Top New Year's Eve celebrations and holiday spots in North America
Top New Year's Eve celebrations and holiday spots in North America
Few New Year's traditions are as widely recognized as the ball drop in Times Square, but North America offers plenty of other ways to mark the night.
Major cities across the continent host their own countdown events, often built around fireworks over a recognizable skyline or waterfront. Mexico shares a tradition with parts of Europe, eating grapes at midnight for good luck, alongside its own street festivals and family gatherings that run late into the night. Colder regions lean into winter themed celebrations, with ice sculptures and outdoor bonfires standing in for a beach party further south. Caribbean coastal towns on the continent's southern edge offer a warmer alternative, with music and fireworks over the water instead of snow.
The New Year's Eve destinations on our list for North America carry that same range of scale and atmosphere.
Lists by region
City
New York City
Five boroughs of skyline, food and museums
The Times Square ball first dropped on December 31, 1907 to welcome 1908. It begins its fall one minute before midnight. Away from the crowds, runners head into Central Park for a midnight run. Prospect Park in Brooklyn also hosts fireworks for those who prefer a quieter, local feel.
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