New Year’s Eve happens in the middle of the college winter break, so college students can celebrate without worrying about classes and exams the next day. You can go bar hopping, clubbing or do something entirely different this year. If you’re not sure what to do, check out this list of 15 ideas on how to spend your college New Year’s Eve.
1. Attend or Host a College Party
The dorms may be closed, but many students are still living off-campus in apartments or Greek houses during the New Year holiday. Ask around and check campus and online bulletin boards to find out who’s throwing a party. Gather some of your friends (don’t go alone) and head out to the party of your choice. You could also host your own party or a casual get-together.
2. Go to a New Year’s Eve Destination
Travel to perennial party-town Las Vegas, or head to New York City and party with a million people in Times Square while you wait for the midnight ball drop. There are also plenty of big parties in cities throughout the U.S. and the world. If you can afford it, consider going to the Caribbean (San Juan, Barbados, Grand Cayman), South America (Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Cartagena) or Europe (London, Paris, Vienna).
3. Spend It with Old Friends
If you go home for the winter break, reach out to your hometown and high school friends and spend New Year’s Eve together partying or just hanging out. Catch up and share your college experiences. These are friendships that can last forever, so make sure to nurture them any chance you get.
4. Go Clubbing
There’s no better night to go clubbing than on New Year’s Eve. Most night clubs in your city and nearby cities hold New Year’s Eve-themed parties. These are usually promoted on social media, so keep an eye on those hashtags. If you’re not 21 years old, search for parties in 18+ night clubs.
5. Attend or Throw a Costume Party
Costume parties are very popular on New Year’s Eve and a great way to meet students at your school. There are many themes to choose from such as black and white, decade parties (like the ’20s or 80s), and midnight brunch parties. Have fun creating your own costume. Better yet, host a costume-creating party before the costume party.
6. Do Something Romantic
Plan a romantic evening with your partner. Cook something special and have a candlelight dinner in your apartment, or go out to dinner at a restaurant offering a New Year’s Eve special. Go ice skating, dancing or camping. Anything you do together will be romantic if you focus on each other.
7. Celebrate New Year’s Eve Around the World
Use your smartphone, tablet or laptop to enjoy parties from all over the world as they celebrate the new year. Watch multiple spectacular fireworks displays as different countries count down to midnight. Samoa, New Zealand and Australia are the first to welcome the year, while Alaska and Hawaii in the U.S., American Samoa, Baker Island and Howland Island in the Pacific are the last. Take a shot for every international midnight countdown you watch.
8. Plan a Bar Crawl
Get a fun crowd of friends together and go bar crawling or hopping—stopping for one drink at each bar or pub along a pre-planned route. Some people like to dress up for bar crawls or wear costumes. Whatever you do, walk, ride the subway or use a rideshare service like Uber or Lyft. Don’t drive.
9. Go to a Fancy Ball
Fancy parties aren’t always expensive, especially in college towns. Search online for a fancy (yet affordable, depending on your budget) New Year’s Eve dinner, dance or gala. Don’t forget to dress up to the max.
10. Host a Potluck Dinner
Potluck dinners are an easy way to host a dinner party. Each guest brings one dish, and the food is served buffet style. Guests can bring any kind of food or follow a theme, such as Mexican or Italian food. Hold a vote to choose the best dish and award a bottle of champagne to the guest who brought it.
11. Go Camping
Take a break from the stress of college life and go camping for the night. Celebrate New Year’s Eve under the stars, roasting marshmallows on a campfire with your friends, boyfriend or girlfriend. Find a spot in the mountains or by the lake so you can go hiking or swimming. Don’t forget the midnight toast!
12. Make It a Movie Night
Catch a late-night show at a movie theater or make your own movie marathon at home featuring your favorite movies or New Year’s Eve-themed films. Or skip the movies and binge-watch your favorite TV shows or series. After all, once classes restart you won’t have time for any of this.
13. Go to a Concert, Play or Musical
Concerts, plays and musicals are thrilling events that stay with you a long time, so they’re a perfect way to spend New Year’s Eve. Don’t forget to make reservations and get your tickets ahead of time.
14. Stay Home and Study
If you have a tough major and lot of work to do for the upcoming semester or trimester, postponing it to the last minute may be unwise. Save yourself the money and hangover by staying home and studying on New Year’s Eve. Maybe you can gather a study group to make it more fun—not too much fun because you have to study.
15. Get Some Sleep
If you’ve been studying and partying a lot lately, going to bed early may be the best thing you can do for yourself. Catch up on two of the most prized things for college students: time and sleep. Celebrate the New Year by indulging in both. It’s easy, and it’s free!
Be Safe
Whatever you end up doing on New Year’s Eve, if it involves drinking alcohol, make sure you have a designated driver available, subway or bus schedule, or rideshare app in your phone. Keep yourself alive and well until next year.