From brewery celebrations to family friendly events—casual to swanky, free admission to pricy—there are plenty of things to do for New Year’s Eve this year. We all love new beginnings, so get 2019 started off right by bringing in the New Year with one of these great things to do on Monday, December 31, broken down by Brewery Fun, For the Family, and The 21+ Crowd:
Brewery Fun
First Midnight at 3 Points Urban Brewery, 9p–2a
The event: live DJs and dancing, plus performance art throughout the night
Tickets include: 10 drink tokens, midnight champagne toast, and late night snacks
Admission: $100 (tickets here)
Funk Off 2018! New Year’s Eve at Urban Artifact, 9p–1a
The event: funk music and wild beer
Admission: FREE
MadTree New Year’s Eve, 8p–2a
The event: live entertainment from 2nd Wind, The Colour of Rhythm, The Newbees, and DJ B-Funk
Tickets include: one complimentary drink of choice (beer, wine, or liquor), champagne toast, buffet appetizer spreads from Catch-a-Fire plus a midnight breakfast buffet, Photosphere photo booth, live Twitter/Instagram feed, and access to all featured entertainment.
Admission: $50–$70 per ticket (tickets here)
New Year’s and Chill with March First Brewing, 8p–1a
The event: laid back New Year’s Eve party hosted by March First Brewing and Distilling
Tickets include: open bar (beer, cider, hard seltzer, mixed drinks and wine), unlimited pizza, and a Voltage Vodka gift basket complete with a bottle and swag
Admission: $75 per person (tickets here)
New Year’s Celebration at Bircus Brewing Co., 7p–1a
The event: dress to move, fly, play, or come and enjoy an exciting evening of live music, beer, and circus entertainment
Admission: FREE
New Year’s Eve Bash at Brink Brewing, 4p–1a
The event: low-key-festive way to bring in the New Year, featuring live music and Che Empanadas food truck starting at 4p; free champagne toast for everyone with an open tab at midnight
Admission: FREE
New Year’s Eve Party at Sonder Brewing, 7p–1a
The event: an open taproom exclusively for party participants, limited to the first 200 tickets sold
Tickets include: unlimited Sonder beer and wine, NYE Sonder beer tapping, BrewRiver buffet, midnight toast, 32 oz crowler of Sonder Scarlet to take home, midnight coffee bar, and Uber discount code
Admission: $100 per guest (tickets here)
Paint the Town Black and White NYE 2019 at Rhinegeist, 8p–2a
The event: a night of film noir vintage elegance with beer, wine, and cocktails, as well as music by DJ Matt Joy and Jess Lamb and The Factory
Tickets include: themed photo booth and a two-tone midnight balloon drop
Admission: pre-sale – $20 (tickets here)
Taft’s NYE Disco Ball at Taft’s Ale House, 7p–1a
The event: Soul Train night with seated dinner, disco ball, and glow sticks—a throwback to the 70s with multiple chances to win prizes throughout the night
Seated Dinner tickets ($100) include: your choice of steak, chicken, or fish; welcome beer; four tasters of unique beers of the hour every hour; an extra raffle ticket (2 per person!) and a midnight toast
Standing Room tickets ($50) include: welcome beer, four tasters of unique beers of the hour every hour, one raffle ticket per person for hourly drawings, and a midnight toast
Admission: $50–$100 (tickets here)
Wiedemann’s New Year’s Eve, 6p
The event: 20s, speak easy-style party to celebrate the life of Carl Wiedemann’s lady friend Dorothy
Tickets include: buffet, party favors, and champagne toast at midnight
Admission: $25 each (call the brewery to reserve your spot, or get your ticket(s) in person)
For the Family
Happy Zoo Year at Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, 5–9p
The event: shows of Winter Wonders by Madcap Puppets and meet and greet with Father Time, plus Baby ZOO Year and the Zoo will cap off all celebrations with an EARLY countdown with fireworks presented by Rozzi Fireworks
Admission: free with standard zoo admission
International New Year’s Eve at Union Terminal, 11a–5p
The event: ring in the New Year in the restored rotunda with New Year customs, games, and music from around the world
Admission: free with standard museum admission
Midnight in Munich at Mecklenburg Gardens, 4–9p
The event: a Midnight in Munich (6pm Zinzinnati time) celebration with a champagne toast and a live stream of the Brandenburg Gate fireworks in Berlin
Tickets include: authentic German beer specials, hors d’oeuvres, and live music from in the Bier Hall (featuring Everything’s Jake) and the main bar, plus dinner served following the celebration, including a kid-friendly buffet in the Bier Hall
Admission: $15–$40 (tickets here)
New Year’s Eve at Music Hall, 8–11p
The event: music that blends the best of timeless cocktail hour pop (think Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole) with an upbeat champagne sparkle, with guest vocalist Ryan Silverman
Admission: standard admission applies (tickets here)
New Year’s Eve Blast on Fountain Square, 8p–1a
The event: family friendly New Year’s Eve hosted by Mix 94.9 Cincinnati with dancing, grub, ice skating, and goofy games, plus a fireworks display at midnight
Admission: FREE
New Year’s Eve Celebration at Perfect North
The event: skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing until midnight; party favors and a DJ in the lodge; midnight torchlight parade of ski instructors and ski patrol members gliding down the darkened slopes
Admission: lift tickets for 8 hours are $52; late night lift tickets (8pm–midnight) are $39; ski/snowboard rental is $28; tickets for tubing only are $27 for 2 hours and $32 for 3 hours
New Year’s Eve Kids Cruise at BB Riverboats, 11:30a–1:30p (boarding at 10:30a)
The event: bringing in the new year without having to stay up to the wee hours of the night, including a family friendly countdown to 2019 at noon and some of your favorite characters from their Pirate, Princess, and Superhero cruises
Tickets include: party favors, DJ, activities, lunch buffet
Admission: ages 4–12, $26; adults, $35 (tickets here)
New Year’s Eve at Winterfest (Kings Island), 5p–1a
The event: a number of events, including Snoopy’s Rockin’ Countdown Party, Charlie Brown’s New Year’s Eve Celebration, and midnight fireworks
Admission: free with regular admission (tickets here)
The 21+ Crowd
All That Glitters New Year’s Eve Party at Hotel Covington, 9p–2a
The event: doors at 8:45pm, with DJ TizieB kicking off the party at 9pm; FREE photo booth with instant print photos
General Admission tickets include: entrance to the upstairs party and one complimentary glass of champagne, as well as walk-up style street food available for purchase
VIP, Gold, and Premium ticket information can be found here.
Admission: $25 (general admission)–$250 (VIP experience)
An Elegant Affair: New Year’s Eve Celebration at Igby’s 9p–2:30a
The event: doors at 9pm, cocktail attire required
Tickets include: party favors, coat check, and music by DJ Ice Cold Tony
Admission: $30 (tickets here)
“Clink & Drink” New Year’s Eve at The Stretch, 8p–2:30a
The event: ball drop, champagne toast, and a donut bar
Tickets include: party favors, access to the donut bar, midnight champagne toast, and DJ entertainment
Admission: $25 (tickets here)
JACK Cincinnati Casino’s New Year’s Eve Celebrations
The event: food, drinks, and a toast to the new year, featuring aerial performers, a selfie station, showgirls, a capuchin monkey, and DJ’s Jessica the Ripper and Etrayn
Tickets include: two drink tickets and an all-access wristband
Admission: $50 (tickets here)
New Year’s Eve 2019 at The Madison!, 8p–1a
The event: hosted by B105 with a tap takeover by West Side Brewing, with DJ entertainment
Tickets include: drinks, appetizers, dinner (VIP only), and a midnight snack all prepared by their Executive Chef and culinary team
Admission: $100 and up (complete ticketing info can be found here)
New Year’s Eve at The Birdcage, 8:30p–12:30a
The event: drag show, dance music music from DJ Patrick B, and balloon drop at midnight
Tickets include: light bites and hors d’oeuvres, Absolut and Jameson drink specials, party favors, and a champagne toast
Admission: $25 pre-sale (tickets here), $35 at the door (if available)
New Year’s Eve at Somm Wine Bar, 5p–1a
The event: four-course menu with optional wine pairings and live music with Old Green Eyes and BBG
Admission: $65/person (four-course menu), wine pairings available for $24/person (call to make a reservation)
Q102 New Year’s Eve Party at Newport Syndicate, 6:30p–1a
The event: dinner, dancing, drinks, party favors, and entertainment by the Rusty Griswolds, Q102’s DJ Mark McFadden, and Gangsters Dueling Piano Bar
Ticketing options vary so click here for more
Admission: $85–$125—choose your package, tickets starting at $85 (tickets here)