New Year’s Eve Left Right Game (Free Party Fun!)
Get your group laughing, listening, and passing with this free printable New Year’s Eve Left Right story game!
It’s a simple New Year’s Eve party game with a story that’s perfect for:
- New Year’s Eve parties
- Classroom parties
- Church youth groups
- Office holiday parties
- Senior communities
- Holiday gift exchanges
Players pass a gift, candy, New Year’s Eve party hat, disco ball, or another small object to the left or right whenever they hear those words in the story. By the end, the person holding the object is the winner.
It’s easy to set up, works with small or large groups, and requires almost no preparation.
This post contains affiliate links. See my disclaimer for more.
Contents
Materials Needed:
You only need a few things to get started:
- A group of 4 or more people
- Left-Right New Year’s Eve story printable – See below. Click the blue “download” button.
- Wrapped gifts, prizes, or objects to pass (see the ideas below)
How To Play The Left-Right New Year’s Eve Story Game
This New Year’s Eve game is as simple as listen, pass, and keep!
1. Have everyone sit or stand in a circle. Give each person a wrapped gift, piece of candy, or another object.
2. Choose one person to read the Left Right story aloud.
3. Whenever players hear the word LEFT, everyone passes the item they’re holding to the person on their left. Whenever they hear RIGHT, everyone passes the item to the person on their right.
4. Continue passing as the narrator reads the entire story.
Pro Tip: Have the narrator emphasize the words LEFT and RIGHT as they read. This makes it easier for everyone to keep up, especially with a younger or energetic group.
5. When the story ends, everyone keeps the gift, prize, candy, or object they’re holding.
Related: FREE New Year’s Predictions Game
Use It as a Holiday Gift Exchange Game
You can also use this as a fun holiday gift exchange game. Our family gets together with one side of our family on New Year’s Eve to celebrate Christmas a little late. This Left-Right game is a fun way to exchange gifts and add a little extra excitement to the evening.
Have everyone bring a wrapped gift, sit in a circle, and pass the gifts LEFT and RIGHT as the story is read. Participants keep the gift they are holding at the end of the story.
Explore the best gift exchange ideas!
Try More Ideas!
You don’t need wrapped presents to play this New Year’s Eve Left Right game.
In fact, smaller items can make the game even easier for a family gathering, youth group, or New Year’s Eve celebration.
New Year’s Eve Treats
Give each person a small treat, such as individually wrapped chocolates, festive cookies, or New Year’s candy.
Everyone passes the treats as the story is read and gets to keep whatever they’re holding at the end.
Pass a Party Hat
Place a party hat on one person’s head to start. Whenever the story says LEFT or RIGHT, the hat gets passed in that direction.
Whoever is wearing the hat when the story ends gets to keep it!
Pass a New Year’s Noismaker
Start with one or two small New Year’s noisemakers, such as party horns, clappers, or mini tambourines. Pass them around the circle according to the story.
The people holding the noisemakers at the end win them as prizes.
Pass a Festive Object
You can really use almost anything that is easy to pass around.
Try:
- Fun New Year’s glasses
- A mini disco ball
- Glow sticks
- A party horn
- A small bottle of sparkling cider
- A gift card
- A wrapped snack or treat
For a larger group, use several objects (or one object per player) at once so multiple people can win a prize.
Related: FREE New Year’s Pass the Prize Game
Make It A Teambuilder
Use the left-right story game to make partners or teams for team-building activities. Every player gets a colored marker or object. Players pass throughout the game and then match up with the person(s) holding the same object to partner with for the next activity.
Free New Year’s Eve Left Right Story Game Printable
Ready to play?
Grab the free printable New Year’s Eve Left Right story below and you’re ready to go!
Also try this Christmas Left Right Story Game, too!
Want More New Year’s Eve Fun (Screen-Free!)- Coming Back Soon!
The New Year’s Games Pack does the family night and party planning for you. It has ready-to-print New Year’s games for kids, teens, and adults, so you’ll always have the right game whether you’ve got 10 minutes or the whole evening. No prep, no shipping, no screens. Just print, cut, and play.
“So fun and easy to download” – Lynette W
“At friends gatherings, I am the one designated to come up with games and activities. Thanks for your wonderful, fun ideas! They are a great help!” – Louise
Want More New Year’s Fun?
- New Year’s Roll The Dice Game
- New Year’s What’s On Your Phone? FREE Game
What’s Next?
Join tens of thousands of others and sign up for the Family Table Newsletter. You’ll get the best family content and free resources right to your inbox.