New Year's Eve comes with big expectations, and everyone has an idea of the perfect way to ring it in. This One Gotta Go card puts four plans on the calendar: a big party or club night, a cozy night at home, travel to a major city for fireworks and a fancy dinner party with friends.
Three plans stay on your options list, and one is gone for every New Year from now on. Think about your best New Year's Eve, your most disappointing one and what you actually want when midnight comes. Then pick and share your favorite countdown memory with the group.
The 4 choices on this card
A. Big party / club night
A big party or club night means music, crowds and a loud countdown with people all around. It is exciting. It is also expensive, crowded and hard to get home from, which is why many people say this plan sounds better than it feels.
Keep it if: You love dancing, dressing up and celebrating midnight with a huge crowd cheering together.
B. Cozy night at home
A cozy night at home means comfy clothes, snacks and watching the ball drop on TV. It is relaxing and cheap. Some people feel it is too quiet for such a big night, which makes it a fair cut for the party lovers.
Keep it if: You love a calm night with your favorite people, comfy clothes and no traffic to deal with.
C. Travel to a major city for fireworks
Traveling to a major city for fireworks is a bucket list experience, from Times Square to big waterfront shows. It is unforgettable. It is also crowded, cold and costly, which makes it the plan many people try once and never repeat.
Keep it if: You love big spectacles and want to see a famous countdown in person at least once.
D. Fancy dinner party with friends
A fancy dinner party with friends means good food, nice outfits and great conversation. It feels grown up. It also takes planning and money, and someone has to host and clean up, which makes it a candidate to cut.
Keep it if: You love a long dinner with close friends and think good conversation beats a crowded club.
Our take
We would cut traveling to a major city for fireworks. It is a great story, but it is usually a one time adventure, while the party, the cozy night and the dinner are plans people return to year after year. The most fun debate usually comes down to the big party against the cozy night at home, since it is energy against comfort. Ask everyone to describe their dream New Year's Eve without any limits on cost or travel.
How to play this card with friends
- Read the four choices out loud.
- Everyone picks the one they'd eliminate at the same time.
- Explain your pick. This is where the fun starts.
- Use the follow-up questions below to keep it going.
Follow-up questions to keep the debate going
- Which New Year's Eve plan sounds better than it turns out?
- What was your best New Year's Eve ever?
- Do you stay up until midnight or go to bed early?
- What New Year's Eve plan would you add to this card?
Want more debates like this? Get the One Gotta Go card game for game night, family dinners and road trips. Shop the decks.
New Year's Eve Plans: quick answers
When did the Times Square ball drop start?
The New Year's Eve ball drop in Times Square began in 1907, when a lighted ball was lowered from the flagpole of One Times Square. The tradition has continued almost every year since, and millions watch it on TV every December 31.
What are fun New Year's Eve ideas at home?
Popular at home ideas include a game night, a movie marathon, a themed dinner, a toast at midnight with sparkling cider or champagne, and watching the countdown on TV. Some families celebrate an earlier midnight from another time zone so kids can join in. Noisemakers and hats make it festive.
