• What better place to ring in the new year than California, the place that’s all about what’s new and what’s next.
• There are abundant and diverse New Year’s events going on throughout the state to satisfy every desire, from unique parties at celebrated restaurants, theme parks, neighborhoods and nightclubs to special art performances, masquerade balls, night cruises, bull riding and more – many of course punctuated with amazing city fireworks.
• Below are just a few highlights of the hundreds of events going on in California’s many regions, from the deserts and High Sierra to the Inland Empire and the coast.
North Coast
• Romp with the Beasts at Safari West in Sonoma County. Go wild this New Year's and romp with the beasts at Safari West, a wildlife preserve in Santa Rosa where you can see and learn about many wild species. Guests can enjoy great food, wildlife encounter and dancing to music all night long by Brent Farris from KZST radio (Tickets: $100). Those who want to stay overnight after the party can book accommodations in a luxury safari tents with a bottle of champagne and breakfast with mimosas on New Years Day (Package: $500 for two). www.safariwest.com
• New Year's Eve Concert at Petaluma Historic Museum
Enjoy Elizabeth Walter and players from the SF Symphony as they present Three Centuries of Celebration: The music of Handle, Chopin, Dvorak and Ginastera. Tickets: $30 at the door, Including wine and cheese tasting. Phone: 707.778.4398. www.petalumamuseum.com
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• New Year's Eve Dance Party with Pura Vida in Mendocino County, Northern California's Afro Latin band Pura Vida starts playing at 8:30 pm at this family friendly party at Harwood Hall in Laytonville, which also features a dinner buffet from 6-8, salsa lessons at 7:30, and a champagne toast at midnight. Tickets: $20 adults (includes champagne); $10 ages 21 and under; children under 5 are free. Benefits Long Valley Dance and Laytonville Community Drama Club. http://www.visitmendocino.com/festivals-events/2011-12-31/new-years-eve-dance-party-pura-vida
• New Year’s Barrel Bash (Humboldt County). Head to Humboldt County Fairgrounds for two days of horse barrel racing starting December 31 (6-7 pm), including 4D payouts, average awards and saddle awarded by drawing. Phone: Christine Huston, 707-845-0291, or Cork Pickle, 707-407-6635.
San Francisco/Bay Area
• New Year’s Eve Masquerade Ball with the San Francisco Symphony. Step out in style with the a symphonic concert conducted by Michael Francis, complete with bubbly and dancing on the stage – all with the mystery and romance of a masquerade ball. Event includes the swingin' music of the Martini Brothers, post-concert La Marca® Prosecco and desserts and dancing to "Tainted Love" or the Peter Mintun Orchestra. Evening starts at 8 pm with pre-event dinner packages available at the War Memorial Opera House. Phone: 415.864.6000. Tickets: $85 to $195. http://www.zvents.com/z/san_francisco_ca/new-year-s-eve-masquerade-ball-with-the-san-francisco-symphony--events--183318266
• EyeHeartSF presents Streets of San Francisco NYE 2012 with Steve Aoki. Step into San Francisco’s past as you celebrate the future at Fort Mason Center's Festival Pavilion, which will be transformed into a Gold-Rush era miniature cityscape. See vignettes of what the City on the Bay looked like from 1849 through the decades to the present moment with a peek into what might be ahead. Featuring a premium hosted bar, panoramic views of the entire bay from Alcatraz to the Golden Gate bridge, front row seats to the fireworks shows, signature midnight champagne toast, two stages of music, and a special headlining set from global trendsetter, dj/producer Steve Aoki. Starts at 9 pm. Phone: 415. 345.7500. Tickets: $99 - $1200. http://www.zvents.com/z/san_francisco_ca/eyeheartsf-presents-streets-of-san-francisco-nye-2012-with-steve-aoki--events--219612625
• The Beach Blanket Babylon New Year's Eve show. Steve Silver’s Beach Blanket Babylon, the world’s longest running musical revue, rings in 2012 with two special performances at 7 pm and 10:15 pm with tickets ranging $65 – $190. The shows will feature a pastiche of the best and worst of 2011 – Beach Blanket Babylon style, plus champagne and truffles. The second show - ending at the stroke of midnight - will feature post-show dancing until 1:30 a.m. Phone: 415:421:4222. www.beachblanketbabylon.com
• Speak Easy 2012 New Year's EveCruise Hop aboard the luxurious Fume Blanc, a $4 million dollar replica of an historic New York State Hudson River Steamboat for a four-hour evening cruise with some of the most vivid views of Treasure Island, Alcatraz, The Bay Bridge, Nob hill, the Golden Gate Bridge, the magnificent San Francisco Skyline, and an Admiral's view of the biggest New Year's Eve Firework show on the West Coast. Starts at 9 pm. Tickets: $100.00 - $495.00. Phone: 510.337.9000 http://www.zvents.com/z/san_francisco_ca/speak-easy-2012-new-years-eve-cruise--events--225989504
• 26th Annual Japanese New Year Bell Ringing Ceremony. Those who want to ring in the New Year early with a dramatic ceremony can strike the giant temple bell and say goodbye to 2011 at the Asian Art Museum’s 26th Annual Japanese New Year Bell Ringing Ceremony. A 2100-lb., sixteenth-century Japanese bronze bell—originally from a temple in Tajima Province and now part of the museum’s permanent collection—will be struck 108 times. Starts at 11:30 a.m. Phone: 415.581.3500. Tickets: Free with museum admission ($12 adults; $8 seniors; $7 college student with ID or youth 13-17; kids under 12 free) http://www.asianart.org/helios/events/index.php?com=detail&eID=2740
• Cats NYE 2012 – San Jose/Silicon Valley. Broadway San Jose presents the longest running, most popular North American Touring Production in history, which began as a musical about cats after Andrew Lloyd Webber picked up a book of poems in an airport bookshop. Show starts at 2 pm at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets: Start at $48. www.sjtix.com
High Sierra
• 2011 Ahwahnee New Year's Eve Dinner Dance Celebration. This special event, set amid the magnificence of Yosemite’s snow-covered scenery, features live music, a special holiday gourmet menu and a variety of fun two- or three-night packages in this famous national park. Starting at $1584, with lodging for two at The Ahwahnee or Yosemite Lodge at the Falls, the packages include two tickets to The Ahwahnee New Year's event, a portrait sitting, and New Year's Day Brunch at The Ahwahnee for two. Event starts at 6 pm, Phone: 801-559-4949 Website: www.yosemitepark.com
• New Year's Eve Bash at Hyatt Lake Tahoe . Celebrate the new year in one of the most spectacular snow-capped lake settings in the world. Hyatt Lake Tahoe, with views of the lake, is offering different options to ring in the new year, such as a 9 pm party featuring Top 40 DJ hits, drinks and dancing at Cutthroat’s Saloon (free). Guests can also dine at Lone Eagle Grille with seatings ranging from 5:30 -6:30 p.m. for $125 per person (not including tax/gratuity), or upgrade to the $250 five-course meal with seatings from 8 -10:30 pm, followed by DJ Jeff Jones , complimentary champagne toast at midnight and dancing. Phone: 775-832-1234. www.LakeTahoe.Hyatt.com
Central Coast
• Pebble Beach New Year's Championship Golf Tournament and Beach Boardwalk Ball Ring in the New Year with style Dec. 30, 2011 – Jan. 1, 2012 as a participant of the annual 36-hole tournament played on Pebble Beach Golf Links and The Links at Spanish Bay. Registration includes tickets to the Beach Boardwalk Ball, where various ballrooms are transformed into a carnival. Ball tickets alone are $375 and golf tournament playing and accommodation packages start at $1700 per person (including Ball entrance). Phone: 877.853.5864 (tournament) and (800) 654-9300 for reservations. www.pebblebeach.com
• First Night Monterey. First Night Monterey celebrates the lively arts scene in Monterey County, featuring more than 22 venues with 75 concurrent performances and family activities, from the symphony, Taiko drummers and jazz trios to dance troupes, arts and crafts for kids and a place where you can make your New Year’s Resolution with your family and friends. The alcohol-free evening starts at 3 pm, with a twilight procession that kicks off the evening entertainment. From 11:15 – midnight there’s a countdown to the New Year at the Serra Ballroom in the Monterey Conference Center. www.firstnightmonterey.org
• New Years Eve Pops Concert – Santa Barbara. Enjoy the Santa Barbara Symphony with guest conductor Robert Bernhardt at the historic and recently restored Granada Theatre from $35-$100. Phone: 805.899.2222. www.granadasb.org.
Los Angeles
• New Year’s Eve on the Queen Mary. The landmark Queen Mary in Long Beach hosts its annual New Year's Eve events all over the ship starting at 7 pm and continuing until 1:30 am. Ticket includes admission, fireworks and access to seven entertainment venues including four live music venues and Disco Lounge. This year's music lineup includes big band, jazz, dueling pianos, a DJ and more. Tickets: $99.99 include access to seven parties and great views of City fireworks. Various dinner and overnight packages available. www.queenmary.com
• New Year's Eve Countdown Bash at Universal City Walk. This free event at Universal City Walk shopping, dining and entertainment complex features live music and DJs beginning at 9 pm, and fireworks from two ends of the street at midnight Parking: Before 6 pm, $15 general/$20 preferred, after 6 pm $40 general, $45 valet. www.citywalkhollywood.com
• Hollywood VIP Pass. Can’t decide which nightclub to ring in the new year with? Get the Hollywood VIP Pass and get past the velvet rope at five to eight New Year’s club parties. This VIP Club Crawl can be packaged with dinner. Runs 7:30 pm to 4 am. Tickets: $125-195 per person depending on options. Group packages available. Parking: $10 at Hollywood & Highland. http://www.ournightlife.com/event.cfm?showTimingID=722&key=aboutla
• Cleopatra's New Year's Eve Ball. Party like an Egyptian at this cool ball at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. The classic theater's courtyard will be tented and heated, and multiple indoor rooms will extend the Egyptian theme. DJs will be spinning Top 40 and hip-hop mash-ups to a giant LED light show. A balloon drop and confetti blast will mark the new year. Starts at 9 pm. Tickets: $75 General Admission, $100 VIP table. http://www.ournightlife.com/event.cfm?showTimingID=389&key=aboutla
Desert
• Christmas in Folliesland with Guest Star John Davidson.
The famous Palm Springs Follies presents its all-new holiday production - featuring musical selections both sacred and comedic – up to and including Dec. 31. Broadway star John Davidson of Disney Musical “The Happiest Millionaire” returns to headline the Follies' holiday show. On New Year’s Eve, the Follies presents two special performances at 3:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., each with a glittering champagne reception, hats and noisemakers to welcome in 2012. http://www.palmsprings.com/active/follies.html
• New Years Swing Dance Classic & Swing'n New Year's Dance Camp.
If you love dancing, head to Renaissance Palm Springs Hotel & Convention Center, where dancers from all over the world come to take workshops, compete and dance for fun until sunrise. There’s also New Year Gala & Masquerade Ball and New Year's Banquet. Phone: 805-405-2946. www.peoplewhodance.net
Orange County
• OC Fair New Year's Eve Block Party
Welcome the New Year with great entertainment and food in a casual setting including four decades of tribute bands, a courtyard of gourmet food trucks, carnival rides, a casino, a midnight pyrotechnic light and fireworks show and more. Runs 7:30 pm - 1:30 am. at OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa. Tickets: $40. Phone: 714-708-1500. http://www.ocfair.com
• New Year’s Eve at Disneyland Resort. For a magical new year, head to Disneyland resort where parks will offer special extended hours (Disneyland closes at 2 am; California Adventure closes at 1 am), special bands and party favors, Christmas shows and fireworks. Ticket prices vary. Warning: head to the park early in the morning. http://disneyland.disney.go.com/calendar/#/default/2011/12/31
San Diego
• About Kids' New Year's Eve at LEGOLAND Midnight strikes at 6 p.m. in LEGOLAND® California with the earliest New Year’s celebration in San Diego County – Kids’ New Year’s Eve. Like the famous Times Square party, Kids’ New Year’s Eve features a kid’s concert and countdown to the new year followed by a huge LEGO® brick dropping 22-feet into 2011 and a dazzling fireworks display. The party begins at 2:30p.m. and includes performances by some of the top children’s entertainment groups in the nation. Phone: 760.918.5346. Included with admission. http://california.legoland.com/
• New Year's Eve Gala Aboard the Midway Aircraft Carrier
Celebrate the New Year aboard the USS Midway Aircraft Carrier for the best view of the midnight fireworks extravaganza over the San Diego Bay. The event, which runs 8 pm to 1 am, includes an open premium bar, elegant dinner buffet and dancing.. Tickets: $169. http://www.midway.org/newyears
• Big Night San Diego
This massive all-inclusive New Year’s Eve event at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront features 12 themed party areas, six dance floors, the hottest party bands and DJs, buffets and multiple, massive balloon drops from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Tickets: Starting at $119.99. www.bignightsandiego.com/