10 Cool Themed Parties For The New Year (Slideshow)

Whether you want to have a classy New Year's with a black and white ball or Hollywood-themed bash — or if you want to keep things cheesy with an old-school decade party — there's a cool New Year's party theme for you.

If you want to truly class up your New Year's Eve party, channel the infamous Black and White Ball thrown by Truman Capote in 1966. In order to enter the soirée, your guests must be wearing nothing but black and white. Decorate your home with deep red tablecloths, golden candelabras and dishes, and white draperies. Capote's menu consisted of the specialties at New York's Plaza Hotel, so serve chicken hash, scrambled eggs, sausages, biscuits, and spaghetti and meatballs when the clock strikes midnight. And, of course, don't forget the Champagne!

For the 10 most extravagant parties in history, click here.

Want to channel the crazy clubs on New Year's Eve without the expenses and dress codes? Turn your home into a full-blown rave with a black light party. Have guests come dressed in light-colored or white clothes and serve neutral-toned foods like hummus, cheese dip, and boozy milkshakes that will take on an eerie glow under the purple lighting. Then, turn up the fun with highlighters, glow bracelets, black light-reactive ping pong balls, or even black light bubbles, to make your bash a blast.

For six delicious alcoholic milkshakes, click here.

If you're looking for a low-key way to ring in 2017, try a simple bonfire party. Sit under the last night of 2016 with your close friends and family and some craft beer, and swap your favorite stories of the year. For food, serve bonfire classics such as s'mores, hot dogs, pan pizzas, and scrambled eggs.

For the ultimate guide to campfire s'mores, click here.

Everyone loves a little nostalgia at New Year's Eve, but instead of looking back at the dumpster fire that was 2016, go a little further back with a decade-themed party. Break out the Hi-C Ecto Cooler, overalls, and classic Nickelodeon cartoons for a '90s party. Or, perhaps everyone can channel their inner disco diva with shiny jumpsuits and afros for a '70s-themed bash. Pick a decade, serve favorite foods from that time, play those old-school tunes, and party like it's an old year for the new year.

To learn how to party like it's the '90s again, click here.

Nobody knows what's in store for 2017, so party like you won't see another day this New Year's Eve. Serve decadent foods like beef Wellington, poached lobster, and gooey chocolate lava cake. Pop Champagne like there's no tomorrow. Incorporate a touch of the apocalypse with flaming cocktails and Fireball Whisky. But when Jan. 1 does come, you might have a heck of a mess to clean up.

For five delicious drinks to make with Fireball Whisky, click here.

With the Year of the Rooster quickly approaching, why not welcome the new year in good fortune? Though there are plenty of ways to host a Chinese New Year's party, personalize the experience by stuffing fortune cookies with sayings only your group of friends would get. To channel the rooster, cook up some Chinese-inspired chicken appetizers such as chicken dumplings, egg rolls, or wontons.

For the ultimate Chinese New Year dinner, click here.

You may not be able to compete with the glitz and glamor of a Los Angeles party on New Year's Eve, but you can still channel the pop culture of 2016. Play the top songs of the year, plus maybe some music of late and great artists who passed away this year (David Bowie, Sharon Jones, George Michael, and Prince). Cook food from your favorite 2016 celebrity cookbook, such as Chrissy Teigen's Cravings, and dance and dine the night away.

For 20 reasons the food world loves Chrissy Teigen, click here.

If you're going to be up until dawn on New Year's anyway, you may as well have a little brunch. When the clock strikes midnight, set out a buffet of brunch favorites with spinach frittatas, berry crepes, and candied bacon for people to snack on. For drinks, go classic with mimosas, Bloody Marys, and peach bellinis.

For 51 drool-worthy brunch dishes, click here.

A casino party, complete with poker games, roulette, and lots of money trading hands, is a classic New Year's party theme. But channel the favorite game Texas Hold 'Em with a Southern twist on your poker night. In addition to a poker tournament, round out the party theme with Tex-Mex favorites like spicy chili con carne, nachos, and plenty of chips with queso. For drinks, there's no better option than ice-cold margaritas.

For eight favorite margarita recipes, click here.

Going to Times Square in midtown Manhattan may seem like the ultimate way to spend New Year's Eve, but it's actually a living nightmare filled with crowds, overpriced chain restaurant food, and celebrities that are way too far away to actually see. Skip out on the tourist trap and throw your own "NYE in Times Square" party. Watch the countdown on TV, and make classic New York foods for dinner such as pastrami on rye, cheesecake, and (of course) Manhattan cocktails. Drop your own (paper) ball at midnight and kiss for the new year! Want to take the best New Year's Eve picture ever? Check out the most Instagrammable place in every state.