Celebrating New Year's Eve with champagne

9 Ways to Ring in The New Year in Boston

Last updated: Dec 2024


If you’re lucky enough to be in the city to welcome in 2025, there is no shortage of fun and unique ways to enjoy this celebratory holiday in true Boston style. From waterfront events to harbor classics, special end-of-year events hosted by the city’s luminaries and self-care rituals as the perfect reset to focus your sights on a healthy, happy year ahead, here’s a list of the best things to do in Boston for New Year’s Eve.

Attend First Night at City Hall Plaza

City Hall Plaza in Downtown Boston

Attending First Night in Boston on New Year’s Eve is a rite of passage for both locals and visitors. Its inaugural event in 1976 quickly caught on globally and has become a New Year’s Eve tradition in the city. This free event runs from 12 p.m. on Tuesday, December 31, 2024, through 12:30 a.m. on Wednesday January 1, 2025, and features a myriad of performances and exciting events including the First Night Parade starting at 6 p.m.

All activities culminate in the fireworks show at midnight - the perfect top-off to a day of sightseeing and merriment.

As a bonus, City Hall Plaza is only a short jaunt from Encore Boston Harbor and the resort’s ferry drop-off, making it the perfect location to travel between holiday adventures.

Settle In For Scrumptious Fare at Rare

Encore Boston Harbor Rare Steakhouse Main Dining

End the year on a delectable note with special New Year’s Eve menus to satisfy any craving from the restaurants at Encore Boston Harbor including Rare Steakhouse, Seamark Seafood & Cocktails, On Deck, and Red 8 - where guests can savor Peking Duck with Caviar and Stir-Fried Dungeness Crab with Ginger and Onion. Special offerings at Rare Steakhouse include Hamachi with truffle yuzu ponzu, chili threads, and toasted rice, Ricotta Gnudi with parmesan and fresh white truffles and Duck Breast with cherry jus and warm spices. Seamark has White Sturgeon Caviar, Lobster Bisque and Filet Mignon “Oscar” on its special menu and On Deck has a New Year’s Day brunch starting at 10 a.m. along with their late-night NYE offerings. All will be serving specialty cocktails, beer and wine by the glass and, of course, Champagne to toast the arrival of 2025.

Glam Up Before 2025

The interior of The Salon at Encore Boston Harbor

Get ready to start the new year with a fresh look at the Encore Boston Harbor Salon. Every pampering service is available by appointment, including manicure/pedicure sessions with signature Dazzle Dry polish; Bellami hair extensions for extra volume and pizzazz; cut-and-blowout packages for long-lasting results; and hair styling for everything from going-out looks to special occasion updos. Men can luxuriate in barber services like hot towel shaves and beard trims, to accompany their partners for the ultimate self-care session. Beyond the maintenance pampering, The Salon offers special occasion makeup sessions befitting a New Year’s Eve outing.

Catch A Local Film Showing

The Brattle Theater

Get avant-garde with the NYE itinerary at The Brattle, Boston’s centennial one-screen theater. STOP MAKING SENSE is a gripping recount of The Talking Heads at the height of their fame, set in one of Hollywood’s many golden ages for that star-powered flavor. As the show is back “by popular demand,” expect a lively soundtrack and vintage footage that smacks of a revolutionary yet unusual time in music history.

Brazen and lively, the showing takes place at 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 31.

Orchestra Performance at Boston Baroque

Orchestra on stage

Boston Baroque is transporting its guests into an auditory heaven for its 2024 New Year’s Eve performance led by Music Director Martin Pearlman and featuring a sparkling program with works by composers Bach and Vivaldi. The New Year’s Eve performance will be held at GBH’s Calderwood Studio, an intimate and immersive venue in Brighton beginning at 8 p.m. Tickets are available for purchase on the Boston Baroque website.

Ice Sculptures at First Night

First Night ice sculptures in Boston MA

While the entirety of First Night constitutes a visit, the First Night Ice Sculptures are a charming catch-as-catch-can event all on its own for all ages to enjoy.

This year, the ice sculptures make their dazzling return to First Night in celebration of the 250th Anniversary of Massachusetts, established in 1775. Sculptures will be located in City Hall Plaza and available for public viewing beginning at noon on December 31 to 12:30 a.m. on January 1. These delicate creations only exist for a limited time, with over 30 sculptures on full display for oohing and ahhing. Plan to join the Ice Sculpture Stroll using the interactive map to easily locate each sculpture — and still leave plenty of time for photo ops with the family.

See Exotic Animals and Light Displays at Stone Zoo

Zoo lights in Boston

Stone Zoo is featuring its annual ZooLights extravaganza through the year’s end. Combining the allure of exotic animal exhibits with the timeless enjoyment of holiday lights displays, every square foot brings cheer to carry on the winter season. For an exclusive event, holiday and birthday party rentals are available with stacked add-on amenities for the best bash ever, including fire pits, s’mores kits and caricature artists.


Explore the Stone Zoo activity page for additional winter events leading up to New Year’s Eve.

Take Fireworks Viewing to the Water

Fireworks at night in Boston

Looking for an exclusive view of the midnight fireworks show? A yacht party might just be the answer. Take the Northern Lights yacht out on the water after sunset to enjoy an NYE celebration in the company of other stylish partygoers. Each tour takes roughly three hours, and marks a picturesque ending to 2024 with loved ones and friends in tow. For an added twist, live music during the fireworks show aboard the Yacht Manhattan invites guests to dance and snap pictures to commemorate an unforgettable evening.

Hors d'oeuvres and cocktails are available on deck for yacht guests, with Champagne available for an additional fee.