Celebrations
DIY Party, Craft, Activity Ideas to Celebrate
The new year is almost here. Who's ready to say goodbye to 2021 and hello to a hopefully brighter, healthier 2022 by celebrating safely with your family and children? I thought so! So let's get on with it with some quick and easy ways to make your New Year's Eve celebration meaningful and fun.
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See the NY Times Square Ball Drop from Anywhere
Living in Manhattan does have its advantages like attending this iconic New York spectacle IRL. But in 2020, unfortunately that big outdoor event for locals was cancelled due to the COVID pandemic.
This year members of the public have the option to return to that traditional venue once more. However, due to the spike in cases caused by the latest strain Omicron, everyone attending is required to wear a face mask as well as show proof of full vaccination and valid photo identification. As an additional precaution, outdoor viewing areas will be limited to fewer people to allow for social distancing.
The modified event will be televised and also live streamed commercial-free on the internet on sites such as Times Square NYC and others starting at 6 pm ET. You can also join the countdown live as well as learn all about the world's most famous Ball's history. A full schedule of activities and list of performers is available here.
New York City is already abuzz right now. Among the many festivities leading up to the New Year is event sponsor Kia America's arrival this morning to Times Square after 4000 miles touring the US with the 2022 lights in tow.
Host a Virtual New Year's Eve Party
With Facebook Live, YouTube Live, What's App, and Zoom, there are so many ways to get together some friends or family and invite them to a virtual New Year's Eve celebration with everyone staying safely at home. All you need to do is give everyone some advance notice by texting/sending out email invitations.
Encourage your virtual guests to round up their own party food/drinks and decor and sign in to your group at the appointed time (making sure everyone is online at the right time zone where they live) to join the fun and revelry.
Check out my personal picks for the perfect 2022 New Year's Eve party supplies at the bottom of this post, still all available for delivery by 12/31/21 as of the time this post went live. Alternately, you can run out to big box party stores like Party City or to your local party supply shop.
Stage a Small At-Home Gathering for Family
Another easy-peasy idea is to just have a simple, but fun celebration with your kids and those you live with. Get your children involved in planning the food/drinks and activities in advance. Make sure your pantry is stocked with snacks and if your kids love helping in the kitchen, bake some cookies or other special treats for your party.
Don't forget to have the ingredients onhand to make some non-alcoholic mocktails for the kids. Using juiced and bottled drink mixes you'd be surprised how easy it is to use your blender to make sweet drinks (Strawberry Margaritas, Pina Coladas, Shirley Temples etc) without adding any liquor. Another kid-friendly idea is cookies and milk served in plastic champagne glasses with colored sprinkles around the glass' rim.
As far as entertainment, the family of course can easily watch the New York Times Square festivities on TV or online. There's also Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Paramount+, HBOmax, and others. But, if you want to do something different, also consider taking the kids to the library and let them pick out and borrow some free DVDs or Blu-ray movies to watch as a family. Playing board games together, which don't require an internet connection or smartphone, are also good ways to enjoy time together and bond as a family.
If your children enjoy art projects, why not get your kids involved by making this photo cardboard booth craft Crayola thought up, by cutting out a hard board frame and painting and decorating it, then start snapping photos of your kids with the frame, as well as all the party preparations and your little celebration itself. For more fun ideas like this, check out MBE's New Year's Eve DIY Pinterest Board.
Take Lots of Photos
It goes unsaid that you should definitely take lots of photos with your smartphone no matter how you choose to welcome the new year and share your celebration with your friends and loved ones!
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