15 New Year's Eve Plans That Don't Involve Freezing In Times Square

Watching the ball drop in Times Square is the most iconic New Year’s Eve tradition there is, but it comes with a price: hours of waiting, zero bathroom breaks, and bundling up like you’re preparing for an Arctic expedition so you don’t ring in 2026 with hypothermia. If that version of “magic” doesn’t speak to you, consider skipping the chaos and opting for one of these fun, totally underrated ways to celebrate instead.

Make a Fancy Three Course Meal

Whether by yourself, with your boyfriend, or with a group of friends, preparing and enjoying a multi-course dinner is a delicious and rewarding way to spend New Year’s Eve. Pick your cuisine (Italian, American, Mediterranean, etc.), hit the grocery store, and then get to cooking. If you have fine china, tonight is a great opportunity to use it!

Make Reservations at a NYE-Themed Restaurant

Plenty of restaurants around the country participate in NYE-themed offerings such as set menus or special decor. If you’re in or near New York, Chicago, Washington DC, Los Angeles, Denver, Miami, Dallas, or any other large metropolitan area, you’re in luck!

Try Traditions from around the World

New Year’s Eve is one of the only globally observed holidays, which means that each culture has their own unique way of celebrating. For example, in the United States, the most common tradition is watching the ball drop at midnight. But in Denmark, people ring in the new year by throwing plates at loved ones as a measure of good luck. In the Philippines, families serve 12 round fruits for each month of the year. The Greeks hang onions outside their doors to symbolize fertility and growth, and the Irish bang bread against the wall to ward off evil. 

Have a NYE-Themed Movie Night 

There is no shortage of movies with New Year’s Eve storylines that can still put you in the holiday spirit without having to leave your couch. Movies like When Harry Met Sally and New Year’s Eve are available for rent on Amazon Prime, Bridget Jones’ Diary on Hulu Premium, High School Musical on Disney+, About Time on Apple TV, Sex in The City on Max or Hulu, and Age of Adeline on Netflix.

Go to the Movies

The end of the year always brings a wave of buzzy releases, which makes New Year’s the perfect excuse to treat yourself to a solo movie date. If you’ve been counting down to a book-to-screen moment, this might be the night you finally see The Housemaid brought to life with Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried. Sometimes the best way to ring in the new year is in a dark theater, popcorn in hand, watching something you’ve been excited about for months.

Set Up an At-Home Champagne Tasting

What better way to ring in the new year than with a glass of crisp champagne? No need to visit an overpriced, crowded cocktail bar, you can sip champagne in the comfort of your own home with these Pinterest champagne recipes. And if champagne isn’t for you, there are plenty of other NYE-themed cocktails and mocktails to try.

Make a Vision Board

If you don’t know what a vision board is, it’s a collage of quotes, images, and affirmations that embody your dreams, goals, or desired future. It can be either digital or physical and entirely personalized to your vision for your future self. The concept of a vision board is not new. In fact, it’s been around since Rhonda Byrnes introduced the concept to the world in her book The Secret in 2006. But in recent years, they’ve become popular on TikTok and Instagram because influencers or social media personalities have posted their own. New Year’s Eve is the perfect time to create a vision board: As you reflect on the past year and begin planning for the upcoming one, consider the type of mantras, moods, and values you want to live by in 2026.

Solo Self-Care Night

Ending the year with a self-care night could be the recharge you need to prepare for 2026. Whether you prefer lounging in a bubble bath, reading by the fireplace, or doing a face mask in bed, investing time in your relaxation will pay off in the new year. And if you’re looking for book inspiration, check out these recommended titles by Evie authors. 

Spa Night with Your Girlfriends

Along the same vein as a solo self-care night, another NYE idea is to host a spa night with your girlfriends. At-home steam facials, face masks, and manicures are the perfect way to ring in the new year.

Purge Your Closet

Out with the old, in with the new! The close of one year means the start of another, so if you find yourself without NYE plans, use this time to clean out your closet. If you’re anything like me, you may exclusively ask for new wardrobe additions for Christmas, which means by the end of December, your closet could be bursting. Donate or sell those pieces that you no longer wear. They could become someone else’s new favorite outfit!

Volunteer at a Soup Kitchen or Animal Shelter

Part of what makes the holiday season so special is giving, whether that is giving gifts to your loved ones, giving money to a cause that’s close to your heart, or giving your time to a place that could need it. It’s difficult for places like soup kitchens and animal shelters to find volunteers on New Year’s Eve, so if you’re without plans, consider spending your evening giving back.  

Go on a First Date

If you’re looking for someone to share a New Year’s Eve kiss with, consider going on a first (or second or third) date. Don’t think you’re limited to a dinner or drinks date; there are tons of fun winter date possibilities. Consider ice skating, going to a light show, or visiting a museum. 

Host a Game Night

Why go out to a crowded bar or club when you can have a game night in your living room? Grab your favorite board or card game (Yahtzee, Monopoly, Uno) and some friends for a fun, potentially competitive New Year’s Eve.

Eat 12 Grapes under the Table

While a popular trend on TikTok, this tradition actually originated from Spain and dates back to the late 19th century. In Spain, this tradition is called “doce uvas de la suerte” translating to “the 12 lucky grapes.” It's believed that eating 12 grapes in 12 seconds at midnight, one for each month of the coming year, on New Year’s Eve will bring good luck. So have a bunch of grapes readily available this New Year’s Eve for good fortune in 2026.

Throw a NYE House Party

The new year is something to be celebrated, so invite over some friends or family and share a toast to 2026. Pinterest and TikTok are full of decoration and party game ideas if you’re in need of inspiration. Check out Evie’s guide as well!

There are tons of festive and fun ways to spend New Year’s Eve aside from standing in crowded Times Square or going to an overpriced bar. So get creative! There’s still time to make plans before we welcome 2026.