It’s party time: 8 things to do on New Year’s Eve in Portland

Published 12:00 pm Saturday, December 28, 2024

You might want to stay home and ring in the New Year with family and friends.

You might want to go to a party or a bar to celebrate with others.

You might want to go out for live music or a show.

Whatever it may be, there’ll be plenty of options for New Year’s Eve, Tuesday, Dec. 31 in Portland, including a return to a public celebration at Pioneer Courthouse Square.

Here are 8 things to do on New Year’s Eve, as we look forward to 2025:

There’ll be a large-scale, free, 1980s-2000s dance party with high-quality sound and videos (starting at 8 p.m.) and two live drone shows (starting at 9 p.m.) at Pioneer Courthouse Square on New Year’s Eve, and a countdown to the New Year at midnight (thesquarepdx.com). It’s a partnership of The Square, City of Portland, Prosper Portland’s Office of Events & Film and True West. A bar will be open (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) and food available from the likes of Nacheaux, Tacos Fita, Rollin’ Fresh and The Block.

A big show: “Michael Feinstein in Because of You: My Tribute to Tony Bennett Featuring The Carnegie Hall Ensemble,” 7:30 p.m., presented by Oregon Symphony (orsymphony.org); supported by the Carnegie Hall Ensemble, Michael Feinstein and a big band pay a heartfelt tribute to the legendary Tony Bennett, bringing his iconic songs to life in a symphony of sound. The performance will feature hits such as “Because of You,” “Rags to Riches,” “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” “The Best is Yet to Come,” “I Get a Kick Out of You,” “Stranger in Paradise,” and many more. (Oregon Symphony does not perform.)

Bring the whole family to Oaks Amusement Park’s roller rink for an all-ages skate party, 7 p.m.-1 a.m.. There’ll be a live DJ, skate specials, party favors, and a countdown to midnight (oakspark.com).

Live Music: The Garcia Birthday Band plays Mission Theater at 9 p.m. (albertarosetheatre.com); Jerry Joseph and the Jackmormons perform at Star Theater, 9 p.m. (startheaterportland.com); Leftover Salmon puts on a New Year’s Eve concert at Revolution Hall, 9 p.m. (revolutionhall.com).

The Annual Sobriety Powwow, put on by Native American Rehabilitation Association of the Northwest, takes place at Oregon Convention Center, Tuesday and Wednesday, 6 p.m.-midnight. It’s free and open to the public, and includes drums, songs and dance (naranorthwest.org).

At Alberta Rose Theatre, it’s “All in the Family New Year’s Eve” burlesque with live music by Pink Lady & The Tramps and The Nowhere Band playing a set of 1970s music, 9:30 p.m. (albertarosetheatre.com).

Champagne Ball takes place at Hyatt Regency Portland, 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. (tickets $125 and up, champagneball.com). It’s been a popular NYE party for many years nd features Portland’s top entertainment, multiple bars, fantastic food, amazing party vibes, awesome party favors, and a massive video countdown at midnight. Music is by Dancehall Days, DJ DOC ROCK, DJ Sugar, and Star Karaoke; the Champagne Ball showgirls are back to hype the crowd and keep everyone moving. New this year: All reserved seat tickets include a three-course plated dinner to start the night; platinum reserved seat tickets include table service all night.

The Portland Winterhawks play a home game pretty much every year on New Year’s Eve. This year, the Western Hockey League team plays Everett at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31 at Veterans Memorial Coliseum (winterhawks.com).