Party Ideas

10 Theme Ideas for a New Year’s Eve Party

By GigSalad

We all know how crazy the end of the year can be… Before you know it, the new year is just around the corner, and you haven’t planned your party yet! No need to panic. We’ve got 10 creative New Year’s Eve party themes to kick off the year off right! Let the countdown begin…

Ten! Party like it’s 1999​

Check your smartphones at the door and get ready to listen to more Britney Spears and N’Sync songs than you even knew existed—we’re gonna party like it’s 1999!

A 1999 themed New Year’s Eve party is packed full of nostalgia. How could you forget the Millennium celebrations and the impending digital doom that was the Y2k bug? Ask your guests to come dressed as their favorite (or least favorite) 1999 celebrity—get ready to answer the door to the cast of Clueless. Hire a 90’s Cover Band or a Karaoke DJ to play all of your favorite hits from back in the day!

Nine! Murder Mystery Party

Your New Year’s Eve party is in full swing when suddenly—gasp!—one of your party guests drops dead. The classic “whodunit” investigation begins! Questions are asked, pieces are put together, and the murderer must be caught. Enlist the help of your guests to help solve the mystery of the midnight murder!


Murder mystery parties are fun for people of all ages (although, with young children, a “masked bandit” is more appropriate). This can be done in any setting—from dinner parties to dances. It’s a fun way to shake things up and you can choose to let your guests know ahead of time or surprise them mid-party! Set the scene—whether it’s a western saloon, disco dancehall, or black tie dinner party—and get ready to play detective! One of our wonderful Murder Mystery Companies will take care of the rest.

Eight! Glow-in-the-Dark Party

If you’re in for a night of dancing, a Glow-In-The-Dark theme is a great way to get the party started. Dig those old black lights out of the closet and get ready to have a blast.

​Encourage your guests to come dressed in white or bright neon-colored clothes. Provide glow sticks, glow-in-the-dark fabric and/or body paint, and LED or other glow-in-the-dark accessories. Many of our talented Face Painters offer glow-in-the-dark paint. Hire a DJ to keep everyone on their toes, a Balloon Twister to twist up glowing balloon wearables, and ask your Bartender to help come up with a list of glowing drinks. Did you know, for example, that a Gin & Tonic will glow blue under a black light?

Seven! A Great Gatsby Party​

The Great Gatsby-themed party is bound to be especially popular with the Baz Luhrmann remake of the classic novel and film. It’s no surprise why “Roaring 20’s”-inspired New Year’s Eve parties have remained so popular throughout the years; they’re glamorous!

​Dressing up in costume is fun, so why leave it all to Halloween? The great thing about time period-themed costume parties is that, unlike Halloween, everyone will show up in similar garb, giving the feeling that you’re really living in that era. The 20’s is one of the most glamorous of times to tap into. So, what better time to celebrate the roaring 20’s than New Year’s Eve? Book a swingin’ Jazz Band or other 1920’s Era Act to keep everyone dancing and don’t forget the Dancers to lead the Charleston!

Six! A Roast of the Past Year​

Everybody loves a good laugh! Instead of roasting the guest of honor, hire a Comedian to roast the past year. In this day and age, pop culture is inescapable, so your guests will be roaring with laughter as they look back at the year they’re leaving behind.

​From the year’s most famous celebrities to the moments that will go down in the history books, looking back (and making fun of) the year you’re leaving behind is a great way to commemorate the year and prepare for the next! You and your guests will laugh your way into the new year!

🎊 You might also like: How to Plan an Epic New Year’s Eve Party

Five! Red Carpet Party ​

​With a long red carpet, some velvet rope, a photographer, and your closest friends dressed to the nines—it’s amazing how a space can turn into a black tie affair! Get ready to ring in the New Year in style—and don’t forget the bubbly!

​For all of us who have practiced our Oscar’s acceptance speech into a shampoo bottle, here’s a chance to make it feel real (without getting starstruck). You and your guests can arrive in style in a limousine, walk down the red carpet and have photos taken by the “press and paparazzi,” and party like rock stars straight into the new year.

Four! Casino Party​

​They say that the house always wins, so why not bring the casino to your house?

​Renting Casino Games is easy at GigSalad! Invite your best friends, hire a Bartender to keep the drinks flowing, and test your luck for the new year! With slot machines, Blackjack, Roulette and everything in between, your guests will never forget the New Year’s Eve when Vegas came to them!

Three! Disco Party ​

​With a 70’s Disco theme, your New Year’s Eve party will be “Stayin’ Alive” with funk and retro dance steps! Don an afro wig and your tallest pair of platforms, and you’ll be groovin’ all night to some Disco hits.

​Folks in the 70’s really knew how to party. It’s time to bring back the dance fever! Hire a DJ for some classic Disco hits and hang up a disco ball for the full effect. Break out those old lava lamps, some glow bracelets, and if you’re feeling brave, strap on those old roller skates! A Makeup Artist can match your glitter jumpsuit, and a professional Hair Stylist can really pull your look together with some Farrah Fawcett feathering.  Now, let’s boogie!

Two! Cirque du New Year​

​What better way to say goodbye to one year and hello to another than throwing your very own Cirque du Soleil—New Year’s Eve style! A circus-themed party is a feast for the eyes and is sure to leave your guests raving about their start to the new year!

​From Aerialists to Fire Performers to Stilt Walkers and everything in between, you will find exactly what you need on GigSalad to make your Cirque party a hit. Don’t forget the popcorn concessions!

One! Times Square Party ​

​So, you couldn’t make it to actual Times Square to watch the ball drop. That’s okay! We can bring the feel of New York City to you.

​Recreating the ball drop isn’t the easiest thing to do. But, here’s the next best thing… make a homemade confetti drop to line the ceiling. This can be a net, drop cloth, or other large cloth with ropes attached to release the confetti when the time is right! Invite all of your friends; it won’t feel like Times Square unless your party is packed. Party all night with your favorite 2015 tunes by hiring a DJ or Cover Band to perform. When the clock strikes midnight, have your noisemakers ready and pull the ropes to release the confetti! For a true Times Square experience, have your loved ones write down their wishes for the New Year on pieces of confetti and create a Wishing Wall!

Happy New Year! ​

​We’re wishing you all a year full of happiness, success, and extraordinary events!

Are you looking for other holiday party entertainment for your special event? Search for local performers and book the best at GigSalad.

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