New Year's Eve Activity: Free Kid's Printable Coloring Party Hats

Color your own New Year’s Eve party hats and ring in the new year in your own unique style! You can add stickers, glitter, pom poms, ribbons and gems. Just have fun.

Fun New Year’s Eve Activities for Kids: Free Printable Party Hats and More!

New Year’s Eve with kids? Yep, it’s a different vibe (but so a whole new type of fun when you have everyone you love together to ring in the new year.)

Gone are the days of late-night countdowns with champagne toasts and sparkly outfits. Instead, you’re trying to keep the little ones entertained, awake (or maybe not), and excited about ringing in the new year without a meltdown before midnight.

The good news? You can totally have a fun, family-friendly New Year’s Eve that everyone will love!

If you’re searching for New Year’s Eve activities for kids that won’t leave you exhausted, look no further! I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve that will keep the kids entertained and get them involved in the fun while you sneak in a moment to enjoy a sip of sparkling juice.

Oh, and did I mention there’s a free printable party hat activity that will make them feel like the stars of the show?

My kids beg me to print out these party hats so they can start coloring and decorating and have them ready to wear on New Year’s Eve. There’s something about a party hat that makes things instantly more festive and cheery.

I also am sharing 25 ideas for awesomely fun New Year’s Eve activities for kids, and making your own uniquely decorating party hats is always the most popular pick.

Let’s dive into some festive, easy, and fun ideas to make this New Year’s Eve one your kids will remember!

NYE Activities and Party Hats with Kids

New Year’s Eve with kids doesn’t have to be stressful or chaotic—with a little planning and some creative activities, it can be just as fun (if not more) than your pre-kid New Year’s celebrations. Whether you’re ringing in the new year at midnight or celebrating a little early, these activities will keep your kids engaged, entertained, and excited for the year ahead.

1. Create DIY New Year’s Eve Party Hats (Free Printable)

Let’s start with something crafty—because nothing says “party” like a cute hat, right? These free printable New Year’s Eve party hats are not only adorable, but they’ll also keep your kids busy while you’re prepping for the countdown. Plus, they get to express their creativity by coloring, decorating, and assembling their own hats.

Download and print the hats, then grab some crayons, markers, stickers, glitter (if you’re brave), and let the crafting begin. Once the hats are colored in, let the kids add their own touches—maybe some pom-poms, sparkly pipe cleaners, or anything else you have on hand. The result? A personalized, festive party hat that they’ll proudly wear all night long (or at least until bedtime).

[Download the Free Printable New Year’s Eve Party Hats Here]

Pro Parent Tip: Make sure to have a photo-op ready with the finished hats—this will give you a cute memory to look back on, and the kids will love striking a pose in their custom creations!

Here’s What You’ll Need to Create Your New Years Party Hats:

Printer to print out these printable coloring New Year’s Eve party hats (as many copies as you want and need!)
White paper (letter size, 8.5” x 11”) – cardstock is sturdier but regular printer paper works fine, too!
Crayons, colored pencils, or markers
Glue stick or tape to secure the hat seam together and form your hat
Ribbon or string to attach to the hat and secure to children’s (or adult’s) heads
Optional – stickers, glitter, pom poms, gems, rhinestones, ribbon, etc.

Download Your Three New Year’s Eve Kid’s Party Hats Here

–> Click Here to Download Your Free Printable (3 NYE Party Hats)

2. Countdown with New Year’s Eve Balloons

If you want to keep the excitement going throughout the evening without the endless “Is it midnight yet?” questions, try creating a balloon countdown. Here’s how it works: Write a fun activity on a slip of paper, roll it up, and pop it inside a balloon. Blow up one balloon for each hour leading up to midnight (or an earlier bedtime countdown if you want to trick them into going to bed on time!).

Every hour, the kids get to pop a balloon and complete the activity inside. You can mix it up with things like:

A mini dance party to their favorite song
A quick scavenger hunt around the house
A round of charades
Time for a snack or special treat

The balloon countdown is a fun way to keep them engaged, and they’ll love the thrill of popping balloons as the night goes on.

3. Create a Time Capsule for the Year

New Year’s Eve is the perfect time to reflect on the year that’s passed and look forward to the next. Why not get the kids involved in a fun time capsule activity?

Grab a jar, box, or envelope, and ask each family member to write down their favorite memories from the past year, or even their goals for the new year. You can also throw in some small mementos, like photos, drawings, or a small toy that represents something special from the year.

Seal up the time capsule and set a date to open it next New Year’s Eve. The kids will love the idea of opening their “treasures” a year from now, and it’s a fun way to teach them about reflecting on the good moments and setting intentions for the future.

4. New Year’s Eve Bingo

Turn New Year’s Eve into a fun family game night with New Year’s Eve Bingo! You can create simple bingo cards filled with classic NYE activities and things they might see on TV or during your celebrations. Include items like:

Someone says “Happy New Year!”
A balloon pops
You hear fireworks
Someone dances
Someone clinks glasses

Hand out the cards to each family member and let the games begin! The first one to fill their card wins a prize—maybe a special treat, an extra 10 minutes of screen time, or first pick of the movie to watch.

5. Countdown with a Kid-Friendly Toast

Who says champagne gets to have all the fun? For the big countdown, grab some kid-friendly sparkling juice (apple cider, anyone?) and let the little ones join in on the fun with their very own toast. Give each kid a fancy cup (plastic or safe for them, of course), and when the clock strikes midnight (or whenever your version of midnight is), raise your glasses for a family toast.

Cheers to another year of laughter, love, and a few tantrums sprinkled in between!

You can make it even more fun by letting the kids come up with their own toasts—whether they want to toast to their favorite superhero, their pets, or even the snacks they had earlier in the night, it’ll be a cute and memorable moment to end the night on a high note.

6. Watch a Family-Friendly New Year’s Eve Countdown

If your crew won’t quite make it to midnight (or you’re looking to get them to bed before the ball drops), there are plenty of early countdown options available. Netflix and YouTube both offer kid-friendly countdown specials featuring popular characters like Trolls, Boss Baby, or Paw Patrol.

Set it for whatever time works for you, and let the kids have their countdown moment before heading off to bed. They’ll still feel like they got to celebrate without the grumpiness that comes from staying up way too late.

So download your free party hat printable, pop some balloons, and get ready for a New Year’s Eve full of family fun, laughter, and maybe just a little glitter (good luck cleaning that up!). Here’s to a new year of making memories and enjoying the ride!

Happy New Year!

More New Year’s Activities for Kids:

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New Year’s Activity: Kid’s Printable Coloring Party Hats