Looking to welcome the New Year with the whole family, or just not feeling up to partying all night? There are tons of amazing events happening around Southern California that would be right up your alley. Here are some of my favorite free (or close to free) things to do for New Year’s.
New Year’s Eve Events: A Rosy Afternoon
The 127th Rose Parade in Pasadena begins 8 am on January 1st. Although you have to pay for seated locations, standing alongside the curb is free. All of the floats seen at the parade are made primarily of flowers, and compete for one of 24 awards each year. At the end of the parade the floats are parked near Victory Park and displayed for 2 days after the parade. The event is nationally broadcasted, so if you can’t make it to the parade itself, you can always catch it on TV!
New Year’s Eve Events: Grand Times at Grand Park
Ring in the New Year in the heart of Downtown LA! Whether you enjoy art, music or local food, this event has something everyone will enjoy. Grand Park will be host to large art installations, three live music stages and tons of street vendors. Organizers are preparing for a huge crowd of up to 50,000 people, so the event will be huge! Instead of a ball drop, the City Hall will be lit up with light projections counting down the final seconds of the old year. Best of all, the event is completely free!
New Year’s Eve Events: Dance the Night Away
Love jazz? Hermosa Beach is hosting a party featuring Lou Giovannetti and his 18-piece big band orchestra. Admission to the event is free, and anybody is welcome to come. There will be two ball drops, one at 9 pm and another at midnight, for those who prefer to go home early or stay up late. This swinging shindig is fun for the whole family, so bring the little ones with you!
Where’s your favorite family-friendly NYE event? Tell me about ti in the comments section!