20+ Fun New Year's Eve Alternatives Around DC

It's not too late to make plans for ringing in 2023. While big parties can be fun, there are more ways to celebrate that don't include expensive tickets or dressing up in bow ties and Spanx. Check out our curated suggestions for how to say good-bye to 2022 and hello to the new year!

First night. All of Alexandria will be aglow for a family-friendly, alcohol-free New Year’s celebration. It also happens to be DC’s largest, with parties at multiple venues throughout the evening. Fireworks begin at midnight, but there will be events all evening (and afternoon for the little ones) at several locations. Kids will also enjoy a number of carnival games, face-painting, magic show, and more. A number of performance venues will be set up throughout downtown, with the epicenter happening along King Street and the Potomac waterfront. 🆓

Forest bathing. For something new, give forest bathing at National Arboretum a try. Forest bathing, or shinrin yoku, is the simple practice of taking in the woods through the senses for health benefits. Join the Friends of National Arboretum nature and forest therapy guide for a two-hour program that encourages you to slow down and take in the National Arboretum through all your senses. Note: Sold out but you can add your name to the waitlist💲​

Get funky. Ring in 2023 with the father of funk, and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic, at the legendary 9:30 Club.  💲​

Take the midnight train to Metrobar. All aboard the midnight train at Metrobar starting at 8pm with festive hot cocktails from their new winter menu and a live DJ. Count down to the New Year in our enclosed heated deck, campfire patio, cabana firepits, or private igloos. Your ticket gets you a glass of bubbly for our midnight toast as we celebrate the ball dropping on our 20-foot screen. 💲​

See a play or show. Kennedy Center, Shakespeare Theatre, Ford's Theatre and Keegan all have performances on New Year's Eve. 💲

Silent disco. When you get your wireless headphones, you never know what tunes will be playing. At this New Year's Eve party, get down with R&B, Go-Go, and Hip-Hop tunes for one awesome party vibe. Each headset has a color (BLUE, RED, GREEN) LED that shows what channel you are listening to, so you can dance along with those listening to the same DJ. It’s super social; just lower the volume or take the headphones off to talk to that girl or guy. There’s no loud music that you have to talk over. 💲

Sing out loud. Get ready to grab the mic and ring in the New Year singing your favorite tunes. Live-K is DC's newest karaoke hot-spot at the Wharf. The futuristic-looking venue bursts on to DC's karaoke scene with 15 private karaoke rooms and a full bar in the lobby where visitors can sing and dance to their favorite songs. 💲

All of the lights.  Have a dazzling start to the new year as you stroll through an illuminated wonderland of dazzling holiday lights at Enchant (DC), the Winter Village of at Cameron Run (VA), Winter Walk of Lights at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens. (VA), and Bull Run Festival of Lights (VA). Prices vary 💲

New Year's Eve hike. Get an early start on your resolutions for a healthy new year with an easy 4-mile hike at the US National Arboretum. 🆓​

Bells will be ringing (literally).  Ring out the old year, and ring in the new at the pealing of the bells at National Cathedral. Lasting approximately an hour, the ringing will begin at 10:30pm and can be heard from the surrounding avenues, gardens, and open spaces. The bells will be half-muffled to symbolize the passing of the old year. At midnight, these muffles will be removed and Washington National Cathedral will be the first to ring in the New Year with a half hour of jubilant ringing. 🆓

Champagne and Chocolate Scavenger Hunt. Toast to 2022 with a complimentary glass of champagne or sparkling cider as you hunt through 100+ rooms & 80+ secret doors  if you can find them . . .) on a fun scavenger hunt at the Mansion on O Street. Cash bar will be available. 💲

Noon Yards. Welcome the new year a bit early at the Yard Park with complimentary family-friendly activities for kids of all ages, including train rides through The Yards, inflatable slide and bounce houses, glitter tattoo artists, carnival games, music and more. The event culminates in a celebration and countdown at noon. 🆓

Bowl a frame or two.  Work out your competitive edge with a game of bowling or bocce at Pinstripes. Complimentary champagne for adults and sparkling juice for children will be provided along with party favors for all. Enjoy two ball drops: one at midnight and one at 8:00 pm for families. Live music starts at 8:00 PM and will keep the party going into the new year! 💲

Have a laugh. Spend your evening at the DC Improv with headliner Gina Brillon headliner, best-known  for her appearances on "America's Got Talent," and her Amazon Prime special "The Floor is Lava." Shows at 7:30 and 10:15 (countdown show), which will include a champagne toast at midnight, a fruit / cheese / cracker plate and party favors. 💲

Go ice skating. There's just something about this time year that makes you want to recreate the ice skating scene from the Charlie Brown holiday movie. Luckily, there are plenty of places around DC to lace up your skates and get out on the ice. And most of the skating rinks will be open on Christmas and New Year's, so it's a great holiday activity to do with visiting friends and family even if your triple lutz needs work. 💲

Yoga wind-down. Let go of 2022 and greet the new year with a calm mind, body and spirit at an all-level yoga flow class with cider and chocolates with yoga District. Class will be held 10-11:30pm. A renewal mediation from 11:30-11:45pm.💲

Holiday lights by moonlight. Take a stroll and see all the holiday lights on the National tree, Capitol tree, Canadian tree and others shining in the moonlight, followed by some festive hot chocolate to warm up. 🆓

Afternoon tea. High tea is very popular these days and the holidays are the perfect time to treat yourself, a date, or friends and family to this deliciously decadent experience. They're even more festive and over-the-top this time of year. 💲

Freedom's Eve. New Year’s Eve has been a cause for celebration since December 31, 1862, when enslaved people in the Confederate States stayed up until midnight to watch and wait for the freedom granted by the Emancipation Proclamation. Visitors at Smithsonian's Museum of African American History & Culture are invited to participate in activities that will help you understand the first days of freedom, encourage you to share your hopes and dreams for the future, and to honor the last two principles of Kwanzaa—Kuumba (Creativity) and Imani (Faith).  Registration required 🆓

Have a Go-Go good time. DC’s historic Howard Theatre knows how to welcome in the new year, District-style. Two of the city’s most beloved go-go bands, Rare Essence and Trouble Funk, will ring in 2023 and take your celebration to the next level with their electric takes on the city’s official music. 💲

Party at Black Cat. On Black Cat's Mainstage all night long, Peaches O’Dell and Her Orchestra will fittingly jump through time, playing swing music, Art Deco-era novelty tunes, cha-chas and memorable tracks from the ‘50s. Be sure to toast with the venue's iconic Red Room Punch and a game of pinball. With no dress code, the party lets you get as dressed up or as dressed down as you like, with a relaxed atmosphere that caters to everyone. Non-stop music, games, and fun for just $35 makes the Black Cat New Year's Eve Ball a classic - and one of the best deals in town. 💲

Jazz pianist concert. Cozy up at home and tune-in to celebrate with Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture's Watch Night concert by jazz pianist Matthew Whitaker. A musical prodigy who started playing music at age 3, at 21 he already has many firsts and honors to his name who says about himself, "I am a musician, who happens to be blind…I have been blessed with a God given gift and my prayer is that I can continue to be a blessing and inspiration to others."  The 90-minute virtual concert includes a give a brief overview of the significance of Watch Night. Registration recommended 🆓