Ring in 2025 in Santa Cruz County! Check below for some fun New Year’s Eve celebrations plus, First Day Hikes on January 1st!

CHILDRENS MUSEUM OF DISCOVERY: NOON YEARS EVE
December 31, 2024 @ 10:30am – 1pm
Ring in the “Noon” Year at the Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery with a celebration bursting with fun for the whole family! Enjoy a dazzling countdown to noon featuring a non-alcoholic bubble bar with sparkling mocktails, hands-on crafts to create party crowns and confetti launchers, an exciting kids’ glow rave room filled with party lights and fun beats. The grand finale? A spectacular confetti explosion and ball drop at the stroke of noon! It’s the perfect way to end the year with laughter, joy, and magical memories your family will cherish.

BLUE LAGOON: NEW YEARS EVE DANCE PARTY
December 31, 2024 @ 4pm – 2am
By day, the Blue Lagoon is a bar, but at night it will transform into the annual New Year’s Eve party with two dance floors, multiple DJs, no cover and a free champagne toast at midnight! Make sure to get there early, as they usually pack out to capacity!

HOOK AND LINE: NEW YEAR’S EVE DINNER
December 31, 2024 @ 5pm – 9pm
Hook + Line has an exclusive New Year’s Eve menu crafted to make your evening unforgettable! Make your reservations through Resy to secure this exclusive dining experience.

PERSEPHONE: NYE DINNER
December 31, 2024 @ 5pm – 10pm
Ring in the New Year with a delicious celebration at Persephone Restaurant. Chef Cori has crafted a magnificent menu that will delight your taste buds and set the perfect tone for a memorable evening. Special Champagne selections will also be available for purchase.

DOWNTOWN PONO HAWAIIAN GRILL: KARAOKE NIGHT
December 31, 2024 @ 6pm – 9pm
Gather your friends, pick your favorite songs, and sing your heart out as you welcome 2025! Large groups are welcome – bring the whole crew for an unforgettable evening. Enjoy delicious drinks, good vibes, and the aloha spirt. Don’t miss this chance to celebrate in true island style!

IBIZA: NYE PAELLA DINNER
December 31, 2024 @ 6:30 – 8:15pm
Get your reservation in for a special paella party at Ibiza. Grab your family and friends and enjoy enormous paellas featuring chicken, chanterelle mushrooms and farmers market vegetables. Don’t forget the Churros!

VINO BY THE SEA: ROARING 20’S NYE PARTY
December 31, 2024 @ 6pm – 1am
Vino by the Sea, upstairs at the Santa Cruz Wharf, is having a Roaring Twenties New Years Eve party!  There will be a two drink minimum, but why not go for dinner tickets? Dinner starts at 6pm. Collision Course, a classic rock band, will start playing at 7pm and will keep the party going until 1am. There will be a ball drop, toast and countdown for 2025!

THE CATALYST: WORLD ELECTRONIC NYE PARTY
December 31, 2024 – Doors Open at 8pm; Show is at 9pm
Ring in the new year with Beats Antique, a world fusion and electronic music group that combines music, performance art, and storytelling into a stage show! There will be a special guest appearance from Yaima, a Cascadian Folktronic Duo that will blend some new age mysticism into your new year! Ages 16 and up welcome.

INN AT PASATIEMPO: ROARING 20’S THEME NYE PARTY WITH THE LOST BOYS FEATURING JAMES DURBIN
December 31, 2024 @ 8pm – 12:30am
The Lost Boys featuring James Durbin will be hosting another New Years Eve celebration. This years theme is “A Night At The Speakeasy”. Dress to the nines in your best roaring 20’s attire, if you choose. Enjoy an evening of music, hors d’oeuvres, and a no host bar.

BRUNO’S BAR AND GRILL: NYE BLACK AND WHITE BALL
December 31, 2024 @8pm – 12am
You don’t have to break the bank to have fun this year! For just $25, Bruno’s will have party crowns & hats, noise makers, 2 full bars open, late-night appetizers available to purchase and best of all, a live performance by the absolute best 90’s cover band – Fire Peach! You’ll be dancing all night to the greatest grunge, alt-rock, and 90’s pop-punk songs.  Go early and eat dinner upstairs in “The Jim” or downstairs in the dining room, and they will have a prime selection of delicious American-style food waiting for you. 

SEVY’S BAR + KITCHEN: NEW YEARS EVE BASH
December 31, 2024 @ 8pm – 12:30am
Head to Sevy’s for a night of fun and good times! They will have food & drink specials all night with special menus, including a reverse Happy Hour from 8pm until 10pm, and live music from the Joint Chiefs from 8pm-12:30am! Book a reservation at Open Table or take a chance with the first-come, first-serve bar seating. 

THE 418 PROJECT: GRATITUDE NYE PARTY
December 31. 2024 @ 8pm – 2am
Head to the 418 as they create the warmest New Year: dance the night away to Sitar Power and MaMuse, add your memories and dreams to the constellation sculpture, grab a Chai or a cocktail at the bars, enjoy an open mic with live music, and thrill to midnight aerial dance and spoken word as you welcome in 2025. Splash out and get a VIP table or grab a general admission ticket.

DOWNTOWN SANTA CRUZ: GRATEFUL DEAD NYE CELEBRATION
December 31, 2024 @ 9pm – 12:30am
The China Cats are a Grateful Dead tribute band based in Santa Cruz and are known for their creative jams and ability to capture the spirit of the Dead’s live shows.  Liquid Light Productions will be adding a light show, and there will be a balloon drop from the rafters of the gorgeously restored 1930’s era Chris Matthews Ballroom. Dress to the nines! There will be champagne at the Shakedown Street vendor market, and a fully decked out evening of dancing and merrymaking.

JOE’S BAR: NEW YEARS EVE PARTY
December 31, 2024 @ 9:30pm – 12:30am
Rock and Alt-Rock Dance all night long with power trio of Ted Welty (aka T. Rollin), Daniel Lewis, and Rop Ouse!  They will be covering ZZ Top, Cream, Pearl Jam, Robin Trower, Stone Temple Pilots, Rolling Stones, Black Crowes, Led Zeppelin, originals and much more.  If you haven’t been to Joe’s, you haven’t been to Boulder Creek! 

THE CROW’S NEST: FISHOOK NYE PARTY
December 31, 2024 @ 9pm – 12:30pm
Fishhook is the band that does not let up on the gas!  You will hear all your favorite songs “leveled up” the FISHHOOK way! Go experience some of the best Rock and Roll in town and bring friends for a party! There will be party favors and champagne toast! 

MOE’S ALLEY: SPACE DISCO NYE PARTY
December 31, 2024 @ 9pm – 12:30pm
Ring in the new year at Moe’s Ally with intergalactic funksters Space Heater plus DJ traveler!  There will be a countdown with a champagne toast, photo booth and more!  Get your funky disco threads on and party! 21+ only. 

CHAMINADE RESORT & SPA: NEW YEAR’S LATE NIGHT BASH
December 31, 2024 @ 9pm – 1am
Head to The View, a Treeside Restaurant to dance the night away to live music by Vintage Point at Chaminade’s 21+ New Year’s Party. Spend your evening ringing in 2025 while enjoying a champagne toast, assorted light bite desserts and a cash bar. Reserve dinner early for a memorable New Year’s Eve Dinner dining experience overlooking Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay.

CATALYST: NYE CELEBRATION
December 31, 2024 @ 9pm – 1am
Ring in the new year with Beats Antique, a world fusion and electronic music group that combines music, performance art, and storytelling into a stage show! There will be a special guest appearance from Yaima, a Cascadian Folktronic Duo that will blend some new age mysticism into your new year!  Ages 16 and up welcome.

SANTA CRUZ CIVIC CENTER: NYE GALACTIC BALL
December 31, 2024 @ 9pm – 1am
Get ready to ring in the New Year like never before!  Head to the Civic Center for an unforgettable night filled with magic, music and starlit celebrations! Dance to the stars, enjoy out of this world drinks, and blast off into the year 2025! 

LUPULO CRAFT BEER HOUSE: NYE GATHERING AND DANCE PARTY
December 31, 2024 @ 9pm – 1am
Ring in the new year with friends old and new at Lúpulo! Circle around a table and reminisce about the highlights of 2024, play a game, or put on your dancing shoes and boogie to the tunes of DJ Real Abstraction! Come as you are or get decked out in tails and sequins. NYE at Lúpulo is always a funky heart-warming good time! The event is free and is welcoming to all adults over 21.

ROSIE MCCANN’S: NYE 2025 CELEBRATION
December, 31, 2024 @ 9pm – 1am
Ring in the New Year with a bang at Rosie McCann’s! Dance the night away to DJ Miguel, enjoy delicious drinks, and savor festive appetizers. Celebrate with friends and loved ones as you count down to midnight with a champagne toast, balloon drop, and a sprinkle of Irish magic. – the perfect place to say goodbye to the old and hello to the new!

CHAMINADE RESORT & SPA: PJ BRUNCH
January 1, 2025 @ 7am – 1pm
Start the New Year off right with some mimosas, cider, hot cocoa, live jazz and an a la carte brunch. And all with 15% off if you show up in your pajamas!

FIRST DAY HIKES
January 1, 2025 (various times)
Kick off the new year with a First Day Hike at one of Santa Cruz County’s state parks! Hikes range in location, geography, and difficulty. Find first day hikes at Big Basin Redwoods State Park, Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, Castle Rock State Park, and Wilder Ranch State Park. Check the California State Parks website for more on reservations, times, trail and habitat information, and more.

THE FOREST OF NISENE MARKS STATE PARK: 1ST DAY HISTORY WALK
January 1, 2025 @ 9am – 1pm
Enjoy a four mile, four hour walk at George’s Picnic Area and take Loma Prieta Grade Trail to the Porter House site to the site where the town of Loma Prieta was located and the hidden spot deep in the redwood forest where marine fossils can be found. Participants will encounter the remains of the old lumber mill, follow the trail of the ghost trestles and learn about the wonders of the giant redwoods and their survival. Meet at Georges Picnic Area near the Winter Gate.

WILDER RANCH STATE PARK: 1ST DAY BACKCOUNTRY HIKE
January 1, 2025 @ 11am – 2pm
On this 2.5 mile family friendly walk, we’ll explore the plants, animals, and geology of the coastal bluffs. Meet next to park map in Wilder Ranch main parking lot. Rain cancels. 2.5 mile loop trail is easy, with no elevation. Meet by large map sign in Wilder Ranch parking lot for the Old Cove Landing Trail. Meet by large map sign in Wilder Ranch parking lot for the Old Cove Landing Trail. Vehicle day-use fee is $10.

BIG BASIN REDWOODS STATE PARK: 1ST DAY HIKE OCEAN VIEW SUMMIT
January 1, 2025 @ 11am – 2pm
Join a State Park docent and plant enthusiast for a first day hike at Big Basin starting at 11 a.m. from the Visitor Center. This hike will be a little over four miles in length with a steady climb up to the Ocean View Summit. Please allow at least 3 hours for this outing. Bring plenty of water, snacks and layers. Binoculars are optional!

SHADOWBROOK: NEW YEARS DAY FEAST
January 1, 2025 @ 2pm – 10:30pm
Make reservations for a New Year’s Day Feast at Shadowbrook.  Enjoy delicious food, beautiful views and transportation that makes travel part of the experience! Dress up nicely and enjoy a free shuttle service in a vintage taxi if you are staying within a 3-mile radius of Shadowbrook.  Or you can park and take the trolley through the gardens to the entrance.  Of course, there is nothing stopping you from meandering through the gardens on foot!  Either way, mark your calendars for the end of the year to secure your New Years adventure as soon as possible!