The Best Places In California To Celebrate New Years Eve

Bringing 2017 to a close and beginning 2018 on the right note is imperative to having a good year. That’s where our list of epic places in California to spend NYE comes in to save the day. Watch the clock strike midnight at any one of these celebrations and you’re sure to start the new year off perfectly.

Catalina Island

Historical Landmark

Avalon harbour on the island of Catalina, off the Californian coast.

Mix it up a bit at the end of the year by hopping on a boat to Catalina Island. This small island is located just off of the southern California coast. Even though it’s tiny, there’s a lot to do, even on New Year’s Eve. The Casino Ballroom on Catalina is throwing its 45th Annual New Year’s Eve Gala Celebration, Make your reservations to dine on a buffet of gourmet spread, dance until 2018 to multiple Big Band Music guests. The entire night will be filled with glamor and new year festivities.

Monterey

Natural Feature, Historical Landmark

For a bit more family fun on New Year’s Eve, head to downtown Monterey Bay. For 25 years, First Night‘s NYE party has been designed to be an affordable, alcohol-free, and wholesome evening for families to come out and enjoy themselves. Enter the costume contest (meant for both kids and adults) and watch 60+ impressive performances.

South Lake Tahoe

The days leading up to NYE is when the favorable Snowglobe Music Festival is thrown in South Lake Tahoe. The last day of the festival (December 31) features DJs and performances by world-class artists like Zedd, Lane 8, San Holo, Travis Scott, E-40, and more. Purchase tickets to dance as the picturesque Tahoe snow falls around you, and welcome 2018 at this ultimate dance party. Make a multi-day event out of it or just get your ticket for just New Year’s Eve.

Los Angeles

Park

What better way to party into 2018 than to go to one of L.A.’s biggest dance celebrations? Grand Park’s New Year’s Eve L.A. is recognized around the world and features onstage dancing as well as open dance floors—it even has interactive motion graphics that recognize the audiences’ killer dance moves. What really sells Grand Park is the ultimate way to countdown into the new year: a 3D video light show cascades along the sides of the City Hall to the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion as 2017 comes to a momentous close, dazzling all senses.

Hollywood

Bar

The land of movie stars is also home to some pretty epic New Year’s Eve parties. One that is sure to not disappoint is the 9th Annual Cleopatra’s 2018 LA New Year’s Eve Ball, rated the best place to spend New Years in Hollywood for six years in a row and held at the iconic Egyptian Theater (21 and up only). The night will have everything from the top L.A. DJ performances, an open bar, two beautifully themed venues, and more fun to bring in the new year (watch for the spectacular countdown light show).

About the author

Deanna Morgado

Deanna Morgado, a Bay Area native, is a self-taught writer and all-around art enthusiast. She’s willing to try anything at least once as long as she can write about it after.