Ways To Go Out (Or Stay In!) And Celebrate A Chattanooga New Year
Ringing in the New Year can be one of the most festive blowouts of the year…or a chill celebration at home. Whichever camp you fall into this year, we have you covered with some of the best Chattanooga New Year’s parties and with some great ways to avoid the riffraff and greet 2017 in the comfort of your own home.
Out and About in Chattanooga
Saturday, December 31
New Year's at Noon
When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Creative Discovery Museum, 321 Chestnut Street
Cost: Free to $13.95
The countdown to 2017 in Chattanooga is on! Ring in the New Year with Father Time at Creative Discovery Museum's annual New Year's at Noon celebration, the only local New Year's party specifically for children during daylight hours. Children attending the celebration will learn about the passage of time using traditional adult activities presented in a child-friendly manner, such as an apple juice toast and a one-of-a-kind kazoo rendition of the traditional classic "Auld Layne Syne." As part of the celebration, the Museum will host a countdown with Father Time, complete with a colorful confetti drop at the strike of noon. Museum doors open at 10 a.m. New Year's at Noon draws a crowd to the Museum, so visitors are encouraged to arrive no later than 11 a.m. to enjoy the noontime activities. For more information, visit cdmfun.org.
Saturday, December 31
New Years Eve Yoga-Dance Party
When: 5:30pm-7:00pm
Where: Movement Arts Collective, 3813 Dayton Blvd.
Cost: $20
Looking for a new way to ring in the New Year? Make a new tradition this year with a Yoga-Dance party at Movement Arts Collective! It is time to celebrate the end of one year and usher in the next with some yoga and dance. Grab some glow sticks and be prepared to let 2016 go and welcome 2017 with friends and fun.
Saturday, December 31
Wonderland New Years Eve Party at The Dwell Hotel
When: 7:00pm-1:00am
Where: The Dwell Hotel, 120 East 10th St.
Cost: $150
This New Year's Eve, find yourself in Wonderland at The Dwell Hotel. This swanky hotel and bar is a great backdrop for an upscale celebration. The event will feature endless hors d’oeuvres, continuous cocktails and music by DJ Gaisers from Birmingham, Ala. Space is limited. Purchase tickets in advance here.
Saturday, December 31
NYE: Party On The Bluff
When: 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Where: Hunter Museum of American Art, 10 Bluff View
Cost: Individual $140; Couple $260
Usher in the new year in unmatched style at the Hunter Museum this New Year's Eve! Grab your friends for a special night with food by Events with Taste, an open bar, music and dancing by SoundForce Entertainment, and some incredible views of Chattanooga. Tickets are available at huntermuseum.org/partyonthebluff.
Stay-At-Home Celebrations
Host A Tipsy Game Night
The only thing more fun than a regular game night with close friends is a slightly tipsy game night with close friends. Master a few fun cocktails for the evening and watch the ball drop with while playing a game of Jenga. Try making a champagne and sorbet cocktail—just scoop a fruity flavor of sorbet into a champagne flute, fill with chilled Champagne or Prosecco and stir.
Get Started On New Year’s Resolutions
If you’re flying solo for New Years, you have no excuse to not get started on your resolutions. Break out a large sheet of kraft paper and write down all of your dreams or goals for 2017 from places you want to go, family members you want to see or things you want to do in your career. Once you’ve done that, grab a planner or calendar and start penciling things in. Rather than creating resolutions and never doing anything about them, this is a proactive way to improve yourself in the coming year.
Create Countdown Bags For The Kids
Decorate paper lunch bags and fill them with fun activities and items for the kids. Every hour on the hour leading to midnight, let the kids pull one thing out of the bag. It could be a new movie to watch, disposable camera, games, etc. For the last hour, include noisemakers or confetti for a fun way for the kids to ring in the new year.
Invite Family And Friends For A Dinner Party
Chances are, there are a lot of other people you know who don’t want to go out this year. Gather together to talk 2017 over a potluck dinner and champagne. Have fun party games ready like this cute idea from Real Simple. Make light of New Year’s resolutions by turning them into a guessing game. Give partygoers cards and have guests finish the sentences. Gather the cards, read them aloud randomly, then let the gang try to figure out who wrote what. Print cards with these fill-in-the-blanks: "The bad habit I want to kick this year is ―――." "The good deed I want to do this year is ―――." "The person I want to be more like this year is ―――." "The skill I want to learn this year is ―――."
