Goodbye 2018, Hello 2019: Our Top 10 New Year’s Events in SoCal
With the year winding down, it’s time to start planning for 2019—but not without giving 2018 one final hurrah! Southern California is filled to the brim with a wide range of activities to celebrate the New Year Whether or plan to party it up with friends, here’s our top 10 events to cap off the New Year’s Eve weekend with a bang.
- New Year’s Eve Party at The Ranch
Date: Monday, December 31, 2018 – Tuesday, January 1, 2019
Time Duration: 9 PM – 1 AM
Make a reservation at this cozy coastal California resort in Laguna Beach and start 2019 with a touch of glamour! Take that special someone on the dance floor and jazz it up with the Shawn Jones Band or express yourself at the photo booth for one-of-a-kind photo souvenirs you can take home. Friends and family can also indulge with a champagne toast and complimentary late-night snack station with goodies ranging from Angus beef sliders to truffle popcorn and a variety of fresh desserts. To celebrate the new year, a confetti drop will occur right as the clock strikes midnight.
This 21+ event is $125 per person with each required reservation. Please call (949) 715-1376 for reservation info as well as additional details!
- Long Beach Fireworks New Year's Eve Cruise 2019
Date: Monday, December 31, 2018 – Tuesday, January 1, 2019
Time: 9:00 PM – 2:00 AM
Embark on a journey from the Long Beach pier and experience a New Year’s party like no other on the Catalina King Yacht. You’ll have for incredible views of the city skyline, harbor, and fireworks show. Onboard, you’ll find two floors with three dance areas, live DJs playing all of today’s top hits, and fully stocked bars. Tickets sell out fast, so be sure to buy soon.
- Pretend City Children’s Museum Annual Noon-Year’s Confetti Countdown
Date: Monday, December 31, 2018
Time Duration: 10 AM – 5 PM (9 AM – 5 PM for members)
Take the kids to Irvine, California to celebrate the upcoming New Year in four different time zones around the world! At the Pretend City’s Children Museum, kids of all ages can learn about how the sun travels around the earth as well as how time zones function in the following areas: Bangladesh, Dubai, Athens, and London. Attendees can also create noisemakers, party hats, and develop their math skills as they count down to midnight in any of the four global locations! Each countdown to midnight corresponds with the following cities in Pacific Standard Time: 9:45 AM (Dhaka, Bangladesh), 12:00 PM (Dubai, U.A.E.), 2:00 PM (Athens, Greece), and 4:00 PM (London, England).
Museum members and infants up to 12 months can enter for free, while adults and children over 12 months can purchase tickets for $13.75 per person. Military members and their family can buy tickets at a discounted rate of $10.50 per person.
- New Year’s Eve on The Queen Mary
Date: Monday, December 31, 2018 – Tuesday, January 1, 2019
Time Duration: 8 PM – 1 AM
Gather your friends to dance and dine under the stars as the clock strikes midnight. The historic Queen Mary in Long Beach, CA will host its annual end of the year bash complete with live music, DJ’s, cocktails, and much more! Festive decorations line each ship, and a dazzling firework show at midnight to marks the start of the new year.
Since this is a high-demand event, don’t forget to purchase tickets as soon as possible! General admission is $115 per person while VIP admission is $215, which includes two complimentary cocktails and access to exclusive salons.
- The 27th Annual First Night in Fullerton
Date: Monday, December 31, 2018 – Tuesday, January 1, 2019
Time Duration: 7 PM – Midnight
Bring your family to historic downtown Fullerton for one unforgettable event you’ll want to go to every year! This all-ages free celebration centers on a time-honored tradition that started in Boston in 1976 to spread local visual and performing arts to the masses and provide an alternative to the alcohol and drinking often found in New Year’s Eve celebrations. This year’s First Night will feature stage performances from local bands and dancers, food vendors, carnival games, and a fireworks spectacular that’ll light up the sky in an incredible display!
There are designated street closures for the event, so plan on carpooling or use a rideshare service to get to the area in case nearby free parking fills up.
- Surf City Splash & Pancake Breakfast
Date: Tuesday, January 1, 2019
Time: 9 AM – 11 AM for the Pancake Breakfast / 12 PM Ocean Splash
If you’re feeling a bit brave, why not start 2019 with a refreshing dip in the Pacific Ocean? The 19th Annual Surf City Splash is one local tradition that’s all for a good cause. All proceeds from the event will go towards the conservation of the International Surfing Museum. Anyone who decides to enter receives a free pancake breakfast and a certificate of participation. With a two-hour carb-laden breakfast preceding the main event, intrepid swimmers will have enough fuel to take the plunge into the icy ocean at noon.
Costumes are also highly encouraged; there’s even a contest with awards ranging from “Best PJ Costume,” “Best Team Costume,” and “Best Sea Creature Costume.” If you feel like you can take on the elements, purchase the $25 tickets on Eventbrite .
- The 130th Annual Pasadena Rose Parade
Date: Tuesday, January 1, 2019
Time: 8 AM – 12 PM
You’ve probably saw the parade on TV at least once in your lifetime, but why not see the Rose Parade up close and in person? This time-honored American tradition is one show-stopping event that you don’t want to miss! The upcoming 2019 Rose Parade will have legendary songstress Chaka Khan as the Grand Marshal, which is appropriate since the parade theme is “The Melody of Life” and celebrates music as a universal language. As always, the Rose Parade will have its many marching bands, equestrian units, and beloved towering floats made with flowers and other plant matter.
Unless you plan on paying a hefty sum for the reserved grandstand seats, the Rose Parade is a free event for those in town. Just be sure to show up bright and early (or even the night before) since curbside seating is on a first-come, first serve basis.
- N.Y.E.L.A. at Grand Park
Date: Monday, December 31, 2018 – Tuesday, January 1, 2019
Time Duration: 8 PM – 1 AM
Celebrate new beginnings with your loved ones, friends, and local Angelenos in this all-ages free event right in the heart of Downtown L.A. This outdoor extravaganza by Grand Park and The Music Center features live music from Aloe Blacc, plus a lineup of all-female DJs. Colorful light-up installations and food trucks take over the park. Following the festivities is a midnight countdown projected right in front of the Los Angeles City Hall.
The streets nearby will be closed for this event, so plan accordingly and use the Metro Rail, rideshare services, the bus, or carpool a parking garage near the venue.
- Big Night San Diego’s New Year’s Eve Gala
Date: Monday, December 31, 2019 – Tuesday, January 1, 2019
Time Duration: 9 PM – 2 AM
It’s a long weekend, so why not drive down to San Diego for a little getaway? Take your friends and family (21 and over, of course) to the stunning Hilton Bayfront for unforgettable ocean views plus an all-inclusive party experience to please even the most discerning tastes. Guests can enjoy a wide variety of delicious appetizers, full course meals, and then shake it off on the dance floor with a cocktail in hand. There will be ten party areas and eight dance floors playing everything from EDM, jazz, hip-hop, and even a silent disco.
There are two ticket options for those interested in attending: one for the all-inclusive main event option (prices vary depending on entry time), or the VIP ticket entry. The VIP option includes all the features of the main event options plus upgraded drinks, party favors, food, and a VIP seating area.
- Kids’ New Year’s Eve at Legoland
Date: Monday, December 31, 2019
Time Duration: 9:30 AM – 7 PM (Ball Drop at 6 PM)
If your children love getting hands-on with their toys, then Legoland in Carlsbad, CA is one awesome way to kick off the New Year! This popular SoCal theme park resort gets the party started all day long on New Year’s Eve with all their favorite Lego-themed rides and attractions that’ll delight kids of all ages. As the sun sets, the park will feature live music, fireworks, party hats, and even a recreation of the Times Square ball drop—made out of Lego bricks, of course! Your kids will have a blast counting down to the New Year and parents won’t have to worry about staying up until midnight.
Whether you decide to go for one day or book a hotel/ticket package, make sure to purchase the tickets ahead of time to beat the crowds!
