New Year’s Eve will be here soon; read on for ways to celebrate the big night around the Chicago area. Newly announced Monday, a big pyrotechnics display will once again light up the Chicago River, launched from downtown bridges all along the Riverwalk.
For the most part, we’ve skipped the big bar and hotel parties on this list in favor of concerts, shows and comedy nights. All events are for Dec. 31.
New Year’s Eve Fireworks: According to a new announcement from the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, the New Year’s Eve celebration downtown will include a countdown in partnership with Art on the Mart, then fireworks launched from bridges from Franklin Street to Columbus Drive. Those displays, similar to last year’s, will join the annual fireworks on Navy Pier.
Special projections at Art on the Mart will begin at 10 p.m. Dec. 31, best viewed on the south facade of the building known as Merchandise Mart in the area around Wacker Drive, from Franklin and Orleans Streets to Wells. The rest of the Riverwalk will close at 11 p.m., with that section open until 12:15 a.m.
A midnight countdown will begin at 11:55 p.m. Dec. 31. Fireworks will be best viewed from Upper Wacker Drive, launched from bridges at Orleans Street, La Salle Drive, Clark Street, Dearborn Street, State Street and Columbus Drive. Those bridges will close to pedestrian and vehicle traffic from 11:45 p.m. to 12:15 a.m. More closures are possible closer to the countdown.
On Navy Pier, a 15-minute show synchronized to music begins at 11:59 p.m. More information at Chicago.gov/NYE and navypier.org
Grand Chicago New Year’s Eve at Aon Grand Ballroom: Also on Navy Pier, this party of some 3,000 revelers gathers on the dance floor with DJs, a balloon drop and front-row seats for the fireworks, all put on by Green Curtain Events. 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Aon Grand Ballroom at Navy Pier; tickets $129-$229 at navypierevents.greencurtainevents.com. Or if the ballroom seems like too much of a crowd, there’s an ages 21+ party at Offshore Rooftop (www.offshorerooftop.com) as well as a host of cruises by City Experiences (www.cityexperiences.com).
Blue Man Group: The Blue Men are on their way out in Chicago, closing a production that first opened at Briar Street Theatre in 1997. Blue Man Group has always done New Year’s Eve right and this final year will be no exception. There are four shows on Dec. 31, the two early shows geared for families. Those will include “midnight” countdowns with party hats, noisemakers and the Blue Man Group rendition of “Auld Lang Syne.” The 7 p.m. show includes a Champagne toast, party hats and a post-show meet and greet with the Blue Men in the lobby. The late show has noisemakers, a midnight Champagne toast, a balloon drop and “Auld Lang Syne.” 1 p.m., 4 p.m., 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. at Briar Street Theatre, 3133 N. Halsted St.; tickets from $49 at www.blueman.com/chicago
Andy’s Jazz Club: Spread over three New Year’s Eve showtimes, a blend of Chicago and New Orleans, jazz, bebop, soul and funk with Mario Abney and the Abney Effect. 6 p.m., 8:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. at Andy’s Jazz Club, 11 E. Hubbard St.; tickets $25-$35 at 312-642-6805 and andysjazzclub.com
Filter: After Richard Patrick left Nine Inch Nails, he formed Filter in 1993. The post-grunge rockers released “The Algorithm,” their eighth studio album, in 2023. Now they’re putting on a free late-night concert at the Hard Rock Cafe in Northwest Indiana. 11 p.m. at the Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana, 5400 W. 29th Ave., Gary; 219-228-2383 or www.hardrockcasinonorthernindiana.com
Radius Chicago: A high-energy Transitions NYE lineup of Kevin de Vries, Layla Benitez and Portals & Parachutes. 9 p.m. at Radius, 640 W. Cermak Road; tickets (ages 18+) $49.50 at www.radius-chicago.com
Zanies: Always lots of options at Zanies for New Year’s Eve. At the downtown club on Wells Street, “Saturday Night Live” cast member Michael Longfellow is doing two shows. 8 p.m. and 10:15 p.m. at Zanies Chicago, 1548 N. Wells St.; tickets $35 (ages 21+) at 312-337-4027 and www.chicago.zanies.com. And in the west ‘burbs, there are still tickets available for the late show with Joe Machi, including a Champagne toast at midnight. 10:30 p.m. at Zanies Rosemont, 5437 Park Place; tickets $35 (ages 21+) at 847-813-0484 and www.rosemont.zanies.com
Pretty Lights: The electronic music project led by Derek Vincent Smith is doing its cosmic thing at Wintrust Arena to welcome in 2025, put on by Jam Productions. 9 p.m. at Wintrust Arena, 200 E. Cermak Road; tickets from $65.50 (ages 17+) at www.wintrustarena.com
Cameron Esposito: A return performer on the Heath Mainstage at Den Theatre in Wicker Park, Esposito hails from suburban Western Springs and was for years a regular at Chicago clubs such as Lincoln Lodge. Currently based in Los Angeles with a podcast “Queery,” a new book in 2020, and comedy bonafides too many to list. 8 p.m. at Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave.; tickets $41.75-$68.50 at 773-697-3830 and thedentheatre.com
Metro and smartbar: A Silver Disco Jubilee New Year’s Eve takes over both venues on Clark Street, with DJs including Brenda, Derrick Carter, DJ Heather, DJ Hyperactive and others, plus dancers and more. 9 p.m. at Metro and smartbar, 3730 N Clark St.; tickets $40 to $750 (ages 21+) at metrochicago.com
New Philharmonic: As conducted by Kirk Muspratt, this longtime favorite “A Salute to Vienna New Year’s Eve” will this year feature guest soloist Richard Ollarsaba. Concerts at 1:30 p.m., 5 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. in Belushi Performance Hall at the McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn, tickets from $76.50 at atthemac.org
“Kathy Griffin: My Life on the PTSD-List”: This show at the Chicago Theatre is a homecoming of sorts for Kathy Griffin, doing her first tour of stand-up comedy in several years. 8 p.m. Dec. 31 at the Chicago Theatre, 175 N State St.; tickets $43.50-$179.00 at msg.com/the-chicago-theatre
iO New Year’s Eve: In the central bar at iO, a variety show hosted by Groovebox and drag artist Malheurt, with improv by house all-stars and Malarkey Comedy, magic by John Sturk and more, including a Champagne toast at midnight. 9:30 p.m. at iO Theater, 1501 N. Kingsbury St.; tickets $47.80-$57.80 at 312-300-3350 and ioimprov.com
Paula Poundstone: She’s a stand-up comic, podcast host and regular panelist on NPR’s “Wait, Wait … Don’t Tell Me!” and she’s been doing this comedy thing since the ’80s. 7 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. at City Winery Chicago, 1200 W. Randolph St.; tickets $55-$115 at 312-733-9463 and citywinery.com
Aragon Ballroom: Dance away the last hours of the year with an artist lineup headlined by Timmy Trumpet. 9 p.m. at Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom, 1106 W. Lawrence Ave.; tickets from $75.25 (ages 18+) at www.livenation.com
“The Devil is in the Detours”: The 112th sketch comedy on the Second City Mainstage is live and unhinged with two shows on Dec. 31. 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. at The Second City, 1616 N. Wells St., tickets $39-$95 at 312-337-3992 and www.secondcity.com
Lake Street Dive: Ring in the New Year at the Salt shed with the Brooklyn-based neo-soul jazz folk pop band Lake Street Dive. Theo Katzman opens. 9 p.m. (ages 17+) at www.saltshedchicago.com
Park West: A house-music New Year’s Eve show is headlined by Chosen Few and Hot Mix 5, presented by Jam Productions with a live telecast by ABC 7 Chicago. 6 p.m. at Park West, 322 W. Armitage Ave.; tickets $55 at www.jamusa.com
“The Infinite Wrench: A Very Neo New Year”: Leading up to midnight, exactly one hour of two-minute plays, done the Neo way. (Masks are required.) Followed by an optional post-show dance party until 2 a.m. with open bar. (Masks optional.) 11 p.m. at Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave.; tickets $25-$39 at 773-878-4557 at neofuturists.org
Jazz Showcase: Marquis Hill and Color Theory are putting on two shows for the Eve as part of a short residency, the late show with a Champagne toast. 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. at Jazz Showcase, 806 S. Plymouth Court; tickets $75-$110 at www.jazzshowcase.com
And a parting note: The annual Tribune New Year’s Eve feature Save the Seats will not publish this year, ending a run of some 17 years.
dgeorge@chicagotribune.com
