The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Edge of ’17
Ring in 2018 with one of several events in Greater Cleveland
3, 2, 1 … Happy New Year! ¶ No matter where you are come New Year’ Eve, the end of the evening is the same.
However, it’s what you’re doing for the hours before the clock strikes midnight that will determine how you remember welcoming in 2018.
There are dozens of New Year’s Eve events planned throughout Northeast Ohio. Here are some of the more unique “Auld Lang Syne” affairs:
Shaken, not stirred
If you’re looking for a themed New Year’s Eve experience, Lago in the Flats is staging a James Bond evening at the Aloft Hotel. While black-tie attire is optional, if you’re attending this 007-loving affair remember “Diamonds Are Forever” and “You Only Live Twice.” OK, so the latter doesn’t make sense, but neither does dressing up as James Bond for New Year’s Eve. Visit lagonye.eventbrite.com.
Laugh the night away
Pickwick & Frolic’s annual New Year’s Eve party is an entertainment smorgasbord that includes comedy, cabaret and music. Packages range from checking out national comedian Pat McGann with Tony Quarles and the Discovery Band playing afterwards to watching the Viva Las Vegas cabaret performance. Visit pickwickandfrolic.com.
Swingin’ good time
The Cleveland Pops Orchestra’s 22nd annual New Year’s Eve Celebration at Severance Hall is billed as a “Legends of Rock ’n’ Roll” affair, with featured guest Connor Bogart O’Brien performing popular tunes by everyone from Elvis Presley, Billy Joel and Richard Harris to Frank Sinatra, Michael Jackson and Simon & Garfunkel. Visit clevelandpops.com/concerts.
Buckeye State rock
Over the last few years, the Ohio University-formed band Red Wanting Blue has spent New Year’s Eve with fans at the House of Blues. This year the Columbusbased outfit is moving the party to the Rubber City with a show Dec. 31 at Akron’s Goodyear Theater. Also on the bill are Carbon Leaf and Akron’s Shivering Timbers. Visit Ticketfly.com.
Twizting the night away
Popular rap-n-rock act Twiztid has booked a New Year’s Eve gig for the Agora Ballroom. Joining the Detroit-act will be openers G-Mo Skee, Boondox The Scarecrow, Lex The Hex Master, REDD and Iamtheroc. Visit agoracleveland.com.
Bring the kids
While Mom and Dad may be getting a babysitter and enjoying the town for New Year’s Eve, that doesn’t mean the entire family can’t enjoy a special memory. That’s the idea behind the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo’s annual Noon Year’s Eve affair, where at the stroke of, well, noon, the dance party will be roaring. Visit clevelandmetroparks.com/zoo.
New Year’s Eve Eve
That’s right, for those folks who can’t get enough of New Year’s Eve, the Great Lakes Science Center’s annual New Year’s Eve Eve affair will draw families who at 2:18 p.m. Dec. 30 can find out what it’s like to stand under 2,018 balloons dropped from the ceiling. The fun is part of the venue’s Winter Wonder Days, which features indoor ice skating, liquid nitrogen ice cream demos and more. Visit greatscience.com.