Throwing a New Year’s celebration is all about going big. After all, you’re brushing off the last 365 days and starting a new chapter. Go out with a bang! We’ve got ten entertainment ideas for a New Year’s Eve party that people will be talking about all year long.
Go for a vaudeville vibe
Variety is the spice of life, so add some to your New Year’s Eve party! Vaudeville entertainment is full of different entertainers and acts; everything from musicians to acrobats to magicians. Set the stage for your party by incorporating some unique (and even peculiar) entertainers into your festivities.
1. Strolling Tables
Buffet tables are nothing new. But strolling tables? Now it’s a party! Strolling tables and champagne dresses are much more exciting than a stuffy waitstaff, and can usually dress to match your New Year’s Eve dinner party theme. They are skilled at serving, making conversation, photo ops, and ensuring your guests are cared for.
2. Burlesque Show
If your party crowd isn’t afraid of a little risque entertainment, bring on the burlesque show. Song, dance, and sequins—what else do you need for an NYE party? Burlesque entertainers know how to get a crowd oohing, ahhing, and laughing, so your guests will have an amazing time!
3. Human Statues
Want to get the crowd talking? Live party decorations will do it. Hire a human statue or living mannequin to be a focal point of your New Year’s Eve party. With the uncanny ability to stand still for hours at a time, we guarantee your guests will be wondering if they’re real or made of stone.
4. Sideshow Acts
Circus sideshows are almost more entertaining than the big top entertainment. If your guests would enjoy something a little darker, sideshow acts are perfect. Sword swallowing, fire eating, and other stunts will keep everyone guessing what will come next!
5. Drag Queens
If you want big eyelashes, huge laughs, and sky-high heels, a drag show is a great New Year’s Eve party idea! Drag queens bring energy like you’ve never seen, and their performances are always on point. Some even impersonate the greats like Cher or Diana Ross and can put on a full show or simply mingle with guests.
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Get the crowd involved
Not everyone likes to sit back and watch! Get your group out of their seats and into the show with some interactive entertainment for your New Year’s Eve party.
6. Murder Mystery
A little mystery will make for an extra fun New Year’s party! Murder mystery entertainment probably works best in an intimate setting. A group of mystery actors will put on the show while dropping clues about who the murderer might be. Work with your table mates to figure out whodunit!
🔎 You might also like: How to Host a Thrilling Murder Mystery Party
7. Game Show
Who hasn’t dreamt of the moment when their name is called on The Price Is Right? Make that dream a reality for your guests with a live game show. Everyone can participate in trivia games, games of skill, and more. Start their year off right by winning cool prizes and party favors on a real-life game show!
8. Hypnotists
Everyone thinks they can’t be hypnotized until they see themselves frantically searching for their belly button on a video later. Keep your guests rolling with laughter by hiring a hypnotist who knows how to work the crowd. Make sure you invite that friend or family member who thinks it can’t be done!
Mess with their minds
Fortune-telling and psychics have always fascinated people, so add an air of mystique to your New Year’s Eve party. Help your guests find out their destiny with these types of mind-bending entertainers!
9. Tarot Card Reader
Seeing how the cards fall can be an exciting and terrifying event all at once. Tarot card readers give you the thrill of both! Set them up at a table in a dedicated space in your venue and let your guests drop in for a quick read so they know what the next year will hold.
10. Psychic Entertainment
Quick, what number are you thinking of? That’s an easy one for the professionals. Psychics and mentalists can “read” people and perform mind-blowing stunts like guessing the song in their heads, the shape they drew, the card they chose, and more. Oh, and not with only one person, but an entire room!
Sure, a pajama party with friends to watch the ball drop is fun, but there are more exciting ways to ring in the new year! Choose a glamorous dress code, grab those confetti poppers, and get ready to throw a fun party that no one will forget for years to come with some unique and spectacular entertainment. 🎊
Want to book something awesome for your New Year’s Eve party? Find entertainers, musicians, event services, and more on GigSalad.
Megan is the Director of Customer Experience at GigSalad and has gained 9+ years of insight on what makes a great event on both sides of the booking process. Her favorite things include books, true crime podcasts, coffee, hiking, puns, and making people laugh.