National New Year's Eve Event Guide 2025

The countdown to Christmas is well underway, which means that before we know it, New Year’s Eve fireworks will be lighting up the sky. All across the nation, cities are planning spectacular festivities—from countdowns in famous squares to champagne toasts at elegant galas and incredible illuminations over the water. If you’re ready to ring in 2026 in style, here are the best places to celebrate the turning of the calendar page.

1. Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball Drop (New York City, NY)

It’s the ultimate New Year’s Eve destination! For 122 years, New York has put on a dazzling display, and this year will be no different! Watch the Waterford crystal ball descend high above One Times Square as crowds cheer, music plays, and a blizzard of confetti ushers in 2026.

• Dates: December 31, 2025
• Address: Times Square, centered at Broadway & 7th Ave between 42nd–47th Streets, New York, NY 10036
• Kid-friendly: Yes
• Pet-friendly: No 
• Free: Yes, for street viewing; Viewing parties are ticketed
• Website: timessquarenyc.org/nye

2. America’s Party: Las Vegas Strip New Year’s Eve Fireworks (Las Vegas, NV)

On the last night of the year, Las Vegas Boulevard shuts down to cars and transforms into a pedestrian promenade as coordinated fireworks launch from nine casino rooftops at midnight, choreographed to a custom soundtrack that you can stream on local FM stations. Sphere leads the official countdown, flashing global time zones and a final, larger-than-life clock to ring in 2026 as the sky erupts in color above the Strip.

• Dates: December 31, 2025 
• Address: Las Vegas Strip pedestrian zone, Las Vegas Blvd S between Spring Mountain Rd and Reno Ave, Las Vegas, NV
• Kid-friendly: Yes
• Pet-friendly: No
• Free: Yes, for street access and fireworks viewing; hotel parties, rooftops, and club events are ticketed
• Website: visitlasvegas.com 

3. Miami New Year’s Eve Fireworks Cruise (Miami, FL)

One of the splashiest ways to celebrate the turning of the calendar page in Florida is by boarding a Bayfront Park New Year’s Eve cruise! You’ll find multi-deck yachts with premium open bars, dinner buffets, and DJ-led dance floors. These party boats cruise Biscayne Bay with indoor lounges and outdoor observation decks, giving you a club-like experience on the water and a front-row vantage point for the city’s midnight countdown.

• Dates: December 31, 2025 
• Address: Departures typically near Bayfront Park / Downtown marinas, Miami, FL 33132
• Kid-friendly: No
• Pet-friendly: No
• Free: No
• Website: miamiboozecruise.com/new-years-miami/

4. New Orleans Eve: Jackson Square Fleur‑de‑Lis Drop (New Orleans, LA)

Crowds pack into Jackson Square and the surrounding French Quarter for a free outdoor concert, followed by a glowing fleur‑de‑lis descending from the JAX Brewery building at midnight and a synchronized fireworks show over the riverfront. The atmosphere is festive but relaxed compared to some big‑city countdowns, with plenty of spillover into nearby bars, balconies, and riverfront spots once the sky lights up.

• Dates: December 31, 2025 
• Address: Jackson Square & Decatur Street near JAX Brewery, French Quarter, New Orleans, LA 70116
• Kid-friendly: Yes
• Pet-friendly: Not recommended 
• Free: Yes
• Website: neworleans.com

5. New Year’s Eve Fireworks on the Waterfront (Philadelphia, PA)

Philadelphia’s riverfront lights up with two dazzling fireworks shows happening over the Delaware River at both 6 PM and midnight. Families and night owls alike can pair the fireworks with kid-friendly countdown activities, rink parties, and a late-night pier celebrations at Independence Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest and Cherry Street Pier, all set to synchronized soundtracks you can hear along Penn’s Landing or on local radio.

• Dates: December 31, 2025 
• Address: Penn’s Landing & Delaware River Waterfront, 101 S Christopher Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19106
• Kid-friendly: Yes
• Pet-friendly: Yes 
• Free: Yes for general waterfront viewing 
• Website: delawareriverwaterfront.com

6. Chicago New Year’s Eve Party at Aon Grand Ballroom (Chicago, IL)

Beyond Navy Pier’s fireworks, Chicago’s Aon Grand Ballroom party is one of the city’s most classic indoor countdowns, pairing lakefront views with a luxurious gala vibe. Guests dress up for premium open bars, gourmet stations, live DJs, and balloon drops, all under the ballroom’s sweeping domed ceiling with Lake Michigan as the midnight backdrop.

• Dates: December 31, 2025
• Address: Aon Grand Ballroom at Navy Pier, 600 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
• Kid-friendly: No
• Pet-friendly: No
• Free: No
• Website: navypier.org/events/grand-chicago-new-years-eve-2025/

7. Big Bay NYE Yacht Parties (San Diego, CA)

San Diego regularly lands near the top of NYE city rankings thanks to the city’s mild weather and a concentration of bayfront events and yacht parties. Luxury boats like the Spirit of San Diego and Hornblower cruises offer multi-level celebrations with DJs, open bars, and panoramic harbor views, giving guests a floating gala with skyline vistas instead of a street crowd.

• Dates: December 31, 2025
• Address: Embarcadero & San Diego Bay marinas, often departing near 990 N Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92101
• Kid-friendly: No
• Pet-friendly: No
• Free: No
• Website: vipnightlife.com & cityexperiences.com

8. Jack Daniel’s New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash (Nashville, TN)

Nashville’s massive free NYE concert turns Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park into a sea of cowboy boots, sequins, and confetti, anchored by big-name country and rock acts like Jason Aldean and Lainey Wilson on the main stage. The night builds toward the signature Music Note Drop and fireworks over the State Capitol, making this feel like a honky-tonk Times Square with a distinctly Music City soundtrack.

• Dates: December 31, 2025
• Address: Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, 600 James Robertson Pkwy, Nashville, TN 37243
• Kid-friendly: Yes
• Pet-friendly: No
• Free: Yes; admission to the concert and note drop is free
• Website: visitmusiccity.com/newyearseve

9. T-Mobile New Year’s at the Needle (Seattle, WA)

Seattle’s T-Mobile New Year’s at the Needle blends a choreographed digital light show and fireworks into one of the country’s most photogenic countdowns. Viewers gather around Seattle Center and along nearby hilltop parks to watch the Space Needle transform with lasers, drones, and pyrotechnics, backed by a curated music mix that’s broadcasted online and on local stations.

• Dates: December 31, 2025
• Address: Seattle Center & Space Needle, 400 Broad St, Seattle, WA 98109
• Kid-friendly: Yes
• Pet-friendly: Yes 
• Free: Yes 
• Website: spaceneedle.com/newyears

10. Reunion Tower New Year’s Celebration (Dallas, TX)

Dallas closes out the year with a technicolor skyline show as Reunion Tower erupts in fireworks, drone formations, and a custom 259‑LED light display. The “Lone Star NYE” spectacle delivers more than 5,000 pyrotechnic effects and 500 choreographed drones painting images over downtown, turning a few thrilling minutes just before midnight into one of the most unforgettable views in the city.

• Dates: December 31, 2025
• Address: Reunion Tower, 300 Reunion Blvd E, Dallas, TX 75207 (viewable from nearby vantage points)
• Kid-friendly: Yes, for outdoor viewing
• Pet-friendly: Yes, for outdoor viewing
• Free: Yes for public viewing; tower events are ticketed
• Website: reuniontower.com/things-to-do/new-years-eve/

Celebrate the Winter Season

From holiday events to Christmas inspiration, we have everything you need to make this season merry and bright! Be sure to follow us on Instagram @thechristmascom for more holiday events, gift ideas, and giveaways! 

Have an event to add or see an update we should make? Email us at info@thechristmas.com.