Ring in 2019 at One of These Unforgettable New Year's Eve Celebrations
Start the New Year Off Right
If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to travel more, why not start 2019 off right by traveling somewhere to ring in the new year? There are plenty of places to go for New Year’s that will be sure to set the tone for a year full of adventure.
Perhaps you can even make it a goal to spend New Year’s Eve somewhere different each year. Plus, depending where you decide to visit, you may even get to participate in some unique New Year’s traditions. These prominent New Year’s celebrations from around the world are ones everyone should take part in at some point in their lives!
New York City, New York
Let’s start with the obvious. Every year since 1907, a million people crowd into Times Square in New York City on New Year’s Eve to celebrate, making the Big Apple the perfect place for a New Year’s Eve vacation. Attendees, along with over a billion people tuning in from across the globe, count down to the new year as the giant glittering ball is lowered.
After a day spent exploring all the other fun things to do in New York City, you can watch the ball start its 70-foot drop at 11:59 p.m., while confetti fills the sky. This is one of the world’s biggest parties, not only including the ball drop, but also featuring big-name musicians and a wishing wall for writing down resolutions for the coming year.
Las Vegas, Nevada
This is a year-round party city, so it’s no surprise that on New Year’s Eve Las Vegas really does it up. The Strip hosts a spectacular fireworks show, and many of the hotels and resorts throw their own massive parties.
At 6:00 p.m. on the 31st, the Strip shuts down vehicle traffic and opens up to pedestrians who can enjoy dancing to live bands, drinking, mingling and being mesmerized by the fireworks that are shot off from surrounding rooftops.
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Bangkok, Thailand
For an exotic New Year’s Eve, head to Bangkok, the city that puts on Asia’s biggest and best New Year’s Eve celebration, much of which is held at Central World Square. Here, several hundred thousand come together to count down to midnight while taking in a live concert and a light show.
Nearly every nightclub and bar is filled with happy revelers, and a number of rooftop eateries offer an ideal spot to watch the whole spectacle from above while dining on tasty Thai cuisine.
New Orleans, Louisiana
The Big Easy is one of the best places to spend New Year’s as it’s legendary for hosting an amazing party and is home to one of the best New Year’s Eve fireworks displays in America.
Visitors and locals alike come to watch the rainbow of brilliant colors cascading above the Mississippi River. The famous fleur-de-lis drop is another highlight of the evening festivities, in which the traditional New Orleans fleur-de-lis plunges from a brewery roof in Jackson Square.
Parties tend to continue until the sun comes up, with bars and clubs in the French Quarter hosting all types of live music. Plus there are plenty of New Orleans attractions to check out if you decide to make a full vacation out of it.
Reykjavik, Iceland
If you’re wondering where to go for New Year’s, Iceland should definitely make the list. Icelanders put on their own fantastic celebration in Reykjavik. Many gather together to attend neighborhood bonfires, symbolizing the burning away of the previous year’s troubles.
500 tons of fireworks light up the sky from every corner of the city, kicking off just after 11:30 p.m. When the skies are clear, the Northern Lights occasionally even make an appearance, complementing the awe-inspiring pyrotechnics.
After the new year rolls in, many head to the pubs and nightclubs to attend celebrations that continue until dawn. If you can keep your eyes open that long, you can join the locals who line up for hot dogs at the world’s most famous hot dog stand, Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur, starting around 5:00 a.m.
Then venture over to the hot springs to soak away that inevitable hangover.
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Seattle, Washington
Seattle’s annual New Year’s Eve fireworks display is frequently found among lists of the very best in the country. Over 10,000 firework shots light up the sky, bursting from 60 locations across three levels of the iconic Space Needle.
The Needle hosts a dance party that begins at 9:00 p.m. and serves six course dinners in its rotating restaurant.
You can enjoy a great view of the show from the observation deck. However, watching from the water where an unobstructed view is guaranteed is especially unforgettable, with cruise ships positioned in the heart of Elliott Bay.
Sydney, Australia
If you want to be in one of the world’s first cities to welcome in the new year, there are few better places to spend New Year’s Eve than Sydney, Australia. The night includes a magnificent light parade on the harbor and a breathtaking fireworks extravaganza.
There are all sorts of other festivities too, including mini-light shows, aerial flyovers and a huge dance party at legendary Bondi Beach.
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London, England
Head to London and you can enjoy catching a dramatic light show complemented by the chimes of Big Ben. More than a quarter-million people crowd along the banks of the River Thames to watch the show.
There are a wealth of clubs and parties to attend both before and after the clock strikes midnight.
The three-hour celebration boasts about 10,000 performers and includes a massive group sing-along to Auld Lang Syne. The event continues long into the night and even into the new year, featuring a lengthy parade with costumed dancers, elaborate floats, marching bands and the Queen’s horses.
