New Year’s Eve Scavenger Hunt (Free Printable)
New Year’s Eve scavenger hunt printables are a fun way to keep kids engaged while everyone waits for midnight.
Instead of just sitting around watching the clock, kids get to search the house for party props, sparkly decorations, and little details that make the night feel special.
At our house, we hide everything from balloons to silly glasses, and it always leads to plenty of giggles (and a little healthy competition).
Whether you’re celebrating at home or hosting a party, this scavenger hunt is an easy activity that brings the whole group together.
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New Year’s Scavenger Hunt
We usually spend New Year’s Eve at home, and one of the ways we make it feel special is by turning the house into a scavenger hunt zone.
Before the evening starts, I hide all the items from the checklist around different rooms, some in plain sight for the younger kids, and others tucked into trickier spots for older ones.
The fun comes from the mix: everyone is running around, laughing, and comparing what they’ve found.
Props and decorations make it even more exciting. We’ve picked up sets from Etsy over the years, and the photo props always get the biggest reaction, things like mustaches, oversized glasses, and shiny hats.
They look great in photos and double up perfectly as scavenger hunt items.
When kids find something on the list, they get to mark it off their sheet, which adds just enough structure to keep the game moving.
What I love most is that it works across ages: younger children enjoy the thrill of finding balloons or candles, while older ones get competitive about spotting the last tricky item, like someone pretending to sleep before midnight.
It’s a game that keeps everyone, from toddlers to grandparents, engaged and laughing together.
New Year Hunt Items to Find:
Have fun searching and marking off each of these as you celebrate:
- Balloons
- Candle
- Tiara
- Countdown
- Top hat
- Fireworks
- Confetti
- Stars
- Mask
- Champagne
- Dancing
- Glitter
- Flashing Lights
- Clock
- Someone sleeping
- Noise maker
- Fake mustache
- Funky glasses
- Toasting
- NYE kiss
More New Year’s Eve Activities
When we decorate the house for New Year’s Eve, I like to mix in fun photo props and decorations that also double as scavenger hunt items. It keeps the kids busy spotting silly glasses or noisemakers while giving us plenty of photo opportunities too.
If you’re looking for even more New Year’s Eve fun with kids, here are a few other activities to try:
- New Year color by number – a relaxing way to keep little ones calm before the countdown.
- New Year’s Eve bingo cards – easy for groups of all ages, especially at family parties.
- Family time capsule questions – write down memories and predictions, then bury or save them to open next year.
These activities pair well with the scavenger hunt, giving kids a variety of things to do throughout the night while you wait for midnight.
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Other Scavenger Hunts You Will Enjoy
If your kids loved this New Year’s Eve scavenger hunt, you’ll find plenty more printable hunts to keep the fun going all year long. Each one comes with ready-to-use clues and simple setup so you can spend more time playing and less time prepping:
- Christmas scavenger hunt clues – perfect for holiday parties at home or in the classroom.
- Elf on the shelf hunt clues – a playful way to add excitement to your December traditions.
- Valentine’s Day scavenger hunt – sweet clues that make February fun for kids.
- St. Patrick’s Day scavenger hunt – silly rhymes to pair with leprechaun tricks.
- Earth Day scavenger hunt – encourages kids to spot eco-friendly items around them.
- Easter scavenger hunt clues – a creative twist beyond the traditional egg hunt.
Last Updated on 17 September 2025 by Clare Brown