Back to grid

Top New Year's Eve celebrations and holiday spots in North America

Back to grid
New York City
Five boroughs of skyline, food and museums
9.5
The Times Square ball first dropped on 31 December 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.
Highlights:
  • 🌃 Visit Times Square at night for unforgettable neon views
  • 🎭 Watch a Broadway musical in the Theater District
  • 🏙️ Admire skyline views from the Top of a skyscraper
Chicago
Skyline, Deep-Dish and Jazz Nights
8.2
Fireworks launch from bridges along the Chicago River at midnight. Riverwalk programming starts at 10 pm. Navy Pier adds a free 15 minute show that is visible from indoor and outdoor spots along the pier. Streets and bridges near the river close around midnight so viewers should arrive early.
Highlights:
  • ⛴️ Take an architecture boat tour on the river
  • 🚶‍♀️ Stroll along the scenic Chicago Riverwalk
  • 🏙️ Admire the skyline from the Willis Tower Skydeck
Mexico City
Vibrant Culture, History and Street Food
8.3
At 7,350 feet in a high valley, this city has cool dry December nights. Locals eat twelve grapes at midnight and make one wish for each. Many also wear red underwear for love or yellow for money. Plazas and restaurants stay lively well past midnight.
Highlights:
  • 🎨 Visit Frida Kahlo’s Blue House in Coyoacán
  • 🏛️ Wander through the historic center and Zócalo Square
  • 🏯 Explore the ancient ruins of Teotihuacán’s pyramids
Vancouver
Where mountains, ocean and city life meet
8.5
Mountains frame English Bay, where swimmers plunge into cold water each 1 January. The Polar Bear Swim began in 1920 with about 10 people. A festival runs from noon to 4 pm and the swim starts at half past two. The record is 2,550 registered swimmers.
Highlights:
  • 🛍️ Explore Granville Island’s public market and artisan shops
  • 🚡 Take a gondola up Grouse Mountain for city views
  • 🚴‍♀️ Walk or cycle around scenic Stanley Park’s seawall
Quebec City
Old World Charm in North America
7.4
Snow crunches underfoot and outdoor fireplaces glow along Grande Allée during the Toboggan festival at year end. The main countdown show is at Place de l'Assemblée-Nationale. Free DJ nights fill the street. Heated terraces at bars and restaurants make the cold easy to enjoy. Old Québec is nearby.
Highlights:
  • 🌊 Walk along Terrasse Dufferin boardwalk with river views
  • 🏰 Admire Château Frontenac’s iconic castle-like architecture
  • 🚶‍♂️ Stroll through historic Old Quebec’s charming streets
Las Vegas
Lights, Luxury and Limitless Fun
8.2
Fireworks crackle and bass thumps along the Strip as pyrotechnics launch from up to a dozen casino rooftops. The synchronised show lasts about eight minutes. Hundreds of thousands of people pack Las Vegas Boulevard, which closes to traffic in the evening. Many resorts admit only guests with room keys.
Highlights:
  • 🔆 Explore the vintage neon signs at the Neon Museum
  • 🎡 Ride the High Roller for panoramic city views
  • 💦 Watch the Bellagio Fountains dance to music and lights
Miami
Vibrant City of Sun and Fun
8.4
December highs reach the mid 70s Fahrenheit, so outdoor parties need no coat. The Big Orange, a 35 foot tall fruit weighing about 2,000 pounds, drops at midnight in downtown Miami. Beach clubs and rooftop bars host parties across the city and along the sand.
Highlights:
  • 🌴 Relax on sunny South Beach’s iconic shoreline
  • 🏰 Tour lavish Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
  • 🎨 Explore vibrant street art at Wynwood Walls
New Orleans
Jazz, Creole Flavors and Mardi Gras Vibes
7.9
The French Quarter dates to 1718, older than the United States. A free concert at Jackson Square builds to a midnight fleur-de-lis drop. Fireworks then rise about 1,000 feet over the Mississippi River. The Sugar Bowl New Year's Parade rolls through the Quarter earlier that afternoon.
Highlights:
  • 🏘️ Explore historic French Quarter’s colorful streets
  • 🍩 Savor beignets at iconic Café du Monde
  • 🎷 Experience live jazz on vibrant Frenchmen Street
Havana
Vibrant Streets, Timeless Rhythms
7.3
Spanish settlers founded this city in 1519. Old Havana still has colonial plazas and forts. At midnight many Cubans throw buckets of water out the window to wash away the old year. Others eat twelve grapes and run around the block with a suitcase for a year of travel.
Highlights:
  • 🗼 Visit the historic José Martí Memorial tower
  • 🌅 Watch sunset along the famous Malecón promenade
  • 🏘️ Stroll through colorful streets of Old Havana
Nashville
Music, hot chicken and honky tonks
7.7
Locals count down to a Music Note Drop instead of a ball. The free Big Bash at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park draws about 250,000 people. Country stars perform on a live broadcast. Honky-tonks on Lower Broadway keep playing live music late into the night.
Highlights:
  • 🏛️ Visit the Parthenon replica in Centennial Park
  • 🎸 Explore music history at the Country Music Hall of Fame
  • 🎤 Experience live music at the legendary Grand Ole Opry
Niagara Falls
A Thundering Natural Wonder
Honeymooners have visited the falls since the early 1800s. The Winter Festival of Lights now fills Queen Victoria Park with millions of lights. A free New Year's Eve concert there has drawn tens of thousands. Fireworks light the sky at midnight above the Niagara Gorge.
Highlights:
  • 🚡 Ride the Whirlpool Aero Car over the swirling Niagara River
  • 🕳️ Explore tunnels behind the Horseshoe Falls viewpoint
  • 🚤 Take a boat ride close to the roaring Horseshoe Falls
Feedback