even if you're virtually hosting your New Year's Eve party at home and sharing it with your besties online. Have a video call on the go so you're watching together and can chat about it after whilst sipping a glass of your favourite! Some streaming sites even have party modes where you can all watch at the same time.
What to watch?
This will completely depend on your tastes and if you want a theatre or cinema experience - you might even want to go all out and hire a projector if you don't have one already.
When it comes to theatre, why not go for a feelgood West End sensation such as Kinky Boots or Sheridan Smith’s fabulous Funny Girl? Or, stream the Broadway sensation Hamilton and feel as though you're in a New York theatre - fabulous!
For movies, you can dig out a DVD you own, stream old favourites, or settle in for a marathon of films from a franchise - whatever tickles your fancy. Here’s some ideas from Good Housekeeping if you need a hand.
Make it extra
What to eat and drink?
Don't just settle for watching a theatre show or movie, make a whole event of it and have a pre-theatre or pre-cinema meal. Be a little extra by creating a menu and print it off for the table.
How posh you go will depend on your personality - if you live for the glam then a three-course, candle-lit pre-theatre meal might be right up your alley. However, if you love a more chilled vibe, you might want to have an American diner style meal such as a burger and chips – plus cinema classic popcorn snacks - before you hit play on your fave film.
Pair your meal with a drop your favourite Barefoot. A glass of our Cabernet Sauvignon suits that cinema popcorn perfectly! Don't forget it's a New Year's Eve party so you might want to pop some bubbly when the clock strikes 12!
What to wear?
Dress up exactly as you would if you were going to the theatre or cinema. You still need to impress, right? Just because you're celebrating New Years at home doesn't mean you can't still be fab. 'Arrive' in your coat, wear your heels and enjoy your meal and entertainment immersed in complete escapism.
Alternatively, for a more chilled vibe, throw on your onesie and get comfy!
3. Play host to your besties
It's time to let your hair down and unleash your inner child. Grab all your blankets and duvets together, create a fort and have a cosy night with all your besties. Another party theme that can easily be done virtually - get your video chat set up on your laptop, create your comfy space and let the fun flow.
How better to celebrate New Year? Have a good gossip about what happened in your lives during the year, play games or quizzes, watch your favourite movies and clink glasses at midnight. Perfect!
Make it extra
What to eat and drink?
What sleepover is complete without pizza and wine? If you're focusing on spending as much time with your besties as possible, treat yourself to a takeaway pizza - alternatively you might all want to pitch in and make pizzas together. You could even get a ‘makeaway’ kit online for everyone and turn this into a fun part of the night.
When it comes to wine, why not think pink? Pop open the Barefoot Bubbly Pink Moscato or even the Pink Pinot Grigio. If any of these New Year's party themes would be enhanced by a drop of something blush, it's definitely this one. Alternatively, Pinot Grigio is the perfect pizza partner.
What to wear?
This is our fave part - gather your guys and girls, do full hair and make up and then get comfy in brand new pjs. Pop the bubbly, have the biggest laugh with your pals and get some snaps for the 'gram while you're at it. Fab-u-lous.
4. Enjoy a themed games night
Ready to play? There’s plenty of time for fun while the clock ticks towards the big hour. You could take this New Year's Eve party idea and theme in any direction you wanted. It could be a super relaxed evening playing board games and sharing a bottle of wine.
Why not turn your whole evening into a TV game show? Whether it's The Cube, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire or Deal or No Deal, pick your fave and have a giggle setting it all up and playing as a group.
The great thing about playing games for the evening is that if your party is virtual, you'll still be able to enjoy New Year's laughs.
Make it extra
What to eat and drink?
If you're sitting down for a night of board games in front of a fire, you could have a meal first - why not opt for a delicious steak and chips with a glass of fizz or a velvety glass of Cabernet Shiraz?
If you're having more of an active evening, opt for nibbles - nuts and crisps, platters of delicious fried mozzarella sticks, spring rolls and homemade dips with crudites will go down a storm - and you can dip in between rounds. Have a selection of Barefoot wines to hand for people to help themselves, maybe also even a little bucket filled with ice, soft drinks and wine seltzers?
What to wear?
If you're having a board game evening or a TV game show night go for a smart-casual dress code - you want to feel fab but comfy at the same time. Alternatively, go all out for your New Year's Eve party at home - glitzy outfits, heels, the works! The sparklier the better. Knock their socks off sister!
Whether you're having a virtual New Year’s Eve party or you're celebrating at home with your best pals, we hope you're inspired to organise something special with these ideas. No matter what you do, remember to add bags of fun, a glass of Barefoot and loads of giggles and it'll be a celebration to remember. New Yeah Eve!