20+ New Year’s Eve Ideas That Don’t Include A Party Scene

Ah, New Year's Eve. The one magical night a year where expectations run high, the stars align, and the person of your dreams sweeps you off your feet just as the clock strikes midnight.

Unfortunately, that type of New Year's Eve only happens in the movies, and IRL we're subjected to crowded parties with people who drink too much, and a countdown that doesn't live up to our expectations in the least.

​If you're so over the hype of New Year's Eve, there are plenty of alternative ways to ring in the new year. Here, we round up some unexpected (but still epic) ways to celebrate the start of 2024.

New Year's Eve Forest Bathing. Carpe the diem and the new year with a guided forest bathing session that encourages you to slow down and take in the National Arboretum through all your senses. Donation, 9 - 11am National Arboretum, DC

Oh He Dead – New Years Rockin’ Eve. Ring in the new year with the groovy tunes of the DC-based, indie soul band. $35+ , 8pm Union Stage, DC

​Midnight Train to New Year’s Party. Take the late train to 2024 with hot cocktails and a spinning tunes and good vibes. $10 - 12, 8pm - 1am Metrobar, DC 

Spectacular Factory.  ​A magical Christmas wonderland comes to life at "Spectacular Factory," the latest immersive art experience at Artechouse (check out our sneak peek!). Traverse immersive digital multiverses filled with dreamlike yet familiar holiday themes, from floating giant swinging bells to thousands of nutcrackers, thrilling train rides through wreaths, spinning candy cane carousels and more.  $35, Times vary Artechouse, DC

First Night Alexandria. The family-friendly, alcohol-free New Year’s celebration features entertainment at multiple venues set up throughout downtown with a grand fireworks finale to close out 2023 at midnight. $10+, 2 - 11pm Old Town Alexandria, Va

Laugh Your Way into 2024. Headliner Cerrome Russell, got his comedy start while serving in the United States Marine Corps and his big break as a cast member on the 2nd Season of BET’s popular prank show Hell Date. Also featured Alex Castagne, Jamal Russell $35-$75, 7:30 and 10:15pm. DC Improv

Beat the Bomb Opens. It's the ultimate New Year's Eve bash! Step into real-life video games with teams of 4 to 6 players suit up in hazmat gear and advance through 5 hi-tech video game rooms to disarm a bomb, or else...GET BLASTED by paint or foam! Round out the fun with vibrant drinks and tasty eats at The Bomb Bar. New Year's Eve game play includes food from The Bomb Bar, Ball Drop livestream.  Price and times vary Beat the Bomb, DC

Get Lit. Enjoy holiday lights and decorations for a dazzling start to the coming year. Explore your neighbors' decorative efforts, check out neighborhoods across the participating in DC Holiday Lights, head to Georgetown for this year's version of GLOW  or visit some of the many Christmas trees in town, including the National, Capitol, Norwegian, Canadian and CityCenter trees. Free Multiple DC locations

When Harry Met Sally Brunch. Pair the ultimate movie rom-com with a special brunch menu, including boozy milkshakes, wine, and beer, of course.  After all, it's called a drafthouse for a reason. Tickets required. Alamo Drafthouse Cinema (Bryant Street), DC

Pinstripes Bowling. Aim for a striking start to 2024 with bowling or bocce, two balloon drops (there's an early one for families) and live music. Plus, free champagne for adults and sparkling cider for children along with party favors for all. Reservations required. Price and times vary Pinstripes (Georgetown), DC

Axe Throwing. Think darts... only more kick ass with axe throwing, libations and bites in a lodge-like atmosphere. You can also add some glow to your throw with glow in the dark axe throwing. If you dare . . . Price and times vary Kick Axe, DC 

Dancing Queen: ABBA Glitter Disco NYE Extravaganza. Revel in the magic of ABBA hits and disco beats, making this the ultimate celebration to welcome 2024. Secure your tickets for a night of glitz, groove, and a countdown to remember. 18+ only. $35+, 8pm Howard Theatre, DC

Get Competitive at a Board Game Café. Scrabble. Uno. Life. Cards Against Humanity. You definitely won't be board at this board game/sports bar that has 30+ types of games to rent, rail drinks and a loaded cocktail menu. $2 game rental, times vary The Board Room, DC

Take a Culinary Trip to Brazil. Indulge in a Brazilian feast (meat or veg) paired with a featured cocktail and New Year's Toast or spirit-free option. $100, times vary Compass Rose, DC

Sing Out Loud. Live out your "American Idol" fantasies against a backdrop of dramatic LED-lit displays, and frenetic video walls. In need of more liquid courage before hitting the mic? The tap of a “service” button lights up the karaoke room’s number at the bar to alert staff. Reservation required. Price and times vary Live-K , DC

A Gothic Prom NYE. New Year’s Eve isn’t just for sparkling wine and pop hits: There’s a dark side, too. Join DJs Vampyre Noire, Vlad and Rinesin for a night of goth, darkwave and industrial tunes, plus a runway show and the crowning of “gothic royalty.” $10-20, 9pm Songbyrd, DC

Zen Out with a Yoga Class. "New year, new me" seems to be everyone's mantra come Jan. 1. If you really want to kickstart the new year on a fresh foot, then why not zen out in a mindful yoga class? Yoga District ($35, 10pm) offers an all levels flow session with celebratory cider and chocolates at midnight, and the Yoga Flow Center      ($35, 1-2:30pm) invites you to greet 2024 with gentle stretches and soothing sound crystals. DC

Sober Rave.  Get your groove on at the third annual Recovery Rave for a hangover-free start to the New Year. Enjoy 3 DJs and dance the night away with proceeds going to benefit Anahata Yoga For Healing. 9pm, $20 Bhakti Yoga DC

Kennedy Center. The acclaimed performing arts center has multiple events ending before the ball drops. Award-winning jazz vocalist Jazzmeia Horn and Her Noble Force offers a bright, modern take on swinging big bands, with two sets. (7 and 9 p.m. $79-$109.) Over in the Concert Hall, Gregory Porter performs songs from his new holiday album “Christmas Wish” as well as the soulful, gospel-influenced jazz that has made him one of the most popular singers in the genre. The Kennedy Center notes this is Porter’s “very first New Year’s Eve concert,” (8 p.m. $59-$199.) Tickets for both concerts at kennedy-center.org. Foggy Bottom

Jazzy Night. Monty Alexander is known for his decades-long jazz career, performing with Milt Jackson and leading his own bebop-influenced trios, but he’s also earned Grammy nominations for combining jazz with the reggae and calypso sounds of his native Jamaica. He returns to Blues Alley with opener Korinn Walfall. Tickets include a three-course meal and, for the second show, champagne. 6:30 p.m. $150; 10 p.m. $200. Blues Alley

Fore! Mini Golf.  Tee off at adults-only Swingers Crazy Golf which boasts three bars, three golf courses, four eateries, multiple lounges, a merchandise shop, and 3-D photo booth. $25+, times vary Dupont Circle

Ice, Ice Baby.  Lace up your skates for a night gliding on ice twinkling with holiday lights. Prices and times vary. Multiple DC locations

Night at the Theatre. Spend a night out seeing a great theatrical production. An Irish Carol , Charles Dickens' holiday play with an Irish twist makes its annual return at Keegan Theatre ($50, 7pm). Join the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future as they lead the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge on a journey of transformation and redemption in a Christmas Carol at Ford's Theatre ($61+, 2pm). Celebrate great African-American vaudeville performers at One Mo' Time, ($50, 3pm) a musical revue and tribute. In the modern adaptation of As You Like It, Shakespeare's romantic classic about mistaken identities gets remixed with music from the Beatles ($54+, 2 and 7:30pm). Multiple DC locations

Dine In. Enjoy gourmet meals at home in your PJs. Order a gourmet NYE's feast from local restaurants like Rose's at Home (New Year’s Eve dinner, a midnight toast, and New Year’s Day Brunch all in one for $150/pp)  and Michelin-starred Kinship (3-course and dessert for $200). Or go for pizza. Consider the Greek-inspired efforts at Martha Dear (the white pie with kefalotyri and myzithra cheeses is our happy place), or Mike Friedman’s award-winning pies at All Purpose. And while, yes, Chinese takeout historically is more of a Christmas thing, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention that dumplings and char siu pork (much like pizza) go great with Champagne. Lucky for us that Tiger Fork indeed does takeout. Multiple DC locations

Be a "Top Chef. " Instead or going out or ordering in, try your hand at making a fancy, gourmet meal in a hands-on instructor-led class with Union Kitchen, Cozymeal or Sur La Table. They do say food tastes better you've made yourself.  DC, MD, VA