Happy New Year!
Family-Oriented Events
Want to ring in the New Year at a family-oriented, non-alcohol event? Several communities near Washington, DC in Maryland and Virginia host First Night events and other family friendly events to welcome the New Year!
New Year’s Annapolis
This event is based on the “First Night” concept and brings this Maryland community together for a New Year’s Eve celebration with dozens of performances of music, dance, theater, comedy and more. The event showcases the history of the City of Annapolis by including performances in unusual venues throughout the downtown Annapolis area. Welcome the New Year with fireworks at the City Dock.
First Night Alexandria
Ring in the New Year with a celebration with entertainment for all ages. Musical performances will be held inside Old Town Alexandria’s historic buildings and many events will be held at the Masonic Temple on Callahan Drive. At Midnight, celebrate the New Year while watching the beautiful fireworks display at the George Washington National Masonic Memorial on Callahan Drive between King and Duke Streets.
First Night Leesburg
The event brings families together from all around Northern Virginia to celebrate the New Year with more than 100 performances at 20 indoor locations in downtown Leesburg. Enjoy jazz, bluegrass, folk music, magicians, puppet shows, and much more! At midnight, First Night concludes with a traditional Grand Illumination gathering on the courthouse lawn.
Fairfax Four Miler
The City of Fairfax hosts a family friendly end of the year running event to bring the community together for an evening of healthy fun. This event will support the Fairfax Police Youth Club. The post race party will include food and entertainment.
Watch Night - Falls Church
The family friendly New Year’s Eve celebration features a variety of entertainment, performances and interactive activities. The evening concludes with a New Year’s countdown and lowering of the historic star that first lit the Falls Church sky in 1948 – the year Falls Church became an independent city.
From: DC.About.com
Affordable Events - With Alcohol
Having a good time on New Year’s Eve doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. At these parties, you can ring in 2010 without dropping a lot of money on cover charges or table minimums.
A Special New Year’s Eve Block Party at 14th and U Streets
Washington, DC | 12/31 A joint party at Marvin and its yet-to-open sister bar Patty Boom Boom features a DJ set by Eric Hilton of Thievery Corporation. $20.
Brightest Young Things Presents 2010: A Space Fantasy
Washington, DC | 12/31 Remember BYT’s popular summer pool parties? The group returns to the Capitol Skyline hotel with DJs, indoor Laser Tag, moonbounces and an open bar. $45.
Daredevil New Year’s Eve
Washington, DC | 12/31 Welcome 2010 with burlesque dancers, fire-breathers, sword swallowers and death-defying stunts. $20.
New Year’s Eve at Buffalo Billiards
Washington, DC | 12/31 It’s business as usual at the spacious subterranean pool hall: no cover charge and the usual table rates apply for billiards, shuffleboard and darts. Free.
New Year’s Eve at Cafe Saint-Ex
Washington, DC | 12/31 The 14th Street bar features DJ DK spinning hip-hop and party jams from 9 p.m. on without a cover. Free.
New Year’s Eve at Chi-Cha Lounge
Washington, DC | 12/31 The recently renovated lounge throws a party with a buffet of South American appetizers, a DJ and dancing and a midnight champagne toast. $40.
New Year’s Eve at Eighteenth Street Lounge
Washington, DC | 12/31 It’s a Brazilian-themed party with the Brazilian Brooklyn Beat DJs spinning dance music and Donvonte McCoy Sextet playing bossa nova and samba. $30.
New Year’s Eve at Little Miss Whiskey’s Golden Dollar
Washington, DC | 12/31 A party at the hot new bar features DJ Will Eastman of Bliss and an optional all-night open bar. $15. ($65 with open bar.)
New Year’s Eve at Nellie’s
Washington, DC | 12/31 It’s a budget night at the gay sports bar, which features drink specials until midnight and a champagne toast to welcome the new year. DJs will spin, party favors will be handed out and the rooftop deck will be open. Free.
New Year’s Eve at Social
Washington, DC | 12/31 Three countdowns, three “midnight” toasts and no cover charge.
New Year’s Eve at Town
Washington, DC | 12/31 Town looks back at the 2000s with a countdown of the decade’s top 10 songs, which will end, conveniently enough, at midnight. $20.
New Year’s Eve at Wonderland
Washington, DC | 12/31 DJ Meistro, who covers the spectrum from hip-hop to Afrobeat, spins music for dancing upstairs. Midnight brings the traditional “champagne of beers toast” with Miller High Life. $10, or $15 per couple.
New Year’s Eve at the Quarry House Tavern
Silver Spring, MD | 12/31 The cozy dive has a DJ spinning dance music from 9:30 p.m. on and a toast with Miller High Life — the champagne of beers — at midnight. Free.
New Year’s Eve at the Salsa Room
Arlington, VA | 12/31 Is learning to dance on your list of resolutions? Get an early start at the Salsa Room’s New Years Eve party, which kicks off with lessons taught by house instructor Orlando Machuca before DJs Hercules and Renzo take the club into the new year. $30.
Vicars and Tarts Fancy Dress New Year’s Eve Party
Washington, DC | 12/31 A British tradition, this party asks you to dress as a man of the cloth or a lady of the night. Free.
From: The Washington Post