Ring in 2016 at These New Year’s Eve Events in Boston

First Night Fireworks by matthrono via Flickr/Creative Commons

Festival

First Night Boston

Enjoy a number of free events put on by the city, including a Light and Ice Party, a family festival in Copley Square, a midnight fireworks show over the Boston Harbor, and a pyrotechnics show on the roof of the Fairmont Copley Plaza featuring local headlining band Ripe.

Free, various locations, firstnightboston.org.

Entertainment

Boston Pops Swing Orchestra

Bandleader Bo Winiker wants to swing you into 2016 with a late-night Boston Pops concert and dance party. For the hungry, there will be several dining options, and for the thirsty, the cash bar will be open all night.

$51+, doors open at 8 p.m., concert at 10 p.m. Symphony Hall, 301 Massachusetts Ave., Boston, bso.org.

Boston Ballet’s Nutcracker Closing Night

Boston Ballet is offering patrons a one-night-only experience of its classic rendition of The Nutcracker, filled with twists and surprises, as well as an enlarged, all-star cast. The evening will start with champagne and a pre-show concert featuring the music of “Waltz King” Johann Strauss, followed by the Nutcracker performance. After the main event, confetti canons will ring in the New Year.

$35+, 7:30 p.m., Boston Opera House, 539 Washington St., Boston, bostonballet.org.

“Intimate Illusions” with Ivan Amodei

The Hyatt Regency wants your New Year to start off magical—or at least with very nifty tricks. Magician Ivan Amodei will entertain with humor and sleight of hand for a select audience this New Year’s Eve.

$75+, 8 and 10 p.m., Hyatt Regency Boston, One Avenue de Lafayette, Boston, ivanmodei.com.

Boston Baroque at the Sanders Theatre

Boston Baroque is putting on a Vivaldi concert featuring his Four Seasons masterpiece and Concerto for Sopranino Recorder. To really ring in the New Year with classical bombast, they will also play Handel’s Concerto Grosso in D, op. 6, no. 5. We should also mention that there will be champagne and chocolate at intermission.

$30+, 8 p.m., Sanders Theatre, 45 Quincy St., Cambridge, bostonbaroque.com.

Slutcracker’s Closing Night

This sexed-up rendition of The Nutcracker has been taking Boston by storm. Catch it one last time on New Year’s Eve to find out why all the tongues have been wagging and the eyes have been popping.

$27, 8 p.m., Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, theslutcracker.com.

Kaila Mullady at Tiger Mama

The world’s reigning female beatbox champion will perform at Tiffany Faison’s recently opened Tiger Mama, a bold love letter to the chef’s travels through Asia. The Fenway spot’s New Year’s Eve bash will kick off with a specialty cocktail—the “Mizu Shochu Holiday Punch”—and a raw bar. Dinner will follow, featuring duck and sichuan sirloin carving stations, passed noodles, hors d’oeuvres, and sweets. You can imbibe on Tiger Mama’s signature tiki drinks and cocktails all night, but a proper champagne toast will ring in the new year at midnight—followed by breakfast bites at 12:30 a.m. to give you a second wind.

$150 (including gratuity), 8:30 p.m.-2 a.m., Tiger Mama, 1363 Boylston St., Boston, eventbrite.com.

Andrew W.K. at Paradise Rock Club

For the less classically inclined music aficionados, catch Andrew W.K. performing his 2001 album I Get Wet in its entirety at the Paradise Rock Club. Head-bang your way into 2016 to hits like “Party Hard” and “She Is Beautiful.”

$33, 9 p.m., Paradise Rock Club, 967 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, ticketmaster.com.

NYE with Sparks the Rescue at Ned Devine’s

Enjoy food, favors, and champagne with Sparks the Rescue, a modern rock band with plenty of angst to burn before 2015 is over.

$60+, 8 p.m.-2 a.m., Ned Devine’s, 1 North Market St., Boston, eventbrite.com.

ImprovBoston’s New Year’s Eve Comedy

Starting at 6 p.m., the ImprovBoston team will begin a soft family comedy show, but as the night goes on, expect it to lose its kid-friendly tone. At 8 p.m., there will be a comedy showcase, and at 10 p.m., the final comedy countdown will offer complimentary champagne as you laugh your way into the new year.

$16+, 6 p.m.-midnight, ImprovBoston, 40 Prospect St., Cambridge, improvboston.com/nye.

New Year’s Eve at Once

Local performers Somerville Symphony Orkestar, Ruby Rose Fox, Cask Mouse, and Cactus Attack are helping Cuisine en Locale celebrates its 10th anniversary at the company’s venue Once, which now boasts the sound system from T.T. the Bear’s Place. Guests can enjoy a variety of small bites and snacks based off traditional local foods and then partake in a complimentary champagne toast at midnight.

$30+, 7 p.m.-midnight, Once, 156 Highland Ave., Somerville, eventbrite.com.

Parties

Justin vs. Britney: New Year’s Eve Dance Party

Cover bands The Timberfakes (as Justin Timberlake) and It’s Britney Bitch (as Britney Spears) are ready to party like it’s 1999. This concert at the Middle East is BYOD—bring your own denim.

$25+, 8 p.m., Middle East – Downtstairs, 472-480 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, ticketweb.com.

Neon Circus New Year’s Eve at Stage

Transporting party-goers to the days of early vaudeville, Stage Nightclub adds 21st-century neon lights and hip-hop music to this New Year’s Eve party.

$30, 9 p.m.-2 a.m., Stage Nightclub, 19 Boylston Place, Boston, eventbrite.com.

Prohibition Ball at Lucky’s Lounge

The retro Lucky’s Lounge wants guests to go back to the days of flappers, gangsters, and Jay Gatsby at their Prohibition Ball. There’s no liquor ban here—early-bird tickets include a complimentary drink ticket and personal champagne bottle toast.

$43+, 9:30 p.m.-2 a.m., Lucky’s Lounge, 355 Congress Street, Boston, eventbrite.com.

Star Wars New Year’s Eve: Revenge of the Black Tie

With a new movie coming out, it’s all the rage to be a Star Wars fan again, and now you can bring out all of your intricate cosplay costumes to this party at Game On Fenway. There will be “space lighting,” snack buffets, champagne toasts, and live coverage of the Times Square ball drop. But will there be Luke Skywalker?

$25+, 7 p.m., Game On Fenway, 82 Lansdowne Street, Boston, eventbrite.com.

80s New Year’s Eve at Canary Square

The 80s will always rule as a theme at costume parties. After all, thrift shopping almost entirely depends on wading through fashion’s most regrettable decade. So don your duds—literally—at Canary Square’s New Year’s Eve party featuring 80s music, retro MTV videos, and even popular 80s cocktails.

Free, 10 p.m.-2 a.m., Canary Square, 435 S Huntington Ave., Jamaica Plain, canarysquare.com.

Creative Black Tie at Scholars American Bistro

Come out in imaginative formalwear (cocktail dresses or gowns for ladies, tuxes or suits for gents, splashes of creative color welcome from all) for this Scholars party that includes hors d’oeuvres, champagne, music by DJ Switch, and a balloon drop on the dance floor at midnight.  

$69, 9 p.m.-2 a.m., Scholars American Bistro, 25 School St., Boston, eventbrite.com.

Serafina’s La Maschereta  

Don a mask and black clothing for Serafina’s Venetian masquerade ball, which features food, music from DJ Nook, and a champagne toast during a live broadcast of the Times Square ball drop.

$39+, 8 p.m.-3 a.m., Serafina, 10 High Street, Boston, serafinaboston.com.

Space 57 NYE at the Revere Hotel

With two rooms, four bars, and one large dance floor complete with an LED light show, Space 57 at the Revere Hotel has a lot to offer for your New Year’s Eve outing. Expect champagne and Top 40 mash-ups by DJ Hectik.

$50+, 9 p.m.-2 a.m., Revere Hotel, 200 Stuart St., Boston, eventbrite.com.

French Connection ’62 at Society on High

In light of the tragedy in Paris, Society on High has decided to throw a French-themed party celebrating the cuisine, fashion, and spirit of the indelible country. With accompanying music by DJ Obie, there will be a sweet and savory crêpe station, sparkling cocktails, and Parisian party favors.

$65+, 9 p.m.-2 a.m., Society on High, 99 High St., Boston, eventbrite.com.

The Beehive Ball

There will be a buffet of hors d’oeuvres and desserts at this bohemian nightclub and cafe, as well as music from the New York group People’s Champs—the “de facto funk and Afrobeats experience.”

$80 without food buffet, $125 with food buffet, 9 p.m.-2 a.m., The Beehive, 541 Tremont St., Boston, eventbrite.com.

Brass Union’s New Year’s Eve Gala

Brass Union offers complimentary canapés and champagne while DJ ABD rings in the new year with his hip-hop beats.

$12, 8 p.m.-2 a.m., Brass Union, 70 Union Square, Somerville, eventbrite.com.

A Sky-High New Year’s Eve at Legal Harborside

Watch fireworks over the harbor inside the glass-enclosed rooftop area atop Legal Harborside. For the kids-at-heart, there will be noisemakers and party hats to accompany your midnight champagne toast.

$80+, 10 p.m.-1:30 a.m., Legal Harborside, 270 Northern Ave., Boston, legalseafoods.com.

New Year’s Eve at Whisky Saigon

At this happening club, hear jams from DJ Hizzy and Bambaroo while dancing off the last hours of 2015.

$50, 9 p.m.-2 a.m., Whisky Saigon, 116 Boylston St., Boston, whiskysaigon.com.

New Year’s Eve at Royale

Spend New Year’s Eve in one of Boston’s hottest clubs listening to DJ Breeazy and watching the live broadcast of the Times Square ball drop.  

$69+, $19 for admission after 12:30 a.m., 8 p.m.-2 a.m., Royale, 279 Tremont St., Boston, royaleboston.com.

Glow 2016 at District Hall

With technicolor lights and live music from the Kicking Sunrise, Glow at District Hall—just steps away from a view of the Boston Harbor fireworks—won’t fail to impress.

$25+, 8:30 p.m.-2 a.m., District Hall, 75 Northern Ave., Boston, eventbrite.com.

New Year’s Eve at Howl at the Moon

Howl at the Moon offers a Big Shot package, which includes an appetizer buffet and complimentary champagne toast, and the Champagne Supernova package, with dinner, seating, and an entire bottle of bubbly.

$50+, 9 p.m.-2 a.m., Howl at the Moon, 184 High St., Boston, howlatthemoon.com.

—Additional reporting by Olga Khvan