New Year’s Eve light show in Prospect Park and more fun for Brooklyn families

Ring in the new year with a restive light display over Prospect Park! Due to drought conditions and the recent fire, the park has cancelled their annual New Year’s Eve fireworks display and replaced it with light show created by drones, featuring iconic landmarks like the Brooklyn Bridge and Statue of Liberty, accompanied by live music.

Plus, more local New Year’s Eve fun, from kid-friendly parties (well before midnight!) to dance parties and specials on food and drinks for the grown-ups!

New Year’s Eve Light Show in Prospect Park | Grand Army Plaza

10pm-12am | FREE | RSVP here

Join Brooklyn’s most spectacular New Year’s Eve Celebration at Grand Army Plaza presented by Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and Prospect Park Alliance, in partnership with NYU Brooklyn and the Brooklyn Public Library. This free event will take place on Tuesday, December 31, from 10 pm until 12 am, with live music and a grand light display. In light of the unprecedented drought conditions and recent fire, for the first time this year, this 44-year tradition will pivot from fireworks to a light show celebration in Brooklyn’s Backyard. The event will include live entertainment by Quintessential Playlist starting at 10 pm. A festive light show display will begin at midnight in the skies above Brooklyn’s Backyard, featuring beloved iconography including the Brooklyn Bridge, the Big Apple, the Statue of Liberty and more. Note the light show is pending FCC approvals and weather dependent. In the event of extreme weather, check prospectpark.org for updates.

Threes Brewing’s Family-Friendly Balloon Drop | Gowanus

Bar and kitchen open at 2pm | Balloon drop at 4pm | FREE | No RSVP necessary

Threes Brewing will host their Second Annual Family-Friendly Balloon Drop on New Year’s Eve. They’ll have a sparkling cider toast and food specials from our friends at Grand Army. Bar and kitchen open at 2pm, balloon drop at 4pm. No tickets needed. Bring the kids, bring the family, have everyone home and tucked into bed (including yourself, if you want) by 5pm! Then, for the later crowd, DJ Henry James will start at 9pm and go into the wee hours. Free entry and a complimentary beer toast at midnight, and food by Grand Army South.

Family Karaoke & Ball Drop at Vineapple | Brooklyn Heights

5-8pm | Reservations on Resy

Join us for a fun & family-friendly New Year’s Eve! Our full dinner menu will be available and we will have kid-friendly dishes too! Karaoke will be from 5pm until the “Ball Drop” at 8pm. Then, grown-ups are welcome from 9pm-1pm for trivia, music, the live televised ball drop, plus drink and food specials. Adults reserve on Resy as well.

And for the grown-ups…

New Year’s Eve Dance Party with DJs Marc Bars & Trauma at ParkLife | Gowanus

9pm-2am | $20 tickets

It’s Parklife’s annual New Year’s Eve party! Dance into 2025 with DJ Marc Bars and DJ Trauma. They will be playing the best of the 80’s and 90’s pop and hip hop, with a mix of hits through the decades. Plus very special guest DJ Mikey Palms. We look forward to seeing all you grown and sexy creatures on the dance floor! Drink packages are available with admission and include two cocktails plus prosecco.

Plus, more New Year’s Eve specials in our neighborhoods:

• Montague Diner | Brooklyn Heights
  24-hour service | No cover 
  Montague Diner is staying open all night long on New Year’s Eve! Champagne, caviar and more, all night and into the morning.
• Colonie | Brooklyn Heights
  Seatings start at 5pm | Reservations on Resy
  Colonie will be offering an extra festive three-course menu on New Year’s Eve for $95 per person.
• KINJO | DUMBO
  First seating 5:00-8:30pm, second seating 9:15pm onwards | Reservations on Resy
  Take in gorgeous views of the Manhattan skyline with a celebratory New Year’s Eve dinner at Celestine, the DUMBO Mediterranean restaurant just feet from the waterfront. They will have two seatings: 5:00 to 8:30pm (perfect for the kiddos!) and 9:15pm onwards. The first seating is $160/person for a four-course prix fixe and $70/child under 12. The second seating $190/person and includes a guarantee of the table for the night plus a midnight Champagne toast.
• Celestine | DUMBO
  First seating 6pm, second seating 8pm | Reservations on Resy
  Kinjo will be offering a special 15-course omakase menu for New Year’s Eve. There will two seatings at 6pm & 8pm, $165 per person (not including tax and gratuity). A $60 beverage pairing will also be available.
• Vinegar Hill House | Vinegar Hill
  Seatings from 6pm until 10:30pm | Reservations on Resy
  Ring in the New Year at Vinegar Hill House! Dress to the nines, drink some bubbly, blow some noisemakers, throw truffles and caviar on your dishes. Seatings from 6:00 until 10:30 on Tuesday, December 31, $125 per person prix fixe.
• Nabila’s | Cobble Hill
  Seatings start at 6pm | Reservations on Resy
  Celebrate the new year at Nabila’s with a 4-course Lebanese Feast of classic favorites and fun specials, including Large Format Lamb Shank and Samke Harrah! They’ll also be pouring new Lebanese wines. $110/person.
• Grand Army | Boerum Hill
  Reservations on Resy, walk-ins also welcome | No cover 
  For New Year’s Eve, Grand Army will be offering a special seafood tower, a snack tower, and specials on bubbly. Plus, DJ Fritzo will be providing live entertainment. Grand Army will also be open on New Year’s Day, and will have happy hour starting at 5pm, with specials on oysters, snacks, wine and beer.
• Pizza Delivery from Emily Brooklyn | Clinton Hill
  Take-out on New Year’s Eve & New Year’s Day
  For those who’d rather stay in on New Year’s Eve, Emily Brooklyn is offering special packages through GubHub and Door Dash. Package #1 includes a choice of 2 pies, wings, choice of 2 cans of sparkling wine or N/A canned cocktail (with NYE goodies), all for $65. Package #2 includes choice of 4 pies, wings, and 4 cans of sparkling wine or N/A canned cocktail (with NYE goodies), all for $125. Emily will also be open on New Year’s Day from 11am – 9pm with more specials: loaded fries with Emmy burger toppings, a bacon egg and cheese pizza, and more.
• Threes Brewing | Greenpoint
  Open at 5pm | No cover  
  Stop by the Greenpoint location of Threes Brewing on New Year’s Eve! Free entry and a complimentary beer toast at midnight!

Every New Year’s Day, brave swimmers plunge into the water at Coney Island Beach to symbolically wash away the prior year. The tradition goes back 122 years, and The Coney Island Polar Bear Club is the oldest winter bathing club in the United States, dating back to 1903! Come to watch the madness, or register to participate! You can sign up as an individual, join a team, or create your own team to fundraise. Registered swimmers who reach $50 in donations receive a limited edition beanie. Funds help support local organizations in Coney Island, including the Coney Island YMCA and the New York Aquarium.