6 best places to celebrate New Year’s Eve in America

Resolve now to try something new on New Year’s Eve. Instead of staying home in a pile and watching Andy and Anderson giggle and exchange glasses of champagne in Times Square, shake off the old year somewhere else. Plus, with New Year’s Day falling on a Wednesday in 2025, you can put your sofa on hold and enjoy a longer weekend by taking just two days off. Hurry to one of these holiday hot spots in 2025 like you’re HOTTOGO.

New Orleans

Throwing wild holiday celebrations is standard operating procedure in New Orleans, so New Year’s Eve here is guaranteed to be a fun time. Get into the mood with the afternoon Sugar Bowl Paradea rowdy annual tradition that takes place throughout the French Quarter. Then you can book a late night dinner at hot spots like holy herb or bar or join the crowds at Jackson Square as they watch a giant lily slide down a column atop Jax Brewery at midnight. Then, join the locals at the live music clubs along Frenchmen Street to dance until dawn. Fancy an early show? One of the city’s most historic music venues, Conservation roomwill reopen in December after nearly six months of renovations and feature four performances on New Year’s Eve from 5 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.

TPG’s advice: Be quick because the number of rooms is becoming increasingly scarce. A living room Barnett – formerly Ace Hotel New Orleans and now part of the JdV by Hyatt collection – can be booked starting at $385 or $23,000 World of Hyatt score for New Year’s Eve.

Washington, DC

Even with the area’s only fireworks display on the Potomac River in Virginia, Washington is still very bright on New Year’s Eve. Since the Metro is free all night, you can easily move between locations. Book dinner at José Andrés’s Marketthen return to the original Busboys and poets bookstore bar on 14th Street NW to host its popular open mic event (with happy hour all night long). Also, catch Metro’s Orange Line to Foggy Bottom after dinner and catch comedian John Oliver’s late show at Kennedy Centerthe last laugh of the year. All Smithsonian museums are open on New Year’s Day, so start 2025 with some culture.

TPG’s advice: Its prime location at the grand Old Post Office on Pennsylvania Avenue makes Waldorf Astoria An impressive and affordable place to stay on a busy weekend. The hotel has rooms from $864 or $110,000 Hilton Title point on New Year’s Eve.

Seattle

For the entire month of December, Seattle Center Winter festival celebrations make it a holiday destination: its calendar of events is packed Christmas Market runs daily until December 24, the holiday train show is open until December 31 and performances of “The Nutcracker” through December 28. New Year’s Eve marks the final night of Winterfest and is guaranteed to go off with a bang, not a whimper: The evening’s festivities begin inside with a free 8 p.m. concert and dance party with the exciting Blue Wave Band, move outside the International Fountain Mall for a light show and dance party that begins at 10 p.m. and culminates at midnight with Fireworks and drone shows ride the Space Needle overhead. Bring your dancing shoes.

TPG’s advice: downtown Hyatt at Olive 8 — worth staying for if only for its divine glass-walled pool and sustainability-minded spa — has rooms starting at $193 or 23,000 World of Hyatt points on New Year’s Eve.

Related: Hyatt Trip Through Seattle: Which Hyatt should you choose on your next trip to the Emerald City?

Philadelphia

You can choose a few different ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Philadelphia: have a late dinner at Reindeer coffee (you can’t miss the steak frites) followed by a midnight fireworks display at Penns Landing or, you know, just stay the night. Staycation is a great option if you stay at West Philadelphia on Rittenhouse Square. Two ticketed parties, one at Wet, the poolside bar, and another at The Living Room, a cool lobby space that attracts locals. Our reviewer said the cocktails will be outstanding, and the big plus is that you won’t have to bring a jacket. In the morning, City Hall, where Philly is famous for its quaint and colorful beauty Mummers’ Parade origin, a three-minute walk away.

TPG’s advice: Forward design West Philadelphia located in the heart of this historic city, but it has a very mod feel. Between the pool bar and the bustling lobby scene, you may never step outside. On New Year’s Eve, stays start at $422 or 76,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.

Santa Fe, New Mexico

And now something completely different. How to sound peaceful and quiet for New Year’s Eve? Santa Fe and the surrounding area have much to offer. Choose to spend a few days an hour southwest of Santa Fe at the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort and Spa, where the cinematic desert landscape around Bernalillo provides a sense of quiet serenity at the end of a tumultuous year. You can start your afternoon with a winter trail ride at Stables in Tamayafollowed by one spa treatment (maybe a lavender dry brushing treatment?) and then spend a quiet evening thanks to room service and starry skies over the mountains. If you need to party, drive into town for the annual festival celebration at Santa Fe Plaza. Join the locals in the shimmering glow of pinon fires and lights to listen to live music, enjoy food from food trucks, countdown to the midnight fireworks display and then take off vocals in the song “Auld Lang Syne” and the traditional Mexican birthday song “Las Mananitas.”

TPG’s advice: With breathtaking views of the snow-capped Sandia Mountains and activities like winter horseback riding, guided nature walks, and spa treatments, Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort and Spa Rooms are available to book for New Year’s Eve starting at $273 or 18,000 World of Hyatt points.

Nashville

Music City celebrates the new year with its annual star-studded free concert Nashville’s big shocker at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park. This year’s country lineup features Keith Urban, Kane Brown and Jelly Roll. Is that still not enough? As midnight approached, a 16-foot LED-lit musical note descended from a tower above the stage. When they hit bottom, the fireworks soared across the park. Don’t miss out on Nashville’s great dining scene: It offers upscale and casual dining, including dozens of dishes James Beard Award winner and semifinalist alike City house And Prince’s Hot Chicken. There is also extremely attractive entertainment Country Music Hall of Fame Open on New Year’s Eve and January 1.

TPG’s advice: Even though this is a conference hotel, Grand Hyatt Nashville wows TPG reviewers with its upscale rooms and upscale dining options. On New Year’s Eve, the hotel has rooms starting at $317 or 29,000 World of Hyatt points.

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