What To Do For New Year's Eve in NOLA

11:10 December 20, 2016
By: Lindsay Kornick

2016 has certainly been a wild ride, but nothing can be quite as wild as a New Year’s Eve party in New Orleans. All over the Crescent City, people of all ages can enjoy the end of 2016 and the beginning of 2017 in true NOLA style. Whether you prefer a classy champagne toast, a massive Mardi Gras-esque parade down the street, or just watching the fleur de lis drop with fireworks across the Mississippi, New Orleans has both locals and tourists alike covered when it comes to the first part of 2017.


What To Do For NYE in NOLA

What To Do For NYE in NOLA

AllState Sugar Bowl New Year’s Eve Parade
December 31
3:30 p.m.
Elysian Fields Avenue

allstatesugarbowl.org/site895.php

What could be a more New Orleans-style celebration of the New Year than a parade to usher in 2017? Beginning at 3:30 p.m, the AllState Sugar Bowl presents a Mardi Gras-esque parade that is a great celebration for families of all ages with floats, bands and more. The parade begins on Elysian Fields Avenue and winds through the Quarter before finishing on Canal Street. Along the route, there is also the AllState Fan Fest—a festival in honor of the upcoming AllState Sugar Bowl, set to kick off on January 2. Wherever you stop, the AllState Sugar Bowl Parade is free for the public to enjoy before officially beginning their New Year’s Eve celebration.

What To Do For NYE in NOLA

Big Night New Orleans New Year’s Eve Gala
December 31
9 p.m.
Hyatt Regency New Orleans

bignightneworleans.com

Take part in the city’s biggest midnight celebration of the New Year at the official Big Night New Orleans New Year’s Eve Gala hosted at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans. This popular gala features bars open all night, multiple party rooms and dancing areas for guests, food cooked by an award-winning chef, a midnight champagne toast, tons of party favors, and plenty of musical guests. Enjoy listening to and watching notable performances from Cowboy Mouth, the Chee Weez, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, Kid Kamillion, DJ Mike Swift, Pat Premier, DJ Kemistry, the Best of New Orleans Burlesque and the 610 Stompers. Hurry up and grab your ticket for what is sure to be the most popular spot to celebrate the first day of 2017.

What To Do For NYE in NOLA

Crescent City Countdown
December 31
9 p.m.
Jackson Square

crescentcitycountdown.com

Celebrate New Year’s Eve NOLA style with the Crescent City Countdown. With the celebration of the year in the Big Easy, this is sure to be a night you’ll never forget. The party officially begins at 9 p.m. with musical performances on the Jackson Square stage leading up to the countdown to the midnight fireworks presentation, “Symphony in the Sky,” over the Mississippi River set to memorable New Orleans music. Placed at the center of the French Quarter, the Crescent City Countdown will be the place everyone will be for New Year’s Eve for a genuine celebration that you can only get in the Crescent City.

What To Do For NYE in NOLA

New Orleans New Year’s Eve Ball Drop
December 31
9 p.m.
Jackson Brewery Bistro Bar

jaxnola.com/neworleansnyeballdrop

Get ready to watch the fleur de lis drop at one of the most sophisticated New Year’s Eve events in the city. The Jackson Brewery Bistro Bar has gained a reputation for their end-of-the-year parties with the drop of a giant fleur-de-lis at the stroke of midnight. The grand party also includes drinks from an open bar as well as performances by various acro-contortionists and aerial artists. As a bonus, this sell-out event gives guests a clear view of the Crescent City Countdown fireworks show, making the party one of the most sought-after spots of the night. Don’t hesitate to purchase a ticket, dress to impress, and toast to 2017.

What To Do For NYE in NOLA

YFE Presents New Year’s Eve
December 31
9 p.m.
Apres Lounge

yfeevents.ticketbud.com/nye2016

Celebrate the last night of 2016 at an exclusive NYE event presented by YFE. This New Year’s Eve party is also a charity event with the money from tickets going to benefit local Crescent City charities. Doors open at 9 p.m., but there is plenty of entertainment set to keep the night going until 2017. Music will be provided by DJ Digital, DJ Spin, DJ Crush and DJ Mig. Be sure to reserve a spot for this night to toast champagne, listen to some great music and usher in a new year of possibilities. Tickets and VIP sections are available online, but the age restriction is 21 and older.

What To Do For NYE in NOLA

New Year’s Eve at Sanctuary 
Saturday, December 31
8:30 p.m.
Sanctuary Cultural Arts Center
facebook.com/NOLAsanctuary

Ring in the New Year with an all-night New Year’s Eve party at the Sanctuary Cultural Arts Center. For a $25 admission fee, you can be treated to a non-stop extravaganza of music and shows including Debauche, Big Deal Burlesque featuring Roxie le Rouge, a Belly Dance show with Kerry Lynn and others, the Backyard Balkan Brass Band and more, with host Andrew Ward. You can also enjoy a free champagne toast at midnight. There’s no better way to celebrate the coming of a new year while raising money for spring programming and free space for artists to cultivate and create new work.

What To Do For NYE in NOLA

Steamboat Natchez New Year’s Eve Extravaganza
December 31
9:30 p.m.
Toulouse Street Wharf

steamboatnatchez.com/special_event_cruises.html

One of the more unforgettable celebrations for the New Year, the Steamboat Natchez is giving you a chance to watch the night from the river itself! At 9:30 p.m., you can board the steamboat for a two-hour cruise leading up to the midnight celebration throughout New Orleans. Not to be shortchanged, the Steamboat Natchez also includes a premium open bar, a holiday buffet made especially for the occasion, and a live dance band for the rest of the night. More importantly, the cruise on the river gives guests a perfect view of the fireworks.

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