Guess what tomorrow is?!?! That’s right! It’s New Year’s Eve. Hopefully everyone has some fun activities planned to ring in the New Year. For those of us wanderlusting about celebrating in some faraway land at some fabulous party, here are some of my picks for the best New Year’s Eve celebrations around the world.
Reykjavik, Iceland
On New Year’s Eve, Iceland’s capital throws a citywide celebration that goes until the sun comes up. Numerous bonfires are lit throughout the city. The tradition of the bonfires dates back to the Middle Ages when fisherman would clean the house to ready it for the new year. They would burn all the old things in a massive bonfire. The tradition has carried on, but today Icelanders just gather around the bonfires to sing and symbolically burn away the previous year’s troubles. Meanwhile, thousands of fireworks light up the sky all over the city.
Valparaíso, Chile
This city in Central Chile claims to have the largest fireworks show in South America. The entire city turns into one giant party with a massive beach bash and dance party that lasts until sunrise.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
In Rio, the giant New Year’s Eve party, that might be the largest beach party in the world (with 2.3 million people in 2013), is known as Réveillon and takes place on the famed sands of Rio’s Copacabana Beach. Live international bands and samba line the Avenue Atlantic and partiers dressed in all-white, as is the dress code, take to the streets. White symbolizes purity, peace and renewal while appeasing Iemanjá, the goddess of the sea.
Edinburgh, Scotland
One of the biggest parties in the world is called Hogmany, which appropriately means the last day of the year. Up to 150,000 people are expected to attend Hogmanay celebrations in Edinburgh during three days of events to welcome in the new year. Celebrations begin with the Torchlight procession on December 30, which last year saw 30,000 people walk through the Scottish capital, and continue through to the 30th “Loony Dook” on New Year’s Day, spectators gather at the River Forth to watch a group of brave souls splash into the freezing water in the annual Queensferry Loony Dook charity event.
Sydney, Australia
Sydney’s New Year’s Eve celebration lasts all day and into the night with an air and water show featuring thrilling aerial acrobatics and a fire tug water display, a Harbour of Light Parade (an illuminated flotilla of more than 50 vessels), and two fireworks shows—one around 9 p.m. and another again at midnight.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong’s New Year’s Eve celebration features one of the world’s best pyrotechnic shows, a sensory extravaganza of light and sound that includes an eight-minute fireworks show over Victoria Harbour and a Times Square countdown, complete with a replica ball drop at midnight.
Cape Town
Feel like combining a New Year’s celebration and one of the world’s most amazing natural wonders, then head to Cape Town where you can ring in the New Year atop Table Mountain. From here, you can celebrate with unobstructed views of the V&A Waterfront fireworks while partying on the mountain top. The party continues on New Year’s Day, with thousands heading to local beaches all before the New Year’s Day parade, the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival, begins through downtown with 10,000 performers in whiteface paint dancing and singing in the streets.
Niagara Falls, Canada
What do you get when you combine the most powerful waterfall in North America with 2,000 pounds of fireworks? One hell of a New Year’s Eve party, that’s what! Fireworks are set off over the falls in two separate shows at Victoria Park. Before and between the explosions, international musical acts keep an all-ages crowd warm as they count down to midnight.
Bahamas
If you want to be in a tropical setting for New Years, then the Bahamas is where you need to be. While most hotels will throw their own parties, those looking to follow in the footsteps of the locals will attend the Junkanoo street parades that lead to informal beach gatherings and fireworks shows around the islands. The Bahamian version of Mardi Gras, complete with music, masquerading street performers, and colorful costumes, these parades also take place on January 1; you can check out New Year’s Day Junkanoos in downtown Freeport on Grand Bahama Island, along Bay Street in downtown Nassau, in Nicholls Town on North Andros, in Plymouth on Green Turtle Cay, and in Alice Town in North Bimini.
New York City
Last, but certainly not least, is New York City’s Times Square. While the majority of people from all over the world will watch the television as the ball drops, there are the lucky few who get to be there to experience it all in person. And, let me tell you, it is quite an experience! If pushing your way through crowds of people doesn’t sound all that appealing, there are countless other ways to celebrate the New Year in the Big Apple with numerous bars throwing elaborate parties. Either way, you can’t go wrong ringing in the New Year in Manhattan.
Where are you celebrating New Year’s Eve this year?
