New Year’s Eve Events in New York City

New Year’s Eve and New York City are practically synonymous on December 31. Times Square gets filled with revelers who watch the ball drop and ring in the New Year, and millions of people all over the world tune in to watch the ball drop in Times Square on TV. When I was a young, single gal living in NYC, New Year’s Eve events were a big, big deal. When I was a youngish married gal in New York, it was still a great excuse to party with my friends…and now I’m a lot older and living on the other side of the country; for years we shamelessly tricked our kids into watching the 9 PM New York feed of the ball dropping in Times Square. Happy New Year, kids! Time for bed.

In any case, New Year’s Eve in New York City is a blast for locals and visitors who travel to the city to celebrate.  We all know about watching the ball drop in Times Square. There are other annual New Year’s events that happen all over NYC too. Any of these make ringing in the New Year in New York City fun and memorable.

Good Riddance Day — The Times Square Alliance welcomes tourists and NYC residents alike to come by on December 28.  Good Riddance Day is an unofficial holiday (no Hallmark Cards to commemorate it) in which people come to Times Square and take one of the sheets of paper and a pen, to write down their least favorite memory of the past year. A giant, mobile paper shredder then ceremoniously shreds the paper, or credit card statement, or photo, or anything flat and shreddable. This is a relatively new annual New Year’s event, having started in 2007. It’s popular, though, and apparently somewhat therapeutic for participants.

New Year’s Eve Wishing Well – Besides symbolically doing away with the bad memories of the past year, visitors to Times Square in NYC can also write down their wishes for the next year and leave them on the New Year’s Eve Wishing Wall. It’s right at the Times Square Information Center. All of the wishes added to the wall will become part of the confetti that festoons the streets of New York City at midnight, which the ball completes its descent in Times Square.

New York Philharmonic – On New Year’s Eve, the New York Phil is performing at Avery Fisher Hall (Lincoln Center). The classical concert starts at 8:00PM, with selections from Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, Piano Concerto No.1 and more. It’s a great way to experience the classy side of New York City before perhaps heading down to Times Square and joining in the riotous celebration.

Other Concerts – There are other 2010-2011 New Year’s Eve concerts and performances as well. The Best Buy Theater (gotta love when corporations invest in a music hall) will have Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings playing on December 30 and New Year’s Eve. Patti Smith & Her Band will play at the Bowery Ballroom, and The Roots will perform at at the Brooklyn Bowl — which will stay open until 6 in the morning on New Year’s Day.

Emerald Nuts Midnight Run – A four-mile fun run through Central Park, this race’s name refers to its sponsors and not the condition some men will be in after a freezing winter nighttime run. More than just a fun run, though, the Emerald Nuts Midnight Run includes a laser light show, fireworks, dancing, and a costume contest at the Central Park Bandshell. Festivities start at 10:00PM.

New Year’s Eve Party Cruise — Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises Co. is offering a New Year’s Eve party cruise. These Circle Line parties can get very loud and festive, though everyone tends to be community-spirited. The New Year’s Eve party cruise includes party favors and a DJ, great views of fireworks, and, yes, an open bar. Plan ahead: Tickets almost always sell out!

For children and families, the Hess Clydesdale Carriage Rides at the Bronx Zoo offer wagon rides from December 26-31, 11:30AM to 3:30PM. The zoo’s Clydesdales are fun to see in winter. Also, the Staten Island Children’s Museum is open for children and their families from 1-3PM on New Year’s Eve. Kids can make their own crowns, hats, and every parent’s favorite, the noisemaker.

New Year’s Eve is one of those event-filled days when many eyes on on New York City. If you’re lucky enough to travel to NYC for the winter holiday, these annual New Year’s Eve events in the city should help prolong the joy of your celebrations.