MAIN Holidays New Year New Year Party Ideas

Yes, it's "amateur night" out there.

So if you're looking to spend it safely at home - with your own New Year's Eve party celebration for friends and loved ones - check out the following resources for throwing a New Year's Eve bash to remember.

Included are great ideas for New Year traditions, party themes, decorations, games & activities, along with instructions on how to uncork champagne or make jello shots ... and more to keep everybody in a party mood right up until the final countdown ....PLUS (just in case) hangover cures for the morning after.

To avoid the holiday crush, be sure to send invitations in early December so guests can plan to be there.

Use store-bought invites, or get creative by making your own New Year's Eve party invitations using New Year's Eve clip art. Cleverly word your invitations with headlines such as "Help us cheer the New Year! or how about "Ring out the old, ring in the new, we'd like to spend New Year's Eve with you!

To get this party started, you'll need New Year party hats and noisemakers! Decorate with lots of streamers, Happy New Year banners, balloons -- and anything that glitters. (HINT: last week's holiday candles and twinkling white Christmas tree lights can also be recycled into a "Light Up The Night!" New Year's Eve party theme.)

Get out the chips and dip, or serve other bite-sized finger foods so guests can easily mingle throughout the night.

Or, why not serve customary "lucky" foods such as black eyed peas or homemade fortune cookies with happy predictions for the coming year up ahead!

If you're really feeling ambitious you might also plan on a casserole, a pan of lasagna, or other easy make-ahead meals for a fun midnight supper after the clock strikes twelve.

Recycle holiday lights for a "Light Up the Night" New Year's Eve party theme.

Entertainment? It couldn't be easier.

Have the DVD set to play traditional New Year's Eve songs, or simply turn on the TV as the countdown to midnight continues throughout the evening. If there's a lull in the action, host party games with a "Year in Review" theme such as trivia questions, name that tune, or charades with clues centered around hit movies, politics, or popular songs of the past year!

And, finally, what would a New Year's Eve party be without the champagne? For a large crowd, mix up several batches of champagne punch so guests can gather 'round as they welcome in the new year with a rousing rendition of Auld Lang Syne...

Have fun!

New Year's Eve Party ideas around the Web:

Webtender - Here's your own personal online bartender who can show you exactly how to mix, stir and frappe any New Year's Eve concoction requested. Browseable by keyword or recipe, or choose a drink right out of the hat with their random drink generator.

New Years Eve Party for Kids - If you're keeping the kids up, keep them amused with these fun ideas for welcoming in the New Year, including links to New Year crafts and coloring pages.

New Year's Party Games - More ideas for keeping the party going, including New Year's charades, Guess Whose Resolution, board game tournament, and more fun activities with suggested prizes for game winners.