Your guide to the best New Year’s Eve in Boston
Ready to put in a full eight-hour work day of dancing, laughing, cheering, desperately trying to stay warm, and having a glorious New Year’s Eve? Ready to spend very little money doing it? Great, everything on this agenda is free unless otherwise noted. (More details and directions at firstnightboston.org)
4 p.m., Improv Asylum, North End
How’s your 2023 been? Don’t let the door hit you on the way out, right? End with a laugh. This New Year’s Eve show from Improv Asylum is designed for kids between the ages of 5 and 14 but older folks will find plenty to guffaw at. Fun and funny? Yes, and complimentary hot chocolate!
5 p.m., Lizje, City Hall Plaza
Colombian/American singer and songwriter Lizje will get your blood pumping with a blend of Latin jazz and modern pop. Go spin her single “Más de Paz,” and tell me she won’t warm your heart and head.
6 p.m., Frog Pond Skating Spectacular, Boston Common
Expect loads of loops, flips, axels, salchows, and maybe even a lutz or two. The Skating Club of Boston puts on a merry and bright skating show featuring national and international competitive figure skaters.
7 p.m., Toddies, Teas, and Beers, Charles Street
Time to get a tipple, warm up, get in a bathroom break, or hydrate (and spend a little cash). If you’re looking for libations, squeeze up to the bar at The Sevens — basically the coziest bar on Beacon Hill (this is what tourists think Cheers will be like). If you’re looking for a caffeine jolt, get a mint latte at Tatte (open ’til 8 pm).
8 p.m., Classy Stroll, Boston Garden & Common
Have you noticed how gosh darn beautiful our fair city looks at night in December? No? Make your way back to City Hall Plaza the long way through the Common and Garden and marvel at the wonder. So cool, so classy.
9 p.m., Guess Method, City Hall Plaza
Arrive back at City Hall to catch the end of a jammy, dancy set. Guess Method is a five-piece band that has grooves in all the right places. There’s a lot of funk and soul to the group’s sound, which is good for bopping around and keeping warm. But the outfit can also get a bit weird with psychedelic nods and play it straight by leaning into pop hooks.
9:50 p.m., Nancia, City Hall Plaza
Nancia is soooo the main event of Boston’s First Night party. One of Boston’s rising stars, she crowned herself queen of our city’s R&B with her 2023 album “Queenality.” Listen to her jam “No Discussion” and it’s no discussion. She deserves the title (and can bring the fire to an ice cold night).
10:30 p.m., More Toddies, Teas, and Beers, Downtown
It’s every reveler for themselves! Don’t try to fight your way into anything near Faneuil Hall. A hotel bar is your best bet. Try RumBa at the InterContinental or the Lobby Bar at the Hyatt Regency Boston and splurge on a delicious cocktail.
12 a.m., Fireworks, Boston Harbor
By midnight you should have made it to the Harbor for the huge finale. By 1 a.m. you should be home drinking champagne and eating a warmed up French bread pizza. Oh, wait, sorry, go back to 3 p.m. and buy champagne and a frozen French bread pizza.
The main stage at First Night Boston. (Photo George Comeau)