New Year's Eve is a long night to fill. Whether you are keeping kids happy until the ball drops, hosting a houseful of friends, or running a "noon year's eve" party at school or a senior center, a few printable New Year's Eve games give the evening a shape and a countdown to look forward to. Both downloads here are instant PDFs you can print at home.
For families and mixed ages: bingo plus 14 games
New Year's Eve bingo and party games comes with 130 unique picture bingo cards, no two alike. Every square has a picture and the word under it, so readers and non-readers can play together, and there is an ink-saving black and white set as well as the color kit. Around the bingo are 14 more games to carry you to midnight: New Year's trivia, an Around the World at Midnight matching game, word searches and a scramble, Would You Rather, This or That, Resolution Charades, Draw It!, Minute to Win It, Countdown Balloon Pop cards, predictions for the new year and a My Year in Review page. It is year-neutral, so it works every December 31.
It suits family parties, classrooms celebrating on the last school day before break, church gatherings, office parties and senior centers that ring in the new year at lunchtime.
For adults: a 1920s murder mystery dinner
Murder at the Midnight Gala is set on New Year's Eve, 1929, at the grand Hotel Aurelia. The owner promised a big announcement at midnight, but at 11:05 he is found dead in his office. Every guest plays a suspect with a secret, and three rounds of clue cards count down to midnight at 90, 60 and 30 minutes to go. At ten to twelve everyone makes an accusation, and at midnight the host reveals the killer. It plays for 6 to 12 guests (extra guests can play non-suspect Gala Guests), runs about two and a half to three hours over dinner, and keeps a glamorous, cozy tone with no gore. Costume ideas for the Roaring Twenties are in each character booklet.
Planning the countdown
Work backward from midnight. Start the big game early enough to finish with ten minutes to spare, keep short games in reserve for when energy dips around 10:30, and have the prizes or awards ready before the countdown so nobody is hunting for them at 11:59. Our guide to New Year's Eve party games and countdown ideas has sample schedules for a family night and an adult party, and if your group is doing a late gift swap, the white elephant guide explains how to keep it on time.