Looking for a fun way to celebrate New Year’s Eve on Tuesday, December 31, 2024, and welcome 2025 in style? Look no further! I’ve compiled a list of festive places to ring in the new year, ranging from comedy, theater, and music performances to themed dinner parties and family-friendly activities.
I wish you a happy New Year’s Eve and good health in the coming year.
Dinners & Parties
ARTISANworks
New Year’s Eve
From their event page: Celebrate the new year’s arrival at Artisanworks, the perfect venue to bid farewell to the old and welcome the new in style! Join us on Tuesday, December 31, at 8:00 p.m. for an unforgettable evening of festivities. Dance the night away with DJ Rob Linton, ensuring a lively and energetic atmosphere.
Avon Inn
Bridgerton New Year’s Eve Gala
From their website: Dearest gentle reader, join us for the Bridgerton NYE Gala at the historic Avon Inn! Dress in your finest regency or black tie attire and enjoy a night of elegance. Indulge in hors d’oeuvres, a served dinner by our executive chef, and sip exquisite cocktails. Dance to live music and celebrate with a champagne toast at midnight. Ticket includes hors d’oeuvres, dinner, dessert, open bar (7 p.m.–midnight), and party hats.
The Cub Room
Party Like Gatsby NYE
From their website: Join us in your best Gatsby attire for an unforgettable New Year’s Eve celebration! Enjoy a delightful five-course dinner, dancing, a photo booth, and a glass of champagne at midnight while we watch the ball drop. The bar opens at 7 p.m. with cocktail specials throughout the night, and dinner bookings begin at 8:15 p.m.
Flight Wine Bar
New Year’s Eve Bubble Party
From their website: Celebrate New Year’s Eve with us from 6 to 9 p.m.! Your ticket includes gratuity, your first glass of bubbly, NYE hats, and a delicious bar buffet featuring salads, charcuterie, shrimp cocktails, finger sandwiches, and desserts.
Roar
NEON New Year’s Eve
From their website: Join the ultimate celebration at 8 p.m., featuring electrifying sets by DJs ELA and Mighty Mic. Enjoy three dazzling drag shows at 10 p.m., 11:30 p.m., and 1 a.m., with a complimentary champagne toast at midnight (21+). Dance the night away until 3 a.m. and refuel with breakfast sandwiches and snacks from 1–3 a.m. Open to everyone 18 and older, with a $10 cover for 21+ and $20 for ages 18–20. No advance tickets are needed—bring your energy and celebrate in neon style!
Strathallen
Pop, Fizz, Clink! Champagne New Year’s Eve Party
From their website: Join us at the Century Club to celebrate New Year’s Eve 2024 and welcome 2025 with a pop, fizz, and clink! Enjoy a toast with Tattinger champagne, dance to music provided by a DJ from Encore Events, and savor the festivities. For those interested in staying overnight, we offer a special room rate. The party runs from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., with music and an open bar. General Admission tickets include an open bar, light appetizers, a DJ, a midnight toast, and a balloon drop. VIP tickets offer all General Admission perks, exclusive access to a private champagne bar, a private restroom, and additional appetizers.
Tapas 177
NYE 4-Course Dinner
From their website: Ring in the New Year at Tapas 177 with an elegant four-course dinner accompanied by live music from DJ Key-YO, performing from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. The special menu features a choice of appetizers, including Lobster Ravioli or Beef Braciola; salads like Winter Caesar or Beet and Goat Cheese; entrées such as Filet Mignon, Seafood Lasagna, or Lamb Shank; and decadent desserts like Chocolate Walnut Torte or Coquito Panna Cotta. Reservations are required.
Tin Cup Social
NYE Pajama Party
From their website: Join us for an unforgettable New Year’s Eve Pajama Party starting at 8 p.m.! This is a ticketed event, and all tickets must be purchased in advance. Tickets are $95 each and include beer, wine, seltzers, well, and call drinks from 8 p.m. to midnight; shots and top-shelf items are available for an additional charge. Enjoy delicious shareable plates and a champagne toast at midnight to welcome the new year. The dress code for the evening is pajamas, and the celebration will continue until 2 a.m. Tables are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note that this event is for guests 21 and older, and tickets are non-refundable.
Tony D’s
New Year’s Eve
From their website: Join us for a spectacular all-inclusive event to ring in 2025! General admission and VIP tickets are available. Enjoy an open bar, food stations, and live music featuring DJ Cruz in the front room and DJ Naps in the back ballroom. There will also be a cash bar available. A complimentary coat check and free on-site parking will be provided. Doors open at 8:15 p.m. for registration. The open bar will begin at 9 p.m. Celebrate New Year’s Eve responsibly—please ensure you have a designated driver or plan for a ride-share. This event is a “Dress to Impress” occasion for guests aged 21 and older.
Music
Bug Jar
New Year’s Eve with The Living Room
From their website: Celebrate New Year’s Eve with The Living Room’s rustbelt ballads and murder lounge vibes, the Buffalo Sex Change reunion show, Sunscream playing surf punk/rock, and Mr. Seabreeze. Doors open at 8 p.m., and the party starts at 9 p.m.
Essex
New Year’s Eve with Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad
From their website: Join us for Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad’s annual New Year’s Eve party at Essex with special guests Public Water Supply and Head To The Roots!
Lovin’ Cup
A NOLA New Year’s Eve with Cool Club & The Lipker Sisters
From their website: Celebrate the New Year in true New Orleans style! Join Cool Club and The Lipker Sisters at Lovin’Cup for a NOLA-inspired New Year’s Eve celebration. Enjoy special menu options; your admission includes a complimentary champagne toast at midnight! Experience the charm of small-town hospitality combined with big-city flair. Cool Club and The Lipker Sisters deliver an intoxicating blend of intricate harmonies, merging the sophistication of jazz with the soul of R&B, infused with Latin rhythms and classic rock and roll. Their unique style shines in every performance, whether a classic from the Great American Songbook, an iconic R&B hit, or one of their infectious original songs. Don’t forget, “It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing!”
Murphy’s Law Irish Pub
New Year’s Eve with DJ Danahy
From their event page: Ring in 2025 at Murphy’s Law! $65 open bar package from 9 p.m.–1 a.m., with DJ Danahy on the decks. The pub will remain open until 4 a.m.
Photo City Music Hall
Juice Box: New Queers Eve
From their event page: We will be ringing in the new year from 9 p.m.–3 a.m. Get ready to dance all night long to music provided by JUICE BOX co-founders together for the first time, Brian Buttlett and maxxie. There will be limited cash-only, first-come-first-serve tickets at the door. Grab your friends, wear your most fabulous outfit, or just come as you are. Let’s ring in the new year with love, laughter, and, more importantly, together!
Radio Social
Electric New Year’s Eve with Harmonica Lewinski + DJ Chreath
From their event page: Out for kicks, Harmonica Lewinski plays music that has been called “tropical trash, greasy garage, dirty disco, and party punk.” Between touring the U.S. and releasing a slew of vinyl and cassette tapes, they have built a following with their original sound and dance-party live shows. They released their newest album, “Super Hot,” last year. The band will headline this year’s rock ‘n’ rollin’ NYE at Radio Social, with DJ Chreath spinning party tunes ’til 1 a.m. Music at 8 p.m.; 21+ only after 9 p.m. Those with existing bowling reservations do not need to pay a cover.
Russel Station
New Year’s Eve Party
From their website: Join us to celebrate the arrival of 2025 with food and drink specials all night, including a champagne toast at midnight.
Water Street Music Hall
United We Dance New Year’s Eve Rave
From their website: Get ready for an electrifying New Year’s Eve celebration packed with high-energy EDM beats, euphoric melodies, and heart-pounding bass drops! Dance the night away to a dynamic mix of house, techno, bass house, progressive house, and more, spun by in-house DJs delivering original edits, mashups, and remixes of top hits. Inspired by legends like Tiësto, Skrillex, Martin Garrix, and The Chainsmokers, the lineup promises non-stop music and unforgettable vibes. Please note a $10 surcharge for guests under 21; VIP access for 21+ only.
Comedy & Theater
Blackfriars Theatre
BT’s New Year’s Eve Musical Mayhem
From their website: Ring in the new year with Brynn, Mary, and a cast of Blackfriars Theatre’s most impressive singers! Six brave BT artists will take the stage for an evening of musical roulette! In the first act, each sings their show-stopping signature number with a live band backing them, but in act two, things get flipped on their head as six new songs are on the board, and the audience pulls names out of a hat to see who sings what! Special NYE dessert and wine reception for all ticket holders between the shows! Shows at 4 and 7 p.m.
Comedy at the Carlson
New Year’s Eve with John DiCrosta
From their website: Comedian, voice-over/on-camera actor, and ventriloquist John DiCrosta has entertained crowds professionally since he was 12. A member of SAG-AFTRA, he moved to Los Angeles, where he’s been lending his talents and services to animated series, commercials, video games, motion pictures, TV studio audiences, comedy clubs, and cruise ship audiences for 30+ years.
JCC Hart Theater
Big Wigs
From their website: Big Wigs is a high-energy, Las Vegas-style show featuring Mrs. Kasha Davis from RuPaul’s Drag Race and Rochester legend Aggy Dune. These two outrageous talents continue to deliver their dead-on impressions to sold-out crowds nationwide. This fast-paced show includes all your favorite divas like Shirley Bassey, Liza Minnelli, Judy Garland, Reba McEntire, Cher, Bette Midler, Lady Gaga, and Tina Turner. Impersonations are subject to change for each show.
Nazareth University Callahan Theater
The Capitol Fools
From their website: A Rochester New Year’s Eve tradition returns to Nazareth! Former cast members and a co-writer of the long-running, beloved Capitol Steps introduce their new musical parody ensemble where no politician is safe, and every absurdity gets its moment in the spotlight. The spirited, irreverent Capitol Fools are blazing new steps up a stairway of satire, holding a mirror to our crazy political culture while still performing all the beloved bits: the mind-boggling backward talking spoonerisms, break-neck costume changes, over-the-top impressions, and all-new song spoofs reflecting the state of the union, and then some. Expect bipartisan belly laughs as the Fools skewer the day’s news with wisecracking wordplay, wit, and whimsy. This performance contains content with mature themes.
Noon Year’s Eve
RMSC
Several New Year’s activities occur during the school break at the Rochester Museum and Science Center. Celebrate New Year’s around the world with your littlest ones during the Noon Year’s Celebration (Dec. 31 & Jan. 1.) Ring in the New Year and witness fireworks in a jar in this science encounter during Fireworks in a Jar (Jan. 1 Only.) And participate in a countdown with a grand finale of an ending (RMSC Lobby) during their Noon Countdown (Dec. 31 Only). Get Details
Seneca Park Zoo
Ring in the New Year early at Seneca Park Zoo’s family-friendly celebration on December 31! Enjoy a noon countdown with ball drops at the snow leopard and elephant habitats. Celebrate surrounded by wildlife, nature, and community—perfect for those who prefer festivities before bedtime. Get Details
YMCA
Penfield: Celebrate the coming of the New Year at the Eastside Family YMCA on December 31 from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm. Enjoy fun activities for the whole family, and a countdown to a giant balloon drop at noon. We will have themed crafts, face painting, tattoos, inflatables, party games, and a costume photo booth! This is a members-only event. Get Details
Pittsford: Celebrate the New Year early at the Schottland Family YMCA’s Noon Year’s Eve party! Bring the whole family for a fun-filled day of festivities, including arts and crafts, face painting, and interactive activities. Join us for the big countdown to noon and start the New Year with joy and excitement! This is a members-only event. Get Details
Fireworks
Bristol Mountain
Celebrate New Year’s Eve at Bristol Mountain with free festivities for all ages! Enjoy DJ Olliewood spinning tunes in the Upper Rocket Lodge from 7–10 p.m. while the kids have a dance party and fun activities in the Lower Lodge from 7:30–9:30 p.m., capped by a balloon drop. At 9:30 p.m., marvel at the Torchlight Parade as skiers and snowboarders light up the slopes, followed by a dazzling fireworks show. Ring in the New Year with music, dancing, and unforgettable entertainment! Get Details
LeRoy
Fireworks on the Oatka Creek creekbank on Wolcott Street at 9 p.m., sponsored by the LeRoy Business Council. Get Details
Are there fireworks offered in other towns around Rochester? Let us know in the comments!
Will the city of Rochester sponsor a fireworks show on New Year’s Eve again?
Only time will tell.
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How will you spend New Year’s Eve around Rochester?
Your insights and experiences are valuable. Please share them in the comments.
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Debi
Enjoy the Journey Together!
why is there no fireworks happening?
I would imagine budget constraints.
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