Boston’s First Night has been a New Year’s Eve tradition since 1975, featuring midnight fireworks over the Boston Harbor, as well as ice sculptures, light displays, and cultural and musical performances. But, if you’re looking to stay closer to home this year, and don’t want to skimp out on the activity, fear not: The North Shore is chock full of events for every age, budget, and taste, including some of its own First Night celebrations. Here is a list of New Year’s Eve events in and around the North Shore that we’ve rounded up:
BEVERLY
Peter Wolf’s New Year’s Eve Party + Andrea Gillis Brand
A Cure for Loneliness, Peter Wolf‘s most recent release, manifests the same vibrant passion for music that’s motivated Peter for most of his life. Growing up in an artistic, politically engaged family in the Bronx, he became an early rock & roll convert after attending an Alan Freed rock & roll revue that included performances by Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, and Frankie Lymon. His thirst for new and old sounds drove him to exploring blues, soul, country, folk, and jazz, inspiring weekly visits to Harlem’s Apollo Theatre and leading to acquaintances with many of the music’s surviving originators.
Tickets: $42.50-$78.50. 8 p.m. The Cabot, 286 Cabot St., Beverly, thecabot.org
Beverly’s New Year 2018
This year the event will feature a 32-foot mobile video gaming truck and train rides. This is the 24th annual Beverly’s New Year and it’s the North Shore’s best family-friendly celebration. Beverly’s New Year Grand Procession parade is at 6 p.m. and Kids’ Countdown beach ball drop is at 6:45 p.m. Each year, 2,500 people gather for the beach ball drop, when hundreds of beach balls are dropped to the crowd in front of 248 Cabot Street.
The admission buttons are required for the following activities and performances: Train Rides, 32-foot Video Game Truck, Curious Creatures, Teen Band Jam, Arts and Crafts, Magic Show, and Mad Science Show. Children age 2 and under are free.
Early bird buttons only $5 until December 20; regular price buttons $8.
Note: New street closure – Cabot Street will be closed from Pond Street to Bow Street.
GLOUCESTER
Ring in the New Year on the beautiful Gloucester Harbor this year with celebrations hosted by Beauport Cruiselines! The festivities begin on Sunday, December 31, from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 p.m., with a night packed full of fun entertainment and delicious food to share with friends and family. For this New Year’s Eve celebration, guests can enjoy a cocktail-style menu of passed hors d’oeuvres such as crab cakes, chicken satay, beef Wellington, Philly cheese steak, and raspberry and apricot brie, or snack from a delicious fresh fruit and cheese board. Guests can also feast on a full mac and cheese bar and a take-out Chinese food station. Those with a sweet tooth can indulge in cookies and brownies for dessert. Dance into the new year with music from 360 DJ’s featuring Mighty Cosmic D while enjoying extraordinary views of the city’s downtown Rocky Neck, Eastern Point, Ten Pound Island, Stage Fort Park, and Hammond Castle from the two-level deck or from the two elaborate dining floors. Tickets for this New Year’s Eve celebration can be purchased for $64 per person (no children’s pricing available).
Tickets: $64. 8:30 p.m. Beauport Cruiselines, 6 Rowe Square, Gloucester, beauportcruiselines.com
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HAMPTON BEACH
Hampton Beach Fireworks
Bring a blanket and the whole family to experience the magic of the night sky lit by a display of beautiful fireworks.
Free. 8 p.m. 169 Ocean Boulevard, Hampton Beach, New Hampshire, hamptonbeach.org
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LYNNFIELD
?MarketStreet Lynnfield New Year’s Eve Family Block Party
The fourth annual New Year’s Eve Family Block Party will be bigger and better than ever. Revelers can dance the evening away with beats from MarketStreet Lynnfield’s resident DJ Rick DeSanctis, enjoy street performers such as LED light jugglers, pose with festive live statues, commemorate the moment in the complimentary New Year’s Eve themed photo booth, and take advantage of discounted ice skating at The MarketStreet Rink presented by Lahey Health. Capping off the festivities, MarketStreet Lynnfield will count down to 7:00 p.m. and shower crowds with a colorful burst of 50 pounds of confetti.
Free. 5 p.m. Market Street, 600 Market St., Lynnfield, marketstreetlynnfield.com
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NEWBURYPORT
New Year’s Eve Party with Soul Robot and Analog Heart
Start the New Year with a great night out at The Grog—live music, dancing and a whole lot of fun!
$10 cover. 7 p.m. The Grog, 13 Middle St., Newburyport, thegrog.com
PORTSMOUTH
First Night Portsmouth
Since 1986, Portsmouth has come alive on New Year’s Eve with an annual celebration – featuring music, dance, children’s activities, street performers and ice sculptures – known as First Night® Portsmouth. First Night® Portsmouth affords our Community the opportunity to come together as one, reflecting on the year that has passed and looking forward with hope and great anticipation to the year ahead. Entertainment takes place in many of our historic buildings, churches and civic centers. The event is non-alcoholic, non-smoking and features activities and performances that appeal to all ages.
$15 for adult button, required for indoor events. 4 p.m. Market Square, Portsmouth, New Hampshire; visit proportsmouth.ticketleap.com for tickets.
Rockport New Year’s Eve
RNYE’s most important event of the year, and the one for which the organization is named, is the celebration of the arts on New Year’s Eve. The evening is designed to be an impressive, “small seacoast town” version of First Night celebrations held throughout the country. New Year’s Eve in Rockport is a treasured tradition enjoyed by Cape Ann residents and visitors.
The celebration begins at 6 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. New Year’s Eve entertainment is scheduled on the hour, every hour, from 6 p.m. to midnight, with 15 minute breaks in between each 45-minute session to allow attendees to walk from venue to venue and venue managers to reset for the next act. The entertainment options scheduled throughout the evening are culturally diverse and suitable for all ages. Musical acts may include folk, Celtic, blues, reggae, calypso, rhythm and blues, rock and roll, funk, soul, bagpipes, gospel, songs of the sea, ‘50s and ‘60s doo wop, country, western swing, African pop, New Orleans jazz, big band, and a cappella. Other entertainment may include clowns, jugglers, puppeteers, story tellers, face painters, dancers, psychic readers, and telescope viewing with the astronomy club. Children of all ages participate in the drum jam and parade through the downtown streets, with a large dancing dragon and costumes. At midnight, attendees gather in Dock Square to watch the ball drop from the highest ladder of the town fire truck and sing “Auld Lang Syne”.
Buttons: $8.50-$12.50, Downtown Rockport, RockportNYE.org
SALEM
Launch! New Year’s Eve in Salem
Come ring in the New Year at Old Town Hall! The City of Salem and Salem Main Streets are teaming up to throw LAUNCH!, the third annual New Year’s Eve party, on 31 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Old Town Hall and Derby Square.
This event is free to all and family-friendly, with a $5 suggested donation to help support Salem Main Streets’ “Holiday Happenings” initiatives, including the wreaths and ribbons around the downtown, the Holiday Tree, and LAUNCH! There will be an early countdown promptly at 6 p.m.
Free. 4 p.m. Old Town Hall, 32 Derby Square, Salem, salemmainstreets.org
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New Year’s Eve: Cocktails Around the World at Deacon Giles Distillery
Join Deacon Giles Distillery for New Year’s Eve for ‘Cocktails Around the World!’ Every hour, starting at 4 pm, we’ll celebrate New Year’s with a different country and a cocktail designed just for it! We’ll also live stream the celebration in each country, as their ball drops, on the big screen!
Here’s the catch, the cocktail will only be available for the hour following its country’s celebration… Then it’s on to the next! Follow the Facebook event for a complete list of countries/cocktails.
This event is 21+ only.
$5 cover, includes light snacks. 4 p.m. Deacon Giles Distillery, 75 Canal Street, Salem, deacongiles.com
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New Year’s Eve Dinner at the Hawthorne Hotel
Enjoy an a la carte menu in Nat’s and Sophia’s accompanied by live piano. Reservations strongly recommended. For reservations, please call 978-825-4311.
6 p.m. Hawthorne Hotel, 18 Washington Square W, Salem, hawthornehotel.com/event/new-years-eve-dinner
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SWAMPSCOTT
First Night Swampscott
No need to take your family into Boston to have fun on New Year’s Eve. Swampscott has lots of great performances and fun right at home at the high school.
2:30 p.m.-3:15 p.m.—Chris Poulos Bicycle Stunt Show
3:45 p.m.-4:30 p.m.— Magic Show with Mr. Magichead
4:45 p.m.-5:45 p.m.—Curious Creatures
2:00 p.m.-5:45 p.m.—Photo Booth, Face Painting and New Year’s Eve Craft in the Cafeteria
5:45 p.m.—Countdown and Balloon Drop from second floor
Purchase tickets ahead of time; be sure to print out and bring your ticket(s) with you. Tickets are $10 per family and can be purchased here.
2 p.m. Swampscott High School, 200 Essex Street, Swampscott, town.swampscott.ma.us/home/events/17273