8+ Fantastic Places to Celebrate New Year in the United States (Updated 2024)
Places to Celebrate the Year in the United States. You might think of New York City and Las Vegas when you think of the best places in the US to spend New Year’s Eve.
On New Year’s Eve, they put on some of the world’s biggest and most-watched shows. Aside from those flashy towns, though, the USA has some great places to spend New Year’s Eve, such as theme parks, islands, and alpine lakes.
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a great place to party all year long. The nice weather, friendly locals, bars that stay open late, and people walking around with their favorite adult drink make it a great place to go to a party. For the real New Year’s Eve party in the old French Quarter, go to Jackson Square. At night, bands and other performers play until midnight, when the famous fleur de lis drops and fireworks over the Mississippi River happen. After that, the party goes on at bars and clubs all along Bourbon Street in the middle of the city. Take a cruise with lights on the Creole Queen or the Steamboat Natchez for something different.
United States
San Francisco, California
San Francisco’s location on the bay makes a lot of New Year’s Eve events special to the city, such as the amazing fireworks show on the bayfront. Hornblower offers boat parties on the water for brunch, dinner, and light shows. In other places, there are several New Year’s Eve balls, such as the Passport to the World New Year’s Eve Ball, which has live music, an open bar, and performers. To watch the fireworks at midnight in a more relaxed way, go to a high place like Twin Peaks (one of the highest points in San Francisco) or the shore at Embarcadero.
Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida
Yes, Walt Disney World near Orlando knows how to throw a party for all ages on New Year’s Eve! To celebrate the start of a new year, enjoy fancy food, festive drinks, lively dance parties, and stunning fireworks. Every December 31, Walt Disney World gives special deals at several Disney hotels. At Disney’s Contemporary Resort, the California Grill is a popular place to eat while watching the Magic Kingdom fireworks. At Disney’s BoardWalk Inn’s Atlantic Dance Hall, you can ring in the new year with music, tasty treats, good vibes, and a bit of Disney magic, among other things.
Los Angeles, California
There are lots of great events going on all over Los Angeles because the city is so big, which is one of its good points. At Grand Park in downtown Los Angeles, there are food trucks and live music on several stages until 1 a.m. This is the biggest event. The fact that there is no alcohol at this event makes it great for families. However, there are New Year’s Eve parties at a few bars close. Another popular event in downtown is Prohibition at the historic Union Station. It’s a party with a 1920s theme and has an open bar, DJs, drag dancers, and live jazz music. One of the most interesting events is held on the Queen Mary in Long Beach, which is about 40 kilometers south of downtown. There are a lot of different bars, live music, performers, and fireworks to end the night.
Atlanta, Georgia
The Times Square ball drop is like the fruit drop in New York City but on a smaller scale. At midnight, the 362-kilogram peach falls from above Underground Atlanta, a shopping and nightlife area in downtown Atlanta. People can get local food and drinks, watch live shows by famous singers, and listen to DJs in the hours before midnight. Best of all, it’s free to get in. Athens also has smaller, great events, such as block parties in neighborhoods and parties at clubs and places.
Honolulu, Hawaii
Waikiki is the city side of Oahu, and the North Shore is the tropical side. This makes Honolulu the best of both worlds. Like the Waikiki Starlight Luau at Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort, one of the most unique things you can do that you can’t do in most other places is go to a luau. The “Party of the Year” for New Year’s Eve is held every year at Aloha Tower Marketplace, which is a couple of kilometers up Ala Moana Boulevard. Before the fireworks show at midnight, there are rides, food trucks, DJs, and live music. Take a fireworks tour on the Star of Honolulu or the Dolphin Star to see the New Year’s Eve show from a different angle.
San Antonio, Texas
The weather is nice in many of these places on New Year’s Eve. San Antonio is no different; the San Antonio River Walk, which is the main place to be for the party, will feel like spring. Along the River Walk, many restaurants and bars offer deals and packages for the New Year, such as prix fixe meals and private seats. The New Year’s Eve party in downtown San Antonio has several stages with food, rides, and music leading up to the fireworks show at the end.
Nashville, Tennessee
Every year on New Year’s Eve, Nashville has a party called Music City Midnight. It’s free and has great singers since this is Music City after all. Several big bands play on stage before Nashville’s famous “Music Note Drop,” which sets off fireworks and confetti guns. In other places, parties and events are held at many of Nashville’s best bars and sites, such as the famous Ryman Auditorium. For something smaller, M Street, which runs several popular bars and restaurants in Nashville, sells a single New Year’s Eve ticket that can be used at four different parties.
Lake Tahoe, Nevada, and California
Look no further than Lake Tahoe for a small New Year’s Eve that will make you miss your Christmas dreams of a winter beauty. Up until the world’s only “Gondola Ball Drop” in time with New York City’s Times Square ball drop, all the action in South Lake Tahoe takes place at Heavenly Mountain Resort, which has live music, artists, and ice sculptures. The three-day SnowGlobe Music Festival, which takes place on the south side and includes New Year’s Eve, has some of the best acts of today. The big party is at Squaw Valley on the north side of the lake. There is live music, fireworks (which can be best seen from KT Base Bar), and an after-party at the Olympic House. If you want to spend New Year’s Eve in both a city and a mountain town, the Reno Arch in Reno, Nevada, about 50 kilometers away, has a big fireworks show. A lot of Reno’s gambling resorts have their parties. The Grand Sierra Resort’s LEX Nightclub, Peppermill, and Silver Legacy are just a few examples.