Plan a New Year's Eve Progressive Dinner Party
Invite Neighborhood for a Holiday Celebration at Different Houses
Dec 19, 2008
When winter storms arrive across the country, a great alternative to going out is to spend the holidays, and especially New Year's Eve, in the neighborhood with a progressive dinner party.
Winter roadways can be treacherous, so plan this neighborhood party that extends throughout the entire evening and keeps people close to home rather than out on the roads.
What is a Progressive Dinner
A progressive dinner has each course of food served at a different location. A different host and house is prepared to serve one course of the dinner, so the responsibility for the evening is not left to one host but is spread over 3 or 4 different hosts, and others who are invited are asked to bring a prepared dish to contribute to the evening.
The planning and preparation are spread among several neighbors' houses for an enjoyable evening of socializing and celebrating while getting to know neighbors and creating community. Light the fireplace and enjoy this informal and fun approach to the holiday.
Planning a Progressive Dinner
First thing is to approach 2 or 3 neighbors who would enjoy creating this unique holiday event. This may be easier than expected especially in a neighborhood with children or with mature couples who may no longer be interested in the hoopla associated with going out.
It's a great time for young parents who are hesitant to leave children with a sitter to be only a few doors away. Arrange for one house to be the children's house and hire one or two young people in the neighborhood to be the babysitters. Older children can join the progressive dinner for the evening and have a room set up for them at each house with games for entertainment.
All neighbors attending sign up to bring a prepared dish and beverage for one of the courses. This ensures there will be adequate food with a minimum amount of preparation by each of the hosts.
Progressive Dinner Menu
- Choose the number of courses that will be served by the number of hosts interested in participating.
- If there are 3 host houses, choose to have an appetizer at one, the main course at the second, and dessert at the third.
- If there are more host houses, a soup or salad course can be offered.
Inviting the Neighborhood to Progressive Dinner Party
- Prepare a flyer that lists the specifics (include the 3 or 4 hosts' names and addresses, the organizer's phone number and email address, time for each course to begin, and end time)
- Take a walk around the neighborhood inviting people to participate (leave the flyer if no one is home and follow up with a call or another knock on the door)
- Have a sign-up sheet divided by course/host house for people to choose what they would like to contribute…an appetizer, a side dish for the main course, or a dessert.
- Each neighbor will also be asked to bring a beverage of choice along with the food offering.
- Be sure to get the neighbors email address and phone number and the best way to contact them.
Schedule for Progressive Dinner Party Evening
- Begin at 7:30 or 8 p.m.
- Neighbors should deliver their food and beverage offering to the appropriate host house just before the start of the evening.
- Allot an 45 minutes to an hour for the appetizer course and the dessert course.
- Allot more time for the main course.
- Depending on the neighborhood, consider time alloted to be able to move from one house to the next.
- An end time of 1:00AM allows all partiers to ring in the New Year and not overextend their stay at the last house of the evening.
A New Year's Eve progressive dinner can be the beginning of a tradition that brings neighbors and friends together and keeps everyone close to home for a fun and safe way to ring in the New Year. A progressive dinner is also a great way to celebrate to celebrate other holidays like Thanksgiving in an untraditional way.
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