Quirkeley knows one of the best ways to ring in the New Year is close to home. Whether you’re with a tribe or flying solo, here’s your last-minute guide to local parties and a daytime balloon drop for the kid in you.
Cheers to turning the page. Peace out 2017. Do better 2018.
All event descriptions are from the event’s website. Links to NYE dinners and bars are also listed below.
Triple Rock Brewery 1920 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley
Tickets $40
Get your groove on for a 90s New Year’s Prom at Triple Rock! We’re turning our Richter Room into a swanky school gym to say goodbye to 2017 with all the nostalgic throwback goodness you could hope for.
Your ticket is unlimited and all-inclusive, including:
• Hosted bar + free appetizers until midnight
• Dance floor + retro music
• Midnight champagne toast
• Not having to deal with the Bay Bridge
Dress up or dress down, this prom is for everyone. Save $10 off the door price by pre-purchasing your ticket online at triplerock-prom.eventbrite.com
Must be 21+ to attend. IDs will be checked at the door.
Jupiter 2181 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley
No Cover
New Year’s Eve with Sueños
Hip-Hop drum grooves, gospel harmonies, acoustic bass lines, bebop-tinged horns, and electronics define their sound, performing original music as well as covering music by artists like Roy Hargrove, Christian Scott, Kanye West, and J Dilla. Party favors and champagne toast at midnight!
http://www.suenosjazz.com
Spats 1974 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley
No Cover
This is a “FREE” event for the community, surrounding city’s and everyone else who wants to join in on all the fun without spending all your funds.
6pm Live Music by AMPM featuring Kalin Joshua Freeman Neo-Soul, Funk, RnB.
9pm-1am Karaoke hosted by Alphonso Brown aka Dj Zo
10pm-2am Dj’s on deck @Dj O’Aces & DJ Guru G of the Mixologist
La Peña 3105 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley
Tickets: $10 – $50
New Year’s Eve Party with Orquesta La Moderna Tradición & DJ José Ruíz
Enjoy New Year’s Eve with the timeless Afro-Cuban rhythms of Orquesta La Moderna Tradición! Orquesta La Moderna Tradición is rooted in traditional Cuban dance music of the 19th century (danzon), while also performing passionate boleros, surging salsa, and fierce timba grooves of recent decades.
Advance Tickets:
$35 – Standing Room Ticket “Advance Ticket” available between Dec. 26 – Dec. 31
$50 – Seated Ticket (seated with complimentary coat check) Limited tickets available.
At the Door:
$40 – Standing Room Ticket at the door
$10 – Late night entry fee at the door after midnight
*Please note there is extremely limited seating to make room for the dance floor. If you would like a guaranteed seat, Seated Tickets are available for purchase in advance.*
Ashkenaz 1317 San Pablo Avenue
Annual New Year’s Eve Balkan Bash: Édessa, Drómeno & more!
Doors at 7:30 pm; Show at 8:00 pm
For many years one of the Bay Area’s premier Balkan dance bands, Édessa is comprised of musicians who have devoted decades to the study and performance of the rich cultural expressions of the southern Balkans.
Seattle’s exuberant band Drómeno plays dance music from all over the Balkans, including the driving brass band music from the border of Greece and the former Yugoslavia, the mournful clarinet tunes from Ipiros and Albania, the energetic dance tunes from Greek and Bulgarian Thrace.
Lawrence Hall of Science 1 Centennial Drive, Berkeley
A ticketed event, but free with paid admission for guests.
The Annual New Year’s Eve Balloon Drop – A kid-friendly New Year’s celebration.
Advanced registration is highly recommended for this popular event.
Timed drops at 11am, 1pm, and 3pm
Members are free. Registration required. There may be a limited number of tickets still available on the day of the event, though not guaranteed. Please register for only one timed drop.
New Year’s Eve dinners
Drinks
- Acme Bar & Company
- The Albatross
- Au Coquelet
- Bobby G’s – closes at 11pm
- East Bay Spice Company
- Eureka!
- Field Work Brewing – regular hours/closes at 10pm
- Longbranch
- Melo Melo Kava Bar
- Missouri Lounge – DJ’s Jelplo and Steve Jeloki
- Nick’s Lounge – karaoke
- The Starry Plough Pub – free live music
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