Star-Sparkling Family New Year's Eve Celebration
Who needs to go out for New Year's Eve? Celebrate family style, with an easy appetizer party right in your own home!
Many of us are choosing to stay home on New Year's Eve and celebrate as a family, rather than hire a baby-sitter, go out and then worry about others on the road. So check out this casual, fun evening for familes to share--good food, activities and plenty of memories from the past year!
Make it Special!
Sparkling Decorations
- Make a starry centerpiece
- Cut stars from white construction paper for each member of your family. Ask each person to write a New Year's resolution in the center of the star and five special things they are most proud of for the past year near each point.
- Glue straws or wooden sticks (available at craft stores) to the backs of the stars and decorate around the writing with colored glue and glitter. When dry, place them in a foam block and cover the block with colored shredded crepe paper (available near wrapping paper supplies) to use as a centerpiece.
- Sponge-paint stars on bright blue or white napkins, using gold or silver paint, for your sparkling celebration.
Starting New Traditions
- Instead of eating at the dinner table, why not have your celebration meal at a coffee table? It's cozier and more intimate when everyone is seated on the floor (sit on pillows, if you wish!).
- As you wait to ring in the new year, play "Do You Remember When" about events that happened to family members during the past year. Start a memory book, listing the most memorable happenings of the past year. Each year, add new ones\
- Make it a yearly tradition to spend New Year's Day filling up a photo album with photos and captions that capture the highlights from the past year.
Preparation Guide
Up to 3 Months Before
- Prepare Make-Ahead Italian Meatballs; freeze as directed.
Up to 1 Month Before
- Prepare Make-Ahead Snowman Cheese Ball; freeze as directed.
Two Days Before
- Prepare Cranberry Barbecued Ribs, refrigerating as directed in Do-Ahead Tip.
- Prepare Reindeer Snack.
The Day Before
- Bake Sparkling Star Cookies.
- Prepare Vegetable Buffet Platter; cover and refrigerate until serving time.
- Move cheese balls from freezer to refrigerator.
The Morning Of
- Finish making Snowman Cheese Ball; store loosely covered in refrigerator.
About 35 Minutes Before Serving
- Reheat Cranberry Barbecued Ribs as directed in Do-Ahead Tip.
- Reheat Italian Meatballs as directed.