Remember when everybody seemed to celebrate New Year’s Eve the same way? They’d pop open a bottle of champagne and count down to midnight while watching Dick Clark — or more recently, Ryan Seacrest or Anderson Cooper — on TV.
Your can still welcome in 2024 that way or even head out for some festivities, as nearly every hotel and bar will be hosting some sort of party. But here are a few ideas if you’re looking to do something a little different in the South Bay this year.
FAMILY AFFAIRS: For the first time since 2020, the Children’s Discovery Museum in San Jose is again hosting its Noon Year’s Eve celebration, with a daytime countdown and “ball drop” with lots of confetti popping instead of champagne. Don’t worry about overcrowding; the Purple Museum at the Guadalupe River Park will have four countdowns — 11 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. — and for each, visitors will get to hear how people are celebrating in those time zones at midnight. All the details are at www.cdm.org.
There’s also a Noon Year’s Eve celebration at 3 Below Theatres in downtown San Jose Sunday that starts at noon and includes games, a short film and a “midnight” countdown followed up by dessert and sparkling cider. Check it out at sanjoseplayhouse.org/noon-years-eve.
Palo Alto also has a Noon Year’s Eve celebration happening at the Mitchell Park Community Center a whole day ahead of time on Saturday, Dec. 30. The kid-friendly celebration from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. will include dancing and music, with craft tables, refreshments and a “bubble drop” at noon.
If you’re looking to stay out late, California’s Great America will have WinterFest open New Year’s Eve, with rides and ice skating at Snow Flake Lake open until midnight Saturday and a fireworks show to bring 2023 to a close with a bang.
STARTING EARLY: Once again, patrons at O’Flaherty’s Irish Pub at San Pedro Square will be toasting the new year at 4 p.m. Sunday, which is midnight in Ireland, continuing a tradition started two decades ago by late founder Ray O’Flaherty. While some of the crowd will make O’Flaherty’s their first stop on their way to other revelry, the party will keep going until California rings in 2024.
If you’re on the Peninsula, Alhambra Irish House in Redwood City will be raising pints of Guinness at 4 p.m. as well.
GOING FANCY: If you’re looking for a reason to get all dolled up, the Signia by Hilton in downtown San Jose is offering a buffet dinner in the Fountain restaurant, with dessert and a glass of Veuve Cliquot champagne included for a $135 ticket. Afterward, you can join revelers in the AJI Bar and Robata, where DJ Shortkut and DJ Chalé Brown will be playing tunes until a midnight ball drop. The best part is that you can always get a room and skip driving home.
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The Silicon Valley Capital Club, which is right next door to the Signia on the 17th floor of 50 W. San Fernando St., is throwing an “Old Hollywood Glam” party. Executive Chef Roger Liang is going around the world with an array of appetizers from Asia, Europe and the Americas, and the ticket — starting at $198 a person or $995 for a six-person VIP package — includes a welcome cocktail and a midnight toast. Search for “Silicon Valley Capital Club” at www.eventbrite.com for more details.
IT’S SHOWTIME: Before losing its lease, Tabard Theatre had booked Swedish jazz sensation Gunhild Carling and a 10-piece band for a New Year’s Eve show. It’s now going to take place at San Jose Stage Company’s theater on South First Street, but it should still be an amazing show with Gatsby-esque flair. In-person shows are at 7:30 and 10:30 p.m. — but you can also buy a ticket to livestream it at home if you prefer at www.tabardtheatre.org.
And once all the kids are cleared out of 3Below, everyone will get gussied up for the New Year’s Eve party that night. The early event includes a 6:30 p.m. singalong showing of “Moulin Rouge” and a countdown at 9 p.m. for midnight in New York City, followed by a dessert buffet. Tickets are available for $30 at sanjoseplayhouse.org/new-years-eve.
EARLY RISERS: If you’re more about New Year’s Day than the night before — and I know you’re out there — you might want to sign up for the Kiwanis Resolution Run at Shoreline Park in Mountain View on Jan. 1. There are 5K and 10K run/walks, as well as a 1K kids’ fun run — and nothing starts until 10 a.m. in case you did stay out ’til midnight. Registration is available at wsjkrun.org.
