Five cool things to do on New Year’s Eve if you don’t want to party

Not feeling like much of a party animal this festive season? Here are five cool ideas to help you celebrate a quieter New Year’s Eve…

Ain’t no party like not going to a party, especially if the year has been long and stressful. Instead, gather your loved one/s around and just enjoy the evening for what it is. The festive season can be a rush, so you’d be forgiven if you just want to chill over New Year’s. We’ve rounded up some of the best of ideas for having a (relatively) quiet evening in.

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A MOVIE MARATHON

Go all out this New Year’s Eve. Turn your living room in a cinema. Or the garden, if you have a projector. Make it comfortable, have snacks and drinks ready. Pro tip: Hire bean bags for the evening.

You can make a projector using a smartphone, magnifying glass, duct tape, black paper, a box, and a few other household items. Learn how here.

BOARDGAMES OR A DINNER PARTY

Get all your friends in one room on New Year’s Eve, bring as many boardgames as you can and battle it out. Don’t forget the snacks.

Alternatively, host a dinner party. Maybe even pick a theme and have everybody dress up. Have a countdown to the New Year.

STARGAZING

Spend your New Year’s Eve taking in the beauty of the Earth. If the weather is clear where you are, head out of the town, somewhere a bit away from the city lights, and stargaze.

A DATE NIGHT

Make it a proper date night this New Year’s Eve, not like one of those evenings when you just throw on a pair of jeans and tee and head out without a plan. Pamper yourself, dress up.

Get your partner to dress up all fancy smancy. Arrange to meet at an upmarket bar – or anywhere else of your fancy – for drinks, followed by a dinner and a show.

BUILD A BLANKET FORT

What? Adults can build blanket forts, too. In fact, we highly recommend it. Get all the supplies you need (blankets, pillows, cushions, sheets, snacks, pegs, chairs, heavy books.) It really doesn’t even have to be fancy. If you have fairy lights, bonus.

Extra brownie points if you can build it around the TV. There’s nothing better than hiding away from the world on New Year’s Eve, under a blanket fort with snacks and Netflix. Have a marathon of your favourite holiday movies. Home Alone, anyone?

If all else fails, just stay in bed.