Happy New Year’s Eve! I’m back from my winter blogging break to send you all my warmest wishes for the New Year. I still can’t believe 2014 is coming to an end. It’s been a great year for me and the blog and I have all of you to thank for it!
Tonight, I’ll be ringing in the New Year here at home with a bottle of wine and whole lot of fireworks. My neighborhood basically puts on its own fireworks display, so I will have front row seats from the comfort and warmth of my own home. But, here are a few other places that will definitely be partying it up and giving our fireworks some competition:
Best New Year’s Eve Parties Around the World
Las Vegas
In Las Vegas, where the party never stops, New Year’s Eve calls for taking things to a whole other level. Celebrity-hosted nightclub parties, world-class shows, and lively casinos offer an endless night of possibilities complete with a fireworks extravaganza over the Las Vegas Strip. Just remember what happens in Vegas doesn’t always stay in Vegas.
Sydney
By ringing in the New Year in Sydney, you can be one of the first in the world to welcome 2015. Well, you and more than a million other people who crowd along the waterfront for a perfect view of the fireworks and Harbour Light Parade, during which 50 illuminated boats float on by. You might even be able to spot Dory heading for 42 Wallaby Way!
Berlin
If you fancy getting dressed up and enjoying some pancakes for New Year’s, then Berlin just might be the place for you. Every New Year’s Eve, Berlin hosts the annual pancake race where runners in fancy dress follow routes along the Grunewalk neighborhood while flipping pancakes. They have really perfected the art of working out – work up an appetite, while preparing your after workout snack. Excellent!
At night, one million people gather around the Brandenburg Gate and Victory Column for one of Europe’s largest open-air street parties, featuring live bands and DJs. The party has been known to last all night so be prepared to greet the sunrise. And if you’re lucky, you might even see the Hoff himself, who has performed in previous years.
Edinburgh
Nobody takes the New Year more seriously than The Scots! They even have their own word for the last day of the year – Hogmanay. Edinburgh has one of the most elaborate Hogmanay festivals in Scotland complete with live musical performances and a dazzling fireworks display over the castle. At daybreak, the brave (or those still infused with a bit of liquid courage) can join in the tradition of taking a very cold dip in the River Forth for the annual Loony Dook plunge for charity. It’s a sure fire way to sober you up after all that New Year’s booze!
Hong Kong
In Hong Kong, New Year’s Eve is celebrated with a spectacular light show. From the Kowloon side of Victoria Harbour, you can watch as the sky comes to life in a flash of fireworks and pyrotechnics bursting from the top of the city’s most iconic skyscrapers. The best part is, the show is repeated a few months later for the Chinese New Year.
Rio de Janeiro
If any city truly knows how to throw a party, it’s Rio. While Carnival attracts more visitors every year than any other event, the New Year’s Eve celebration at Copacabana Beach is definitely something else. About 2 million people show up dressed in white, which means good luck, for a day and night filled with live music, drinks, and a 20-minute-long fireworks extravaganza. This celebration is considered one of the largest in the world.
London
It’s no surprise that London made the list. It’s one of my favorite cities and has its own version of the ball drop – a countdown to the ticking hands of Big Ben. Prime firework-viewing spots do sell out quickly, but there are so many other ways to enjoy the evening – book a dinner cruise down the Thames to be in the center of the actions or dance the night away at one of a dozen nightclubs. The city will be celebrating into the wee hours of the morning.
New York
It may be a bit cliché, but there’s still something magical about watching the ball drop over Times Square. The tradition began in 1907, and since then, the horde of people that descends on Times Square on New Year’s Eve has gotten larger and rowdier. But, this celebration also boasts an awesome lineup of live performances and celebrity appearances that many would love to witness in person.
