NEW IDEAS FOR NEW YEAR’S!
Unique celebrations taking place from the mountains to the Cape
Who says celebrating New Year's Eve has to be predictable? Party, watch the ball drop, three-two-one, champagne and cheers you're done. Here in New England, opportunities to celebrate the new year are delightful and plentiful.
Family-friendly slopeside: Getting a sitter for New Year's is like finding the Hope diamond. But taking the kids along? Hard to imagine. Unless you head to Ragged Mountain Resort in Danbury, N.H., where ringing in the new year is all about making it easy and fun for the entire family. Ski and ride all day and then stick around for an evening of fun. Live music kicks off at 6 p.m., and dinner is served (Chef's station! Pasta station! And more) from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Dinner is followed by more music and dancing and then, magically at 9 p.m., the “New Year” comes with fireworks. Your kids will never know it wasn't really midnight. You can get all that — including your lift ticket, for just $99; $59 for kids 12 and younger. Learn more at raggedmountainresort.com.
Small town, big party: First Night Chatham is nothing new; this Dec. 31 marks the 27th year of holding a townwide, busy and entertaining, alcohol-free First Night. The downtown area comes alive with activity all day and night, with more than 70 performances and events right through midnight, from art shows to a road race and more.
The day starts out with an invitation to be part of something special: a townwide photo taken at the Chatham Light. Anyone is welcome to come pose at high noon and be part of history. Chatham loves a theme, too, with this year's being “Oh Those 60s!” Entertainment highlights '60s music; art has some vintage nods; and visitors are encouraged to dress the part. Be ready for a full day of music, food and fun: It doesn't wrap until the town's “Countdown Cod” drops at midnight, and fireworks go off at Oyster Pond.
Buttons are required. Details can be found at firstnight chatham.com.
First light at the edge of our state: Provincetown knows how to party. This much everyone knows. But did you know it goes all out for New Year's, stretching its celebrations from Dec. 28 to Jan. 2? The events are so frequent and diverse (Drag Bingo, anyone? Or how about a polar plunge? Family bike decorating?), the town puts out an extensive guide to help you plan your experience.
The entire town embraces Dec. 31 with parties at just
about every bar and restaurant — meaning you can find one for any mood or age group. There are family-friendly events, too, like the Light Bright Bike Ride at 4:30 p.m., when all ages are invited to light up and decorate their bikes and then ride for prizes. It all keeps going the following day with brunches and special events. And while most Cape towns have barely a hotel room to find in winter, P-town keeps tons open for this event, meaning you can settle in and be part of the town for a few of the days. Operation Safe Ride offers free rides home (in Provincetown) on New Year’s Eve, too. Learn about it all at ptown.org/firstlight.
Get into nature: At King Pine Ski Area in New Hampshire, you can moonlight hike your way into the new year with a guided nighttime snowshoe hike into the woods and up trails. The Family Friendly New Year’s Eve package includes lodging, lift tickets, access to an outdoor concert and campfire at the base, and then — if you are one of the first 100 to show up — you get to be part of the annual Torchlight Parade at 9 p.m., making you a star as the new year arrives. Fireworks follow, and a new year breakfast the following day is included, too. Learn more at kingpine.com.