TAHLEQUAH — Some might say New Year’s Eve is the adult version of Halloween, when masqueraded children attempt to howl at the moon while gathering treats and treasures along the way to remember the night’s journey.

Though marking the end of a year brings a very different reward for participation, a well-planned amusement can leave guests with a similar and thoroughly satiated experience. So it’s important to offer an appetizer and hors d’oeuvres menu that meets the audience’s desires and a few games to tickle their fancy.

When alcohol is expected to be enjoyed responsibly and a full dinner is not on the party agenda,  it is important to allow guests 12-15 hors d’ouvres or appetizers to meet duration demands set by the night’s festivities. If tables and chairs are available, then munchies eatable with a fork are called for, but if it’s standing room only make it a Viking night and offer items easily consumed by hand.

Reasor’s Deli Manager Racheal Woodward said popular appetizer choices that don’t require utensils are the dollar roll sandwich tray and the veggie tray, or garden delight platter.

“Those we usually keep year-round,” Woodward said,  noting Reasor’s offers a pamphlet that entails party-platter examples for the deli, bakery and meat department. “It tells the customer what we offer, how many it will feed, and all that kind of stuff.”

Some of the deli platters include a gourmet meat tray, tidbits of cheese, a boneless wing tray, and a Mediterranean tray, which contains two flavors of humus, feta cheese, cucumbers, pita bread, olives and tomatoes. Traditional relish trays and fruit and cheese trays are also available. Two bakery suggestions include a brownie tray and a bagel and cream cheese tray while the meat department offers a seafood combo platter and a shrimp feast platter.

“New Year’s is a neat holiday and [customers] mix it up incredibly well,” said Keys Grocery owner and butcher Kevin Turk. “So we’ll be running with baby-back ribs, spare ribs, chicken wings in bulk, and depending on the weather, we’ll do steaks. And oddly enough, [customers] will do a center cut of steak.”

Turk said other items customers tend to gather for their holiday gatherings include  Chex Mix, which offers several party recipes, a variety of chips, soda and non-alcoholic sparkling juices.

Other hors d’ouvres and appetizer ideas and recipes that can be found online include an artichoke and hazelnut spread eaten with bread or crackers, garlic-roasted shrimp with jalapeno cocktail sauce, chicken quesadillas, antipasto crescents, mozzarella skewers, quick-chicken chunks, spinach and artichoke pinwheels, seven-layer taco dip, sausage cheese balls, grand cheese stuffed mushrooms, bacon-wrapped water chestnuts, crab Rangoon, spring rolls, and many more. A recipe can be found for nearly ever desired cuisine.

To work off these tasteful treats and keep the guests on their feet if an activity like dancing doesn’t swallow the clock, a few games are in order. Because alcohol tends to be a part of a typical new year’s eve party, a contest that can pit each guest against one another the entire night is a word game. Give each person a word that likely will come up in casual conversation and write the word on the back of a name tag. If the guest is heard speaking their “can’t-say word,” he must consume some of his selected beverage. To make the game more interesting, place the word on the guest’s back and he  must pay close attention to what word is being used before the command to imbibe is given.

Bringing a taste of Vegas to the party is always well received, as well. The host can set up various tables for common games like blackjack, Texas hold’em, kino and even a dice game. The host can have selected guests to serve as the dealers for the evening or guests could rotate so everyone has a chance to be both dealer and player.

o make the game interesting, each guest could be provided with a certain number of poker chips at the start of the night and inform them the chips can be traded in for raffle tickets at the end of the night for prizes.

What could bring the house down and create several unforgettable memories would be crowning the night’s best karaoke performance. Liquid courage should fill the room, so most guests will be brave enough to show why they should be deemed the first idol of 2012.

Other easy common party activities with which to entertain guests include board games like trivial pursuit or scrabble, and the Wii video game system offers popular games that can offer physical entertainment for participants and spectators.