Why You Can Trust CNET 5 fun, budget-friendly New Year's Eve party ideas to ring in 2022
Don't splurge on an expensive party for 2022. Instead, celebrate New Year's Eve on a budget with these five affordable ideas.
Enjoy fun activities on New Year's Eve without denting your wallet.
As was the case last year, New Year's Eve celebrations are being scaled back again, with the still ongoing pandemic and the spread of the omicron variant. This means smaller get-togethers, maybe just with your family and close friends, which is perfect if you don't wish to spend too much money on this year's festivities.
We've got five fun yet inexpensive ideas to quickly pull your end-of-the-year celebration together. These 2022 New Year's Eve activities will keep everyone entertained throughout the night. Read on to learn how to make your New Year's Eve party exciting this year.
DIY photo booth
You don't need to splurge on a rental photo booth to document your entire NYE night. Instead, create your own photo booth in a well-lit area of your house. All you need is a backdrop, like wrapping paper or some balloons, and some props. You can use a phone or tablet to snap the photos as long as it has a timer. You could also use an instant camera so everyone can take the photos home with them.
Stream live fireworks shows for free
Bringing in the new year with fireworks always adds a nice touch, but not when you're shivering outside and hoping the show ends soon. Instead of buying, setting up and lighting fireworks yourself, stream a live fireworks show from the warmth of your home.
For instance, Disney World typically streams its live fireworks show online. Times Square in New York also lets off fireworks as soon as the ball drops each year and can be streamed on any major network.
On the day of New Year's Eve, you can visit the New Year's Eve Live website to see all the streaming options available.
You can stream fireworks shows for free.
Grab some sparklers or confetti poppers for the celebration
Want to have a mini fireworks celebration? Grab some sparklers that everyone can light as soon as the ball drops. However, be cautious if you live in a dry area prone to wildfires and be sure to check the weather for drought conditions.
If you're unable to use sparklers, you can always opt for confetti poppers. Be prepared to clean up a huge confetti mess at the end of the night. If you let them off outside, we recommend choosing poppers made of biodegradable material.
Stream holiday movies on your TV for free
Most streaming services have holiday movies you can watch, from Disney Plus , Netflix and Hulu to Peacock and Paramount Plus. If you're not subscribed to any of these services, most offer a free trial. Or if a friend or family member has an account, they can cast their iPhone or Android to your TV -- but note that it can be laggy.
Keep everyone occupied with group games
Whether you have a few or several guests, you can play online games using your phones . A favorite is Jackbox games, which you can download on your Fire TV , Apple TV , Playstation, Xbox and more. Up to 10 people can play at a time, and you can even invite people to play remotely using a livestreaming service like Zoom.
For more, here are 10 best Christmas movies to watch on Disney Plus. Also, here's a white elephant gift idea.
