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Fun & Festive New Year's Eve Celebrations Last Updated: November 2022
Ring in the New Year at one of Connecticut’s festive New Year’s Eve and First Night celebrations! Be sure to plan an entertaining outing of celebration and cheer with family and friends this year. And be on the lookout for newly added events here.
Here’s what’s in store for welcoming in the New Year:
Family Fun Celebrations
Celebrate the New Year through the arts at First Night Hartford! This multi-cultural, artistically unique, family-friendly event features a “scavenger hunt” style walk through downtown – plus two dazzling fireworks shows (6 p.m. and midnight) in Bushnell Park. Bring the crew to Hartford’s first holiday market, Winterfair, which features holiday-themed activities, vendors, and pop-up kiosks. The event is running for 23 days, but all culminates on New Year’s Eve for the annual First Night Hartford celebration. Also, in Hartford at the XL Center, have fun watching the Hartford Wolf Pack hockey game that begins at 5:30 p.m. on December 31st against the Springfield Thunderbirds.
Families with young children can end the year with a daytime celebration in Niantic - Countdown to Noon - where kiddos will meet live animal friends, make crafts, devour pizza, and capture memories in the photo booth.
Or, try a little night skiing at the New Year's Eve Ski & Torchlight Parade at New Hartford's Ski Sundown.
Grown-up Fun
Make your resolution to party in style at any one of these great events going on around the state:
- Festivities for all ages take place all across Mohegan Sun, including a New Year's Eve Party and plenty of nightlife options.
- In Old Saybrook, the Saybrook Point Resort & Marina is ringing in the New Year with a sit-down dinner, live entertainment and a night of dancing.
- Foxwoods Resort Casino offers special activities at their different musically-themed hotels.
- Laugh your way into 2023 with a comedy show with Jimmy Cash at City Steam Brewery in Hartford.
- Ring in the New Year with a rock concert from Wicked Peach plus a champagne toast at The Hilton Mystic’s New Year’s Eve Bash.
- Gather together for an evening of great wine, a delicious menu, live music, and dancing at Aquila's Nest Vineyards' New Year's Eve Dinner & Live Music, located in Newtown.
Ease into 2023
Many Connecticut hotels are offering New Year’s Eve packages, so plan now and book early.
- At the Water’s Edge Resort and Spa in Westbrook, you can stay the night and enjoy a four-course dinner and dance party.
- In Simsbury at Millwright's, celebrate New Year's Eve with a prix fixe dinner among their Greenhouse or on the Bridge, an ideal setting for a holiday gathering.
- And if you’re looking to just get away and enjoy the peace of a beautiful hotel room, try these great places to stay throughout the state.
Here’s to a wonderful 2023!