Written by Stephanie Greenwald & Lisa Viaches

There is a reason New Year’s Eve has been such a celebration for couples young and old for years… the thrill of getting dressed to the nines and hitting the town with just the two of you or the whole gang of friends is something many look forward to all year. Most people have the days surrounding the holiday off of work, so there’s no excuse not to get out and enjoy a New Year’s Eve date night out.

If you have the luxury of a babysitter for the night, plan an evening just for adults and celebrate the way you want to. Whether that’s going all out with VIP bottle service, attending a special New Year’s Eve event, or ringing in the New Year at 9 p.m. with a low-key activity or dinner beforehand, there are many ways to have a wonderful New Year’s Eve date night.

You may even want to just hole up in your bedroom, play a board game, and have an at-home date night while a babysitter hangs out with the kids downstairs. We’ve got tons of ideas for games and activities to do to commemorate the New Year. Whatever you do, just remember that you work hard all year and deserve a New Year’s Eve date night out (or in) without wrangling the kids all night for once.

50 Exciting New Year’s Eve Date Night Ideas

 

Raise the Bar

Set up flights of champagne and experiment with a variety of juices or liqueurs. Add tangerine juice or Chambord to change up old standards and garnish with festive berries or herbs. A sangria bar would be just as fun! Taste different flavors when you mix your red wine with citrus fruits like lemons and oranges or spices like cinnamon and ginger. The possibilities are endless. Have fun and drink responsibly.

Ice Skating

Head to The Ice at Carter Green in Carmel for ice skating at the gorgeous outdoor rink set in the middle of the Carmel Christkindlmarkt. Check out the Indiana State Fairgrounds Ice Rink for an indoor ice skating option. For other Indianapolis ice skating rinks, see our Best Places to Go Ice Skating article.

Outdoor Scavenger Hunt

Search online for an outdoor scavenger hunt or one you can do from the car at night. You could also create a scavenger hunt to exchange with a friend. Check out Wacky Walks for a scavenger hunt where you’ll explore all that downtown Indianapolis has to offer. For Indy’s most comprehensive scavenger hunt book, pick up our own Katy Mann’s book, Indianaplis Scavenger: The Ultimate Search for Indianapolis’s Hidden Treasures.

Walking City Lights Tour

Enjoy the free Holiday Walking Light Tour throughout the Federal Hills Commons lawn in Noblesville. Or walk the Monon between Carmel’s Arts & Design District and Carmel’s City Center at night to take in wonderful light displays.

Send Off Sky Lanterns

New Year’s Eve is a great time to send off paper sky lanterns with a wish for the New Year. You can send them off from your backyard or head to a nice clearing where there aren’t many trees they could get stuck in.

Rent a Limousine

Book a limousine for a group of friends or just yourselves. Grab a glass of champagne at a couple of different bars downtown or drive by friends’ houses to cheers through the moonroof.

Retreat Together

Couples retreats are popping up all over the globe. Book a spa, get spiritual, find a foodie or nature retreat, and connect with your significant other on a deeper level.

Ride the Brew Bus

The Brewsline brew bus will chauffeur you from brewery to brewery all night so you don’t have to worry about driving. Hit up 3-5 breweries with a group of friends for an exciting night out. Tours are available on the Northside, Southside, Broad Ripple, and Downtown.

Spa Night

Hire a masseuse or borrow a library book on massage techniques and take turns. Light candles, play soft music, and pamper yourselves. Ring in the New Year relaxed.

VIP Bottle Service

Hit up your favorite bar or attend a New Year’s Eve party. For extra special treatment, book VIP Bottle Service at 3UP Rooftop Bar overlooking the Monon Trail and the Carmel Arts & Design District. Reservations include VIP seating for 4 or 8, a bottle of Veuve Cliquot Champagne, a midnight toast, a DJ, and party favors.

Book a Hotel Room

Go all out for your New Year’s Eve date! Book a hotel room for the night! Stay at the Conrad downtown or the new Hotel Carmichael in Carmel. If you’re lucky enough to have family or a trusted babysitter in town, get away for the night. Even if you just stay in the room the whole time, it’ll be

Seal a Time Capsule

Time capsules are great ways to capture the past. Gather cards, letters, ticket stubs, soon-to-be “old tech,” newspaper clippings, and anything else that fits into your “capsule”. No need to bury it; place everything in a shoebox and hide it up in the attic to be opened in a year or ten! You’ll always remember this special New Year’s Eve date night.

Gaze at Constellations

Go star gazing from your car. Drive out to a dark, high, and quiet place and gaze at the stars. Recline your seats and look up through the moonroof if you have one. There are several apps like SkyView, Star Gazer, and Night Sky that can help you learn about what you’re seeing.

Game Night

Buy, borrow, or bust out the dusty games in the closet for some one-on-one board game competition. Gather with friends across the street or across the county via Zoom for some couple vs couple gaming.

Horseback Riding

Enjoy a romantic ride on horseback. Try a local equestrian trail or book a night at French Lick and visit the stables there.

Heat Things Up with Candle-Making

Go to Penn & Beech to make candles. Book a table and create your very own candles. You choose the scent, color, jar, etc. And there are cocktails to enjoy while you create.

Wine Tasting Games

Set up a blind wine-tasting game at home. You can purchase a cheap-o wine, a medium-priced bottle, and a more expensive one. Put them in paper bags so you don’t know which is which and rank them. One variation is to try three different varietals and see if you can guess which is which. It was harder than I thought it would be! Stop by your favorite Indiana Winery and pick up the very best, we recommend Daniel’s Vineyard.

Paint an Accent Wall

Start a new tradition and paint one accent wall in a room in your house. It makes a world of a difference and you only have to do one wall! Tying it to a holiday will make it even more special every time you look at it.

Make Hot Chocolate Bombs

Jump on the bandwagon and spend the evening making hot chocolate bombs. Line an egg mold with melted chocolate, freeze, add hot chocolate mix and mini marshmallows, cover with melted chocolate, freeze, and voila! Just pour hot milk over the bombs and watch them explode into a delicious cup of hot chocolate. Not into making your own? Pick up a couple from these favorite establishments.

New Year’s Eve Date Night Photo Shoot

If you didn’t have time to do a proper photo shoot this year, take the time to do it on New Year’s Eve. Pick a nice outfit, do your hair and makeup, set up the tripod (or even better, hire a professional photographer), and capture some frame-able moments.

Watch a Concert or Musical

Some of the best concerts and Broadway musicals are available to purchase and view on your own big screen. Plan a night jamming out to Queen, Journey, Michael Jackson, Taylor Swift, or Celine Dion. Dim the lights and sit back to experience the amazing musical Hamilton or Wicked.

See the Lights

Drive around to see the last of the holiday lights around town before they come down and without the constant distraction of kids yelling in the back. Sometimes it’s nice to just drive around in the comfort of your own car. Check out this map and plan your route. A fan favorite, the Christmas Nights of Lights at the Indiana State Fairgrounds is open through December 31, 2024.

Get Physical

Get a jumpstart on New Year’s resolutions and mark the day by attending a fitness class. Try a strength class, cycling, or Pilates, and end the day with yoga. Can’t get out? There are endless virtual classes online!

Reach Your Goals

“A goal without a plan is just a wish” -A. De Saint-Exupery. Write down your goals and set a plan in place to achieve them. It’s great to know what you want to do. But without an action plan, how will you reach your goals? Want a career change? Research classes or workshops to beef up your resume and register for them. What better way to kick off a brand new year than discussing your goals with your partner and creating an action plan for a better future together?

Unique Outdoor Dining

Check out an igloo near you for a unique night out. Many are first come first serve so you might have to wait. Or reserve a heated igloo at Vivante French Eatery in the new Hotel Carmichael for lunch or dinner along the Monon Trail. Strange Bird in Irvington offers festive fire tables and chic heated pods for toasty outdoor options.

Learn Something New

Interested in an art medium, glass blowing, martial arts, sewing, or car mechanics? Maybe you want a hobby to share with your spouse. Make the decision and sign up, pay, and commit for the upcoming year. Many adults wistfully think they’d love to do blah blah blah someday… make that day today. There’s no better time than now to try something new. You will never know until you try.

Jackbox Game Night

Jackbox is a hilarious adult trivia game that you can now play on your TV via your phone. Each person answers questions on their smartphone. There are all kinds of games including trivia, art, and teamwork games. The host is hilarious as well. I always laugh my butt off while playing!

Enjoy Scenic Hiking

Commune with nature with a hike or make it your goal to hike 202.5 miles in 2025. Check out all of Indiana’s state parks and local trails. Need inspiration? We love Turkey Run in any season!

Host a Virtual Bash

Gather your pals and party together virtually. With or without a pandemic, sometimes staying in is just as fun! And it’s become so easy to hang out with friends across the country. Check out our list of fun activities to do during video chat.

Around the World Dinner

Try an appetizer at an Irish restaurant. A main course at a Thai restaurant. Dessert at an Italian restaurant. After dinner drinks at a Japanese restaurant. Or, use carryout to create an “Around the World” feast at home! If you’re feeling really adventurous, try making some of the courses yourself.

Party at Top Golf

Book a bay for a fun night of golf for just the two of you or up to 12 people across two heated bays. If you don’t reserve a bay, you can put your name on the waitlist and head to the bar to hang out while you wait.

Archery Date

Head to Koteewi Park to enjoy time together hitting fun targets with your bow and arrow. Make your reservations in advance for this is a popular activity. It’s a blast, even for beginners. If you’re feeling adventurous, stay a while at Koteewi and slide down the snow tubing slopes!

Go Camping

Book a cabin in the woods and snuggle up with a bonfire and a cozy blanket. Or, pull out the blankets and camp in your living room! Unplug and escape from this crazy world.

Rent a Theatre

A typical night on the town for NYE will likely cost you much more than renting out an entire theater for a private show. Invite friends or keep it to yourselves.

Have a Cooking Competition

Do you think you make a better chili than anyone else? A more creative pizza? Take it to the kitchen and test your recipes on each other. Cooking together is always fun and romantic.

Movie Marathon

Wouldn’t you like to watch a movie without kids asking 200,000 questions? Yes, please! It never fails that no matter how many times the kids have watched an Avenger movie they still ask questions. A movie or six without interruption would be a nice change. Binge a grown-up series you’ve been meaning to watch or the entire saga of a family favorite like Star Wars or Harry Potter. Stock up on popcorn; it’s gonna be a long night. Need a new popcorn recipe? We’ve got you covered.

Learn a New Language

Even if you are not planning to travel soon, learning a new language together is a fun activity to share as a couple. Spend New Year’s Eve talking about what language to learn and why. Plan to visit a place where you can both use your new skill, even if it’s just a night at home together.

Harmonize Your Home

Stay home and redecorate your living space… Balance the elements, maximize natural light, and remove the negatives to Feng Shui in your home. You will feel more at peace and what a feeling to kick off a new year.

Does it Bring Joy?

While you’re at it, Marie Kondo your house. Work together to declutter and clear out unneeded items around the house. Toss or donate items you haven’t touched in forever and don’t foresee needing.

Plan a Vacation

Spend the night planning your next vacation. Sometimes it’s exciting to start planning your next getaway. Choose your destination, dates, research excursions, etc. Think of the money you’re saving by not going out on NYE!

Volunteer

Inquire at your local shelter, food bank, church, or humane society for volunteer opportunities. If in-person duties are not an option, ask if there is anything you can do from your home for them.

Go Sledding

Pick a sledding hill and enjoy some fun adult time going up and down on your sleds. You don’t even need snow if the hill is steep enough. Get out and enjoy some fresh crisp air. These are our favorite sledding hills.

Treasure Hunt

Set up clues for your significant other to find a “midnight kiss”. This will take some planning but will be so much fun for both parties involved. Try clues that use the five senses, your “first” meet, date, kiss, or plan a stay-at-home hunt with movement from room to room.

Teach Each Other Something

Teach your partner a game or skill. Each of you chooses something to teach to the other. Learn something new and enjoy the night learning more about each other too.

Romantic Dinner for Two at Home

Spending the evening alone as a couple but not ready to hit the town? An intimate dinner for two picnic-style could be perfect for you. New Year’s Eve dates usually involve some fancy restaurant and getting dressed up which you can still do within the comforts of your own home; dress up and cook or order in a fancy feast for two. Spread out a blanket and light some candles. Soft music and sweet treats cap the year off right.

Go on a Walkabout

Bundle up and walk the neighborhood, checking out the beautiful holiday lights and decorations, or head to one of these impressive walk-through displays. It’ll make for a romantic New Year’s Eve date.

See Your Reflection

Reflect together on the past 12 months. Make a gratitude jar for the ending year and include something you’re grateful for each month. It may have been a year of heartache and sorrow, or one filled with joy and happiness. Either way, we’re sure you’ll find things to be grateful for.

Light the Fire

Camping not your thing? Emulate the camping feeling with a backyard Bonfire. Make gourmet s’mores and sip spiked hot cider. Snuggle your sweetie next to the fire and gaze at the stars while ringing in the new year.

Photo Booth

Grab some Halloween wigs and hats, funny glasses, and fake mustaches, then snap some silly pictures. No props? No worries! Snapchat, Facebook, or another app will have plenty of filters and stickers to jazz up your pics.

Countdowns Around the World

Follow the countdown around the world. The first New Year celebrations begin in the Pacific Islands around Noon (EST) and last until 7 a.m. on January 1. Add authentic food, music, and drinks … toast at midnight in Sydney, Beijing, Paris, NYC…anywhere!

Whether you want to stay in or glam it up and hit the town, there is so much you can do to make it a special New Year’s Eve date night. Go big with one of many New Year’s Eve events in Indianapolis. If you just can’t find a babysitter, there’s still lots of fun to be had! Here are 100 Ways to Celebrate New Year’s Eve with Kids!

Don’t miss out on all of the other fun holiday events and activities around town that you can take advantage of before or after the New Year.

What are your New Year’s Eve date night plans? Share your comments and photos with us below or tag us on social media using #PLAYindy. Follow Indy with Kids on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest for all of the best ideas and things to do with kids in Indy!

     

 

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