More than a dozen ways to ring in the New Year in Boston and beyond
Buh-bye, ’23. Bring on ’24. We’ve rounded up a bunch of awesome ways to ring in the new year, whether you’d rather get home before sunset or keep dancing after the ball drops.
LAST DAY AND FIRST NIGHT
Let’s start with the obvious: First Night Boston. Last year’s celebration came “positively roaring back with all the sizzle and spark of pre-pandemic times,” according to a Globe report.
First Night starts at 11 a.m. (Last Day?), and all events are free. Highlights of the 13-hour party, according to the online schedule, include live music at City Hall Plaza Main Stage, ice sculptures, a carousel, arts and crafts presented by the Greater Boston Chinese Cultural Association, improv shows, a skating spectacular, and First Night Parade, from City Hall Plaza to Boston Common at 6 p.m. Ooh and aah as fireworks pop off at 7 p.m. over the Common, followed by a Pipes and Pops Concert. A mix of live music and performances keeps rolling until the midnight countdown — and more fireworks, over Boston Harbor, at Long Wharf. Free. firstnightboston. org
LEAPS ON THE FROG POND
It’s part of First Night, but this Boston tradition deserves its own mention: The free-admission Skating Club of Boston’s Skating Spectacular takes place at 6 p.m. at the Frog Pond. Catch “national and international competitive figure skaters, soloists, groups, Team Excel Synchronized Skating and Theater On Ice of Boston teams,” according to event billing. bostonfrogpond.com
DISNEY COMES TO BOSTON
Skip the flight to Florida and catch some Disney magic here in Boston. “Disney On Ice Presents Into the Magic” at Boston University’s Agganis Arena through Jan. 1 — including two New Year’s Eve performances at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Kiddos can see Mickey, Minnie, their favorite characters from “Moana,” “Frozen,” “Coco,” “Tangled,” “Cinderella,” “Beauty and the Beast,” and more. (Bonus: you’ll get home with plenty of time for them to want to watch “Frozen” again before the ball drops.) From $15. disneyonice.com/tickets
SNOWPORT MAGIC
Seaport’s got options on New Year’s Eve. You might:
Embark on the 11th annual Waterfront Ice Sculpture Stroll by visiting some 32 sculptures on display from 1 p.m. to dusk on Dec. 31. Bonus: If you post a selfie in front of a sculpture, (be honest, you were going to anyway) tag @BostonHarborNow, and add the location, you might score a Seaport staycation. bostonharbor now.org/winter
Explore the ICA: Dec. 31 is your last chance to see “Taylor Davis Selects: Invisible Ground of Sympathy.” Meanwhile, get hands-on with “Shadow Play,” an “immersive hands-on art-making experience” from noon to 4 p.m. Advance tickets recommended. Adults $20, ages 18 and under free. icaboston.org
Plus: Partake in the Betty the Yeti Cocktail Crawl, or get some old-fashioned exercise with your crew in group curling. (11 a.m.-8 p.m., walkins available, reservations suggested.) bostonseaport.xyz
OCEAN STATE OF MIND
Providence serves up a reason to take a trip to lil’ Rhody to celebrate. The city lights up its signature WaterFire in a New Year’s Eve celebration at 195 District Park starting at 5 p.m. Think music, artists, roaming entertainment, food trucks, a river lighting at 7 p.m., and fireworks at 8:30. Free. providencetourismcouncil.org
PATRIOT PARTY
The way the season’s going, this may be your only chance to have a Patriots party (ba-dum-tss!). Bring the fam to Foxborough to celebrate early, with First Night at Patriot Place from 4-7 p.m. Make-your-own hat, snag a caricature portrait (yes, you do have big ears, Uncle Mo), get an airbrush tattoo, see ice sculptures, say hi to Pat Patriot, and more, according to the website.
Those 21 and over might stay later for LOLs and brews: The Comedy Scene hosts two New Year’s Eve shows with a lineup of local comics at 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. ($25). Six String Grill and Stage hosts a New Year’s
Eve Bash with live music, favors, and Champagne toast. (Doors 7:30 p.m., tickets from $35.) patriot-place.com
AND MORE BASHES
Of course, there are too many parties in hotels, bars, and restaurants around Boston to list here. But some highlights:
ONE UP
Boop boop boop, boop-boop boop boop. … Sorry, we were just singing the Super Mario theme song because Night Shift Brewing’s Everett location hosts a Super Mario New Year’s Eve Party. Celebrate 2024 in 8-bit glory: Think classic Mario games, Mario Kart, themed drinks like “Princess Peach Bellini” and “Flower Power,” food, a band called Wario Speedwagon (gold), costume contest, and midnight countdown — all while the room is “transformed into a Mushroom Kingdom wonderland with Mario-themed decor, from warp pipes to power-ups,” according to event billing. Free admission. nightshift brewing.com
PJ PARTY
Tired: drinking beer in your pajamas at home. Wired: drinking beer in your pajamas in public. Yup, Lamplighter Brewing in Cambridge hosts a New Year’s Eve New Year, Same Jammies jam at its 284 Broadway taproom. “Don your finest pajamas, robes, and slippers. … We’re transforming our taproom into the dream slumber party with games, dancing, and plenty of delicious fresh beer,” according to event billing. Plus prizes for best dressed. ($25, 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.) Meanwhile, the brewer’s Cambridge Crossing location hosts Miss Lamplighter’s New Year’s Eve Drag Extravaganza. ($50, advance tickets required. 8 p.m.-1 a.m.) lamplighter brewing.com
HAVE A BALL
Get your Cinderella on: The Westin Copley Place hosts the “Boston Resolution Ball” with music and dancing until 2 a.m. (No pumpkins here.) Dress to the nines for this black-tie optional event offering “complimentary tiaras and party hats,” according to event billing. The festivities include Italian-inspired dinner stations, cash bar, and silent auction. From $99. All info on Event brite.com.
WONKA LAND
Who’s the best Willy Wonka: Gene Wilder, Johnny Depp, or Timothée Chalamet? No matter which Will you prefer, get your Wonka on at High Street Place Food Hall’s Wonka’s New Year’s Eve Party. The whimsical night of pure imagination features a candy buffet, performances from the Boston Circus Guild, dancing, dueling DJs, photo booth, make-up and tattoo glam bar, themed cocktails, fare from around the hall, midnight toast, and suggested attire of “bright colors, purples, tulle, sparkles and flare,” according to event billing. 8 p.m.-2 a.m. Tickets from $125. highstreetplace.com
OCEAN’S 11 VIBES
Epic “Casino Royale” parties stretch from Fenway to Back Bay and the Seaport at nine venues, each boasting “its own gaming style theme,” according to billing. For example, Loretta’s Last Call’s theme is “Wild West,” while Back Bay Social’s theme is “Roaring 20s.” Game On Boston offers $500 for the “most stylish” reveler. As of this writing, there are still all-venues passes available, or you can buy tickets from individual bars. Prices vary. Find details on eventbrite.com and on each venue’s website: gameonboston.com, luckyslounge.com, backbaysocial.com, bleacherbarboston.com, alibiboston.com, rochambeauboston.com, lansdownepubboston.com, Bill’s Bar Boston’s Facebook page, lorettaslast call.com, bleacherbarboston.com
WE ROLL ON NEW YEAR’S, DONNY
Roll your way into ’24 Lebowskistyle at Lucky Strike Fenway, where the NYE Ball Drop party includes four hours of bowling, shoe rental, $5 arcade card for each guest, a special menu — lemon pepper wings, coconut shrimp, funnel cake fries, tacos, spicy chicken salad, and more — and a sparkling cider and Champagne toast, according to their website. (9 p.m.-1 a.m., from $83 per person.) There’s also a deluxe package (from $96 per person) and twohour family package (from $46). Details and FAQs: luckystrikeent.com
Wamesit Lanes in Tewksbury offers a 21+ New Year’s karaoke party with “unlimited pizza bar,” bowling, arcade games, Champagne toast — and $250 prize for top karaoke singer — according to event billing. (From $20. 9 p.m.-1 a.m.) As of this writing, there were tickets left for their daytime family New Year’s package, from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Bring up to six people for pizza bar and soft drinks, party hats, and kids’ toast, according to event billing. From $165. wamesit lanes.com
PARTY LIKE IT’S 1999
Kids of the ’90s, rejoice: Tavern in the Square’s A Very 90’s New Years Eve Party in Allston will take you back to the glory days of Mariah Carey and Janet Jackson. There will be a live DJ, complimentary hors d’oeuvres, Champagne toast at midnight, and prize for best ’90s get-up, according to event billing. From $30. eventbrite.com