New Jersey's Top New Year's Eve Events: Patch Picks

New Year’s Day is a time for resolutions, cleaning the slate, starting anew and getting your life together. It’s a time to forget about the trials and tribulations of the past, possibly reflect on the good things that happened over the previous 12 months and remember lessons learned along the way. It’s also probably the countdown to the day you break your first resolution.

But before any of that, it’s time to party, and in New Jersey, there are plenty of ways to do it. You could go to a house party or any number of nightclubs or bars hosting events. However, for those of us seeking alcohol free options, First Night is a popular pick. There are plenty throughout the state.

Morristown hosts the largest First Night in the state. There will be over 200 artists across 24 venues, ranging from dance to jazz to children-friendly performances. Attendees can enjoy fireworks at 9 p.m. Read more about Morristown’s First Night here.

Ocean City’s celebration includes three performances from the legendary Chubby Checker. He will perform three shows on the Music Pier as part of a lineup of more than 75 shows and activities at venues throughout Ocean City on Dec. 31, 2017. Read more about Ocean City’s First Night here.

Haddonfield’s First Night celebration turns 30 years old this year. This celebration features performances from The Duprees, The Trammps and The Screaming Orphans. Galumpha! combines stunning acrobatics, striking visual effects, physical comedy, and inventive choreography to create a sensory feast of images ranging from the ridiculous to the sublime. And there is plenty for the kids to do. Read more about Haddonfield’s First Night here.

First Night Ocean County, held on the boardwalk in Seaside Heights, begins at noon on Dec. 31 and goes through 5 p.m. and finishes with fireworks, weather permitting. There will be live performers, including jugglers, balloonists, facepainters and caricature portrait artists. Read more about Ocean County’s First Night here.

All these First Night events feature something fun for the kids. Other fun destinations for children include the Camden Aquarium, the Garden State Discovery Museum in Cherry Hill, Sahara Sam’s in Berlin and Sesame Place in Langhorne. A list of kid-friendly New Year’s Eve events can be found here.

Maybe exercise is your thing? Maybe it’s not and you just want to get started on one of your resolutions. Try the Glen Rock Midnight Run/Walk, a four-kilometer event that starts at 11:45 p.m. Read more about it and other events here.

If you live in North Jersey and you’re feeling adventurous, there’s always Times Square. Check out the New York City Patch's guide to New Year's Eve in the city here.

You can also see the ball drop in Times Square from Long Beach Island during the Ship Bottom Volunteer Fire Company’s New Year’s Eve bash. Read more about it here.

The next day, you might want to go for a nice leisurely stroll with man’s best friend. There is a special New Year’s Dog Walk in Basking Ridge. Read more about it and other events here.

Patch file photo