Listen, getting into pajamas at a reasonable hour and falling asleep before the ball drops, snug as a bug, is perfectly acceptable. But if you want to say farewell to 2024, and hello to 2025, with something a little more exciting than a cozy pajama night, we've got you covered.
It is, after all, still the holiday season, and you are well within your rights for a bit more glamor and making merry.
There are dinners, parties, karaoke, and much more planned around the SouthCoast, plus some New Year's Day events, like brunch, to help you recover from the night before.
Here are some New Year's Eve and New Year's Day events planned around the SouthCoast:
The Cove Restaurant, 392 Davol St., Fall River, will be hosting its annual New Year's Eve Celebration, starting at 6 p.m.
It all begins with hors d'oeuvres, and then the buffet dinner begins at 7 p.m. There will be live music by He Said, She Said at 9 p.m., and a New Year's toast, followed by snacks at midnight.
This year's menu includes passed hors d'oeuvres like lobster arancini, crab cakes, sausage-stuffed mushrooms, spring rolls, and chicken and waffles. Stationary hors d'oeuvres include displays of fresh fruit, charcuterie, cheese and crackers, and bruschetta, plus shrimp cocktail shooters.
The buffet will include garden salad, chicken penne pasta, chicken marsala, Portuguese stuffed pork loin, shrimp Mozambique, steak tips, and more, plus a prime rib carving station. There will also be assorted desserts, as well as coffee and tea.
Midnight snacks will include chicken sliders, chicken salad pinwheels, and Italian finger sandwiches.
Tickets are $125, and include gratuity.
This event is for guests age 21 and older. Purchase tickets by stopping by, or calling 508-672-4540.
The New Bedford Whaling Museum, 18 Johnny Cake Hill, is hosting a couple of events on New Year's Eve.
On Tuesday, Dec. 31, from 5:15 to 7:15 p.m., celebrate a free New Year's Eve at the Whaling Museum, with the lively Toe Jam Puppet Band dancing and performing interactive silly songs. This event promises fun for kids of all ages, and the kids at heart.
There will be three shows in the Jacobs Family Gallery, from 5:15 to 5:45 p.m., 6 to 6:30 p.m., and 6:45 to 7:15 p.m.
Also on New Year's Eve, from 8 to 10 p.m., enjoy a New Year's Eve Celebration with a photo booth, desserts, cocktails, African drumming, and a fireworks display over New Bedford Harbor, viewed from the Harbor View Gallery terrace.
The welcome reception is at 8, and the African drumming performance with percussionist Sidy Maiga and company begins at 8:15 p.m.
Enjoy the fireworks display at 8:30, and an interactive drumming circle at 9 p.m.
When the event concludes at 10 p.m., the Whaling Museum will recommend nearby bars and activities for those guests who want to continue their New Year's Eve celebrations.
Find tickets online at https://www.whalingmuseum.org/program/new-years-eve-celebration/.
The City of New Bedford's New Year's Celebration will feature a range of activities.
There will be plenty of excitement for guests of all ages, with live music, magicians, and even fire spinning.
Adults looking to unwind can enjoy live jazz with The Buttonwood Brass Band from 6 to 10 p.m. in the lobby of the New Bedford Harbor Hotel, 222 Union St.
Local restaurants and food trucks will be offering meals and quick bites too, as guests explore various entertainment venues throughout the downtown area.
Food trucks will be available from 5 to 10 p.m. and will include BBQ Y Mas, Fancheezical, Piononos, Uncle Joey's Cannoli, Berry Sweets, Blount Clam Shack, Tandoori, and Adobe Republic.
The city's New Year's Eve programming is family-friendly and free, with entertainment running between 5 and 8 p.m.
In addition to events at the New Bedford Whaling Museum, other festivities will include:
Restrooms will be available at entertainment venues, and there will be portable restrooms at the City of New Bedford municipal parking lot at the corner of Union and Water streets.
For more information, visit https://explorenewbedford.org/special-events/new-years/.
Primo on Water Street, 36 Water St., Fall River, is hosting a lowkey New Year's Eve.
They're celebrating early, from 5 to 9 p.m., and this is a no-fuss event: you can dress up, or not.
There will be a champagne toast, plus yuca croquettes, garlic shrimp, surf and turf, stuffed chicken parm, stuffed salmon, and more. Sweets will include flan, cheesecake, and more. There will be sandwiches at midnight too.
The menu will include hors d'oeuvres, stuffed chicken, roast pork, Cajun salmon, potatoes, carrots, rice, and much more. They'll also have shrimp, mussels, and little necks over bow tie pasta, and a chef's carving station with ham, prime rib, and roast turkey. There will also be dessert, champagne, and a photo booth.
Tickets are $95.95 per person. Call 508-679-5010.
Venus de Milo Restaurant, 75 Grand Army of the Republic Hwy., Swansea, is hosting their New Year's Eve celebration starting at 6 p.m.
There will be two parties under one roof, with live music, food, party favors, and dancing.
DJ Steve will be providing music to dance to. There will be appetizers, soup, bacalhau, grilled chicken, potatoes, rice, dessert, and more. At midnight, the restaurant will serve champagne and caldo verde.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the buffet dinner will begin at 7 p.m. Their Chinese buffet will be served after midnight.
The DJ bashes will be "Old School Classics" with DJ George Ayoub Jr., and "Today's Hottest Hits" with GS DJs and Lighting.
Guests can enjoy two buffets and two parties, with one ticket.
Enjoy a complimentary mimosa or Bloody Mary, while feasting on scrambled eggs, hash browns, sausage, seafood pasta, smoked salmon, ham, sweet bread French toast, omelets, doughnuts, and pastries.
There will be coffee too, of course.
Adult tickets are $35, and tickets for children 12 and under are $16.
Find tickets online at https://tinyurl.com/af6pxvdm.
Bittersweet Farm Restaurant and Tavern, 438 Main Road, Westport, is celebrating New Year's Eve in the tavern from 2 to 10 p.m.
The bar will be open until 12:30 a.m., and Bad Penny Duo will be playing live music from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Dinner will be served on the main floor from 4 to 9 p.m.
Lacey Cheryl 5 will ring in the new year at Oriental Pearl, 576 State Rd., Westport.
Children of all ages are welcome, so they can enjoy some New Year's festivities without having to stay up until midnight.
There will be a countdown to noon, with confetti, and a balloon drop. Plus there will be glow-in-the-dark decorations, music and dancing, and games and activities.
This event is funded by the Friends of the Somerset Public Library.
There will be Latin, Hip-Hop, and Afro beats played by DJ AZ-IS, and champagne toast at midnight. You'll have to dress to impress for this event.
There will be raffles, games, a door prize, and a champagne toast at midnight.
Food will include lasagna, meatballs with sub rolls, assorted finger sandwiches, potato salad, stuffies, and more.
Everyone age 21 and older is welcome to this celebration.