Fun ideas for New Year’s Eve in Morris

Have you had it with your usual New Year’s Eve plans — or lack thereof?

“It can be an awkward holiday because people always feel like they have to do something special on New Year’s Eve,” said Donna DeFrancesco, president of Majestic Moments Event Planning in East Hanover. “But there are lots of fun places to go that night — many restaurants offer special menus or seating times to accommodate everyone and most wedding venues and hotels will be offering some kind of public party, which is a fun and safe way to enjoy the evening with family and friends.”

If a DIY approach is more your style, here are a few tips to help make your home-based New Year’s Eve party sparkle:

Pick a theme — “Pick a color scheme – perhaps some combination of gold, silver, white, and/or black – and tie other elements around it,” said DeFrancesco, who encourages hosts to go on Google or Pinterest for inspiration on the range of fun decoration, food, and drink options that are possible.

What to serve — “Finger foods are always fun,” said DeFrancesco, “but the menu you create is a matter of taste, culture, and your audience, and champagne is the number one drink on New Year’s but you can create a signature drink or rename a popular drink in a way that’s unique to you or your guests.”

“You can host a champagne tasting party,” said Ressa Tomkiewicz, a spokesperson for Party City. “Create a champagne tower from plastic champagne glasses, which serves double duty as both a glamorous table piece and refreshment for all, a sure way to ‘wow’ guests.”

Activate “auld” traditions – With New Year’s Eve representing a reflection on the past and a look towards the future, “invest in old traditions by bringing them back into the modern era,” DeFrancesco said. “Growing up, my Italian family always used to serve a herring for good luck on New Year’s,” she said, while the shattering of a ‘peppermint pig’ at this time of year was considered good luck in Victorian times.

Add a personal touch — “Some of our newer products this year come from our Design and Personalization Studio, available online and in-store at Party City,” said Tomkiewicz.

Products include: Personalized barware — Glass drink and serveware ranging from champagne bottles and flutes to shot and wine glasses, which can be printed with an array of unique designs and colors. Prices start as low as $0.79 per product. Custom banners — Make a statement with your very own personalized banner. Prices start as low as $19.99. Custom invitations and thank you notes — Spread the word of your upcoming celebration with vibrant, personalized invitations. And don’t forget to thank your guests post-party with matching, eye-catching thank you cards. Prices start as low as $0.90 per invitation and $1 per thank you card.

Have fun– Fashion is one of the most popular trends for the holiday, according to Tomkiewicz, as party-goers always dress for the occasion. “A wonderful way for party hosts to ensure their guests look the part this New Year’s Eve is by passing out festive accessories. From glittery glasses and necklaces to top hats, masks and boas, there’s something stylish for everyone to wear.”

“Consider a costume/masquerade party, a disco party with full-on bling, an ugly sweater party, or another theme that allows everyone to express their creativity and enjoy the fun of being together,” said DeFrancesco.

Need more party planning ideas? — “At Party City, we always recommend starting your party planning early,” said Tomkiewicz, “but for those who find themselves needing just a little extra help sparking some creativity this holiday season, visit our online PartyIdeas Gallery at www.partycity.com/party+ideas.do. Here, shoppers will find tons of inspiring ideas on how to make their New Year’s Eve parties one for the books.”

Party City is located in East Hanover at 346 Route 10 west, tel. 973-781-1177; Randolph at 477 Route 10 east, tel. 973-537-1707; Hackettstown at 1885 Route 57, tel. 908-850-1741; and Wayne at 1625 Route 23, tel. 973-305-8833; www.partycity.com.

Majestic Moments Event Planning is located at 383 Ridgedale Ave., East Hanover; www.njweddingeventplanner.com.

Where to go on New Year’s Eve

Prefer to go out instead and let professionals create a fun New Year’s Eve experience for you and your group? Check out these unique and local ways to celebrate the momentous entry into 2016:

Party down — If you’re up for the energy and glitz of an all-out party, check out the 2016 New Year’s Eve celebrations being held at the Sheraton Hotel in Parsippany or the Marriott Hotel in Bridgewater. According to Julian Romero, president of Majestic Events (which has produced the parties for the past nine years), the two hotel fêtes will be the largest organized New Year’s Eve parties in New Jersey with an anticipated attendance of over 1,000 guests. The celebrations will feature a five-hour premium open bar, dinner, desserts, live entertainment, and a simulcast of the New York Times Square ball drop at midnight; tickets start at $199 per person and can be upgraded to include an overnight stay at either hotel and breakfast on New Year’s Day. For more information or to reserve tickets, call 908-799-8294 or visit www.newyearsnj.com.

Dine in style — Commemorate the new year with an exceptional dining-out experience. At Jockey Hollow Bar & Kitchen (110 South Street, Morristown), which offers fine dining in the elegance of the circa-1917 building, “we’ll be offering a four-course prix fixe New Year’s Eve menu throughout the entire building — including our Oyster Bar, Dining Room, and Rathskeller spaces — which will include such options as Maine lobster salad, duck and foie gras agnolotti, braised veal, roasted arctic char, vegetarian options, and a selection of decadent desserts,” said General Manager Ron Morgan. Three seatings will be available at 4-4:45 p.m., 6:30-7 p.m. and 9:30-10:30 p.m. and tickets are $95 per person ($150 with wine pairings at each course); guests who choose the first seating will receive a discounted price of $75 per person for the prix-fixe meal ($120 with wine pairings). For more information or to reserve seats, call 973-644-3180 or visit www.jockeyhollowbarandkitchen.com.

Or head to Scalini Fedeli (63 Main Street, Chatham), a culinary landmark housed within a 260-year-old farmhouse that will be serving a five-course prix fixe menu featuring modern Italian dishes with a distinct French flare from 5-10:30 p.m. for approximately $100 per person, which includes party hats and noisemakers at midnight. For more information or reservations, call 973-701-9200 or visit www.scalinifedeli.com.

Cruise into the new year — One of the best ways for New Jerseyans to commute into New York City also provides a front-row seat for viewing fireworks at the Statue of Liberty on New Year’s Eve. Through vessels run by Seastreak, which reintroduced its New Year’s Eve Fireworks Cruise last year, “we depart from Highlands, N.J. at 9 p.m. on Dec. 31 and cruise down the Hudson River into New York Harbor to enjoy fireworks at the Statue of Liberty, returning by 1 a.m.,” said Brett Chamberlain, the company’s director of marketing. “Guests will enjoy delicious hors d’oeuvres and a buffet prepared by a highly-regarded local restaurant, as well as dancing on our second deck and an unimaginable view of the city skyline and fireworks from the top deck, along with a simulcast of the festivities in nearby Times Square. Our boats are luxury ferries designed with comfort in mind and our interiors are climate-controlled, though it’s rarely windy in New York Harbor for those who want to take it all in from an exterior deck,” Chamberlain said. “The view of New York City up close and personal from the Hudson River on New Year’s Eve is absolutely breathtaking and is an experience you’ll treasure for a lifetime.” Tickets are $129 per person; for more information or tickets, call 800-262-8743 or visit www.seastreak.com.

Celebrate the arts — For a remarkable celebration of the arts in all of its various forms, head into Morristown for First Night Morris 2016, a family-friendly New Year’s Eve tradition (complete with fireworks at 9:15 p.m. and midnight) that will feature nearly 200 artists across 24 venues and offer top-notch performances in dance, theatre, music, world cultures, visual arts, and children’s programming. Taking place in venues all over town —from local churches and Morristown High School to the Mayo Performing Arts Center and the Morris County Administration Building — “the event features topflight talents, many of whom have performed at such venues as the White House, Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and Madison Square Garden, won international recognition, and/or performed on national radio/TV or in major films,” said Lynn Siebert, artistic programmer for First Night Morris County and director of arts participation with Morris Arts. Now celebrating its 24th year and annually attracting thousands of attendees annually, “there will be a wealth of activity going on that night and it will be exciting to experience all of the live performances taking place in the festively-decorated setting of Morristown,” she said. To view the evening’s schedule of performances or to purchase tickets, which range from $17.50-$25 per person, call 973-455-0708 or visit www.firstnightmorris.com.

Hit the tropics – At Sussex County’s Crystal Springs Resort, “every New Year’s Eve, the whole property comes alive with the holiday and offers something for everyone,” said Director of Marketing Michelle Abate. The resort offers a particularly unique way to celebrate New Year’s Eve. “One of the most amazing parties we throw is at our Biosphere Pool, where we offer an open bar, passed hors d’oeuvres, a deejay and dancing, a champagne toast, and a simulcast of the events in Times Square within our exclusive 10,000 square-foot tropical atrium,” Abate said of the experience, which is priced at $110 per person. “With our unique entertainment, lush plants, and an ice bar featuring specialty cocktails, you really feel like you’re in the tropics.” For a more intimate dining experience, “our award-winning Restaurant Latour will be offering five- and seven-course fine dining opportunities (with or without wine pairings) prepared by Executive Chef Anthony Bucco which range from $165-$255 per person,” she said. For more information on New Year’s Eve festivities at Crystal Springs Resort (located in Hamburg and Vernon in Sussex County) or overnight/weekend accommodations, call 866-638-3341 or visit www.crystalgolfresort.com.

Contributing: Eva Abreu.

Tell us your favorite New Year’s Eve memory; email eabreu@gannettnj.com.