New Year's Eve in Los Angeles: Ring in 2017 with Fireworks, Festivals, Dancing and Dining

LOS ANGELES, CA -- Perhaps it’s fitting that a series of storms will usher out the tumultuous year of 2016, but a little rain shouldn’t stop us from welcoming 2017 in style. And if there is one thing you can say about LA, it’s that Los Angeles knows how to party.

Whether it be a romantic dinner for two, a party with 50,000 of your closest friends, a concert, a family friendly free event, or fireworks extravaganza, Patch has you covered.

Here’s what’s happening around LA County on New Year’s Eve:

Noon Year's Eve at Kidspace Children's Museum

For the little ones (and parents) too tired to make it to midnight, the Kidspace Children’s museum New Year’s celebration culminates at noon with dress-up, noisemakers, sparkling cider and a massive balloon drop. Museum officials advise you to arrive early as anyone in line after 11:15 may not make it inside for the balloon drop.

Family New Year's Eve Celebration at L.A. Zoo Lights

The LA Zoo is selling a special New Year’s Eve pass for its nightly L.A. Zoo Lights which enables you to “skip the line” and enjoy a buffet dinner, a DJ Dance party, a carousel ride, games and a live broadcast of the Times Square Ball Drop.

GRAND PARK + THE MUSIC CENTER - N.Y.E.L.A.

If a quiet low-key celebration sounds dull to you, then head to Grand Park where 50,000 people are expected to celebrate together at a free, family-friendly festival with three stages featuring live music, DJs, dancing, food vendors, and 3D exhibitions.

A Dream Disco

For the 21 and over crowd, Ace Hotel invites you to, “Ring in the new year with us. Together may we levitate wildly in sweet release of things past and open hearts for those yet to come. Dinner, dancing and flutes raised, for everyone everywhere. Special DJ sets from Blue Hawaii, Infamous Boogieman, Sebastian Cowan, Cooper Saver, Sage Caswell, & Jen Ferrer on deck spinning disco, house, funk, soul and boogie.”

Prohibition NYE

Party like it’s 1924! The prohibition is back at the Ticket Concourse at Union Station with illicit cocktails, live jazz, touring DJs, a burlesque show, and a 60 foot, midnight ball-drop celebration! Roaring Twenties attire is encouraged and formal attire is required, so don your flapper dress or your zoot suit to ring in the New Year.

Roaring 20s

The Fonda Theatre in Hollywood is also celebrating the New Year in 1920s style with flappers, VIP dining and rooftop casino, live music, raffles, a DJ and midnight ball drop. Roaring Twenties attire is encouraged and semi-formal attire is required.

Queen Mary

The annual Queen Mary New Year’s Eve celebration is a Long Beach tradition. The evening features dining, dancing and a midnight fireworks show above the Pacific Ocean. Guests can stroll the ship’s deck and enjoy a series of movie-themed parties inspired by The Godfather, Urban Cowboy, Mambo Kings, Avatar and more.

Marina del ReY Fireworks Show

Why celebrate the New Year just once when you can do it twice? Marina Del Rey will host two fireworks displays on New Year’s Eve - one at 9 p.m. to coincide with the Times Square Ball drop and again at the stroke of midnight. Guests are invited to Burton Chace Park to watch a live broadcast of the Times Square celebration and a front-row seat for the two fireworks displays.

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Catch one LA’s quintessential punk bands still going strong after four decades. The band will play the Roxy New Year’s Eve. The band still tours with the original line-up of John Doe, Exene Cervenka, Billy Zoom, and D.J. Bonebrake. On New Year's Eve, Foo Fighters guitarist Chris Shiflett will perform the opening set.

Romantic Dinners

Sometimes you just want to ring in the New Year with your favorite person, good wine and good food. For that, your options are endless, but here are a couple high-end experiences:

71Above is the tallest restaurant on the West Coast, and on Dec. 31, it’s the best place to see fireworks while drinking champagne and eating poached oysters, caviar, New York prime steak with truffle, poached lobster and more. Meals are $250 per person.

Baltaire, Brentwood's garden oasis, will feature live jazz and a "Midnight in Paris" theme with gourmet fare at $250 per person. Reservations can be made at 424.273.1660.

Image: Public Domain via Pixabay