2017 flew by. It’s almost impossible to believe that the holiday season is already upon us and 2018 is just around the corner! Fortunately, if you have gotten caught up in the busyness of the season and have not yet made plans to ring in the New Year, Cleveland has you covered. Each year, the entire region comes to life as locals welcome the New Year with a burst of energy. Whether you are looking for a family-friendly celebration at noon or a romantic night on Cleveland’s coast, there are plenty of celebrations for you to choose from. These are some of our favorite ways to welcome in the New Year in The Land:

  1. See our own local Legends of Rock-and-Roll: The Cleveland POPS’ Orchestra!

Connor Bogart/Facebook For 22 years. this incredible New Year’s Eve Celebration has kicked off New Year after New Year in The Land. Beginning December 31 at 9 p.m., you will hear music from the 1950s through the present. You may recognize tunes from Elvis, Frank Sinatra, and Simon & Garfunkel, among others. Featured guest Connor Bogart O’Brien will keep you entertained. This two hour concert at Severance Hall will have spaces set up to dance in the Grand Foyer and Smith Lobby, so get ready to groove. This incredible performance is two decades strong, and it’s an out-of-this-world experience you’ll only find in Cleveland. Tickets are available here.

  1. Take a time machine back to the 80s.

Wilbert’s Food & Music/Facebook Maybe this year is finally the year where you can relive your favorite decade as you welcome the New Year. At Wilbert’s Food & Music, guests can “Party All The Way To ‘18” in outrageous costumes. The best costumes will win cash prizes, so go all out. 80s themed drinks will keep the night flavorful, as will the BBQ appetizers and midnight pizza buffet. If you haven’t any plans on New Year’s Eve, you might as well attend the most tubular event of 2017. Tickets are available here.

  1. Celebrate Noon Year’s Eve with the coolest cats in Cleveland.

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo/Facebook By the coolest cats, we mean the big cats at the zoo! On December 31st from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., you and the kids can welcome 2018 with a big dance party, special characters, and a countdown to the stroke of noon. This event is included with regular zoo admission, so what are you waiting for?!

  1. Welcome in the New Year with a roar!

tehusagent/Flickr The Cleveland Museum of Natural History will host a family-friendly celebration at noon on December 31. Balloon drops are overrated, so our local history museum drops a giant dinosaur egg instead. You won’t believe what special surprise awaits inside! Hands-on activities will make this visit especially memorable. The best part? It’s included with general admission!

  1. Start the New Year on the Nautica Queen.

Nautica Queen Cruise Dining Ship/Facebook At the New Year’s Eve Gala, you will spend five hours on an elegant excursion along Cleveland’s coast. You will enjoy hors d’oeuvres, an unlimited buffet, and a bottle of champagne per couple. A DJ will provide a soundtrack for the evening. From 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., you will adore your time aboard this iconic vessel. Tickets are available here.

  1. Pickwick & Frolic on East 4th Street.

loudigi/Flickr East 4th Street is absolutely magical by night, and it’s never more alive than on New Year’s Eve; every Clevelander must experience its energy at least once. Perhaps this year is the year, and in a few short weeks you’ll find yourself enjoying dinner and an incredible comedy show. Or, maybe you want to throw music and dancing into the mix. There is an incredible experience awaiting you on East 4th Street, and tickets are available here..

  1. Jump into the most hoppin’ Noon Year’s Eve celebration in the state.

The Jump Yard/Facebook Families will adore spending New Year’s Eve at The Jump Yard in North Royalton. An arcade, inflatable fun, family karaoke, and music will make this event unforgettable. Tickets are available here.

  1. Celebrate a century with Guarino’s Restaurant.

Guarino’s Restaurant/Facebook Locals know and love Guarino’s, and now you can be there to witness a historic moment in a Cleveland landmark. In 2018, the beloved Little Italy restaurant will celebrate a century of business. Kick off their big 1-0-0 with a huge celebration on December 31 from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Your elegant evening will include a dinner of calamari, prosciutto wrapped shrimp, bruschetta, meatballs & marinara, and antipasti, accompanied by two beverages and a midnight champagne toast. Tickets are available here.

  1. Take one last stroll through the Rocky River Reservation before 2017 ends.

Ben Stephenson/Flickr Join a naturalist at the Mastick Woods Golf Course parking lot for a 2.5 mile hike along parts of the Rocky River. For more information, click here.

There is so much to love right here in our hometown, and there truly is no place more welcoming. With so many ways to kick off the New Year, there is no excuse for a boring end to 2017.

Connor Bogart/Facebook

For 22 years. this incredible New Year’s Eve Celebration has kicked off New Year after New Year in The Land. Beginning December 31 at 9 p.m., you will hear music from the 1950s through the present. You may recognize tunes from Elvis, Frank Sinatra, and Simon & Garfunkel, among others. Featured guest Connor Bogart O’Brien will keep you entertained. This two hour concert at Severance Hall will have spaces set up to dance in the Grand Foyer and Smith Lobby, so get ready to groove. This incredible performance is two decades strong, and it’s an out-of-this-world experience you’ll only find in Cleveland. Tickets are available here.

Wilbert’s Food & Music/Facebook

Maybe this year is finally the year where you can relive your favorite decade as you welcome the New Year. At Wilbert’s Food & Music, guests can “Party All The Way To ‘18” in outrageous costumes. The best costumes will win cash prizes, so go all out. 80s themed drinks will keep the night flavorful, as will the BBQ appetizers and midnight pizza buffet. If you haven’t any plans on New Year’s Eve, you might as well attend the most tubular event of 2017. Tickets are available here.

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo/Facebook

By the coolest cats, we mean the big cats at the zoo! On December 31st from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., you and the kids can welcome 2018 with a big dance party, special characters, and a countdown to the stroke of noon. This event is included with regular zoo admission, so what are you waiting for?!

tehusagent/Flickr

The Cleveland Museum of Natural History will host a family-friendly celebration at noon on December 31. Balloon drops are overrated, so our local history museum drops a giant dinosaur egg instead. You won’t believe what special surprise awaits inside! Hands-on activities will make this visit especially memorable. The best part? It’s included with general admission!

Nautica Queen Cruise Dining Ship/Facebook

At the New Year’s Eve Gala, you will spend five hours on an elegant excursion along Cleveland’s coast. You will enjoy hors d’oeuvres, an unlimited buffet, and a bottle of champagne per couple. A DJ will provide a soundtrack for the evening. From 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., you will adore your time aboard this iconic vessel. Tickets are available here.

loudigi/Flickr

East 4th Street is absolutely magical by night, and it’s never more alive than on New Year’s Eve; every Clevelander must experience its energy at least once. Perhaps this year is the year, and in a few short weeks you’ll find yourself enjoying dinner and an incredible comedy show. Or, maybe you want to throw music and dancing into the mix. There is an incredible experience awaiting you on East 4th Street, and tickets are available here..

The Jump Yard/Facebook

Families will adore spending New Year’s Eve at The Jump Yard in North Royalton. An arcade, inflatable fun, family karaoke, and music will make this event unforgettable. Tickets are available here.

Guarino’s Restaurant/Facebook

Locals know and love Guarino’s, and now you can be there to witness a historic moment in a Cleveland landmark. In 2018, the beloved Little Italy restaurant will celebrate a century of business. Kick off their big 1-0-0 with a huge celebration on December 31 from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Your elegant evening will include a dinner of calamari, prosciutto wrapped shrimp, bruschetta, meatballs & marinara, and antipasti, accompanied by two beverages and a midnight champagne toast. Tickets are available here.

Ben Stephenson/Flickr

Join a naturalist at the Mastick Woods Golf Course parking lot for a 2.5 mile hike along parts of the Rocky River. For more information, click here.

You can make the most of the last few weeks of 2017 by visiting these awesome winter destinations.

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