The Best New Year’s Eve Events in Washington DC for a Blowout Good Time

Welcome 2024 with a bang.

Best Washington DC New Years Events and Parties
Photo credit: Wundervusuals, via Getty Images
Photo credit: Wundervusuals, via Getty Images

It’s hard to believe 2023 is already coming to a close. Whether this was your best year yet or one you want to forget, we’re ready to kiss the old year goodbye and welcome 2024 with a bang. From a Taylor Swift brunch to an ABBA dance party, to a daytime party for kids and their families, to a classy jazz dinner, masquerade ball, and disco-ball turning dance floors, here are the best ways to spend New Year’s Eve in DC this year.

Best Washington DC New Years Events & Parties
Photo credit: Kseniya Ovchinnikova, via Getty Images

New Year’s Eve Parties in Washington DC

Dec 31, 5 pm–2 am
Penn Quarter, $250 and up
Something about a masquerade party just takes things up a notch, don’t you think? Dirty Habit’s is set to be one of the best parties in town. Come in festive wear and a mask (of course), and enjoy a cocktail reception, a four-hour open bar, a seated dinner with wine pairing, and a DJ-spinning dance floor.

Dec 31, Starting 8 pm
Shaw, $20 and up
Make 2024 the year of your inner dancing queen (or king) and head to Howard Theater for an epic night of busting a move to ABBA’s best hits. You can expect confetti (lots of confetti) and glitter (lots of glitter), ABBA music video projections, a photo wall, sparkling body paint and make-up, and a photographer to capture it all. Come dressed in your best ‘70s throwback garb.

Cirque du 2024 International Gala
Dec 31, 8:30 pm–2 am
Woodley Park, $109 and up
Maybe you have grand travel plans for the new year and 2024 is going to be the year your rack of your passport stamps. Get a head start at one of the city’s biggest, more global, New Year’s Eve parties at the sprawling Omni Shoreham Hotel north of Georgetown. The party will take place across 15 of the hotel’s ballrooms, all of which will be decorated to represent a different global celebration. There'll be 20 international DJs, bands, and artists, as well as karaoke, open bars and food aplenty. At midnight, after you’ve taken in everything from an Irish dance performance and a Chinese lion dance, toast the new year with champagne and a balloon drop.

Dec 31, 9 pm–2 am
Penn Quarter, $160
Silver Lyan, the speakeasy-style subterranean bar the Riggs Hotel is hosting a New Year’s Eve prom for those of us looking for some good old nostalgia. We promise this one will be better than the one in high school thanks to the bar’s award-winning cocktails. They’ll be punch-based drinks (along with the bar’s other gems), Prom Queen and King tiaras and crowns, flowing champagne, and a dance floor. Come dressed in your over-the-top formal wear (pastel suits and chiffon bridesmaid dresses welcome).

Dec 31, 9 pm–2 am
Penn Quarter, $219
VUE, the rooftop lounge at Hotel Washington has transformed itself thanks to full on Casino Royale themed décor for the holiday. Step into Bond-mode and don your best silver and blue for the hotel’s all-out party featuring a performance byMillenium Band, a ten-piece ensemble helmed by Travis Tucker, an American Idol finalist, and consistently ranked one of DC’s best party bands. Dance the night away, indulge in the open bar and passed canapés, and take in the views of the city below.

Dec 31, 9 pm–2 am
Chinatown, $100
You might be craving to literally dance 2023 away, and the Chinatown-located party and live music venue, Howl at the Moon is here to make your last wish of the year come true. Come for the music—a mix of top 40, ‘80s rock, and ‘90s pop—the disco ball twirling above the dance floor, the open bar, and the midnight champagne toast. We would forgive you for letting out a good howl as the clock strikes midnight, too.

Washington DC New Year’s Eve Fireworks

Dec 31, Noon–12 am
Alexandria, Free
Old Town Alexandria’s annual New Year’s Eve event is a family-friendly, alcohol-free, budget-conscious extravaganza you won’t want to miss. Beginning at noon on New Year’s Eve Day, and stretching until midnight, First Night transforms Old Town into a street fair celebration of art and performances, late-night coffee shops, food stands, comedy performances, and a firework display at 6 pm to ensure all get to partake. There will also be an abbreviated encore firework display at the stroke of midnight for those still awake.

Best Washington DC New Years Events and Parties
Holiday Bar at Colada Shop | Photo courtesy of Colada Shop

Drinking on New Year’s Eve in Washington DC

Dec 31, 9 pm–1 am
14th Street, $35
This might be the most affordable cocktail party in town, and we are here for it. Head to Colada Shop’s pop-up Holiday Bar on 14th Street (which promises to be a street party in itself) for cocktails—don’t miss the gin-based, Ricky Martin inspired Livin’ La Navidad Loca and the cinnamon and rum ode to Shakira, Elves Don’t Lie—a night of dancing to Latin rhythms, and a midnight champagne toast. Each ticket includes two drinks.

Dec 31, 12 pm–12 am
Downtown, $6 and up
Start your evening at Figleaf, the airy, provocative, art-filled drinks and dining space at Hotel Zena (you probably know of their Instagram-famous mural of RBG made entirely out of tampons). The lounge will be serving its happy hour menu (complete with happy hour prices) all day. What’s more, this is a strictly “no pressure” zone so come in your pajamas or dress to the nines, bring a date or your roommate to enjoy Figleaf’s specials which feel like a steal at just $6 for beers and $7 for wines.

Dec 31, 11 am–2:30 pm
Navy Yard, $5 to reserve a table
Swifties would do well to start off New Year’s Eve with a Taylor-themed brunch party at All Purpose’s Navy Yard location. In addition to the food, which will include pizzas named after Swift’s lyrics (a fresh “Monster on the Hill,” and a spicey “Welcome to New York,” for example), they’ll be life-size cutouts of Swift and Travis Kelce, and a serving of Taylor’s favorite homemade cookies (extra points if you already know what they are). Come for the pizza and stay for the drinks—both spiked and non-alcoholic in case you’re starting Dry January early. We’ll be ordering the You Need to Calm Down pineapple and basil concoction and the Now We’ve Got Bad Blood, an amaro-based savory wonder. Be sure to reserve your table ahead of time.

Champagne Dinner

Dec 31
Various Locations, Prices Vary
New Year’s Eve is a pretty good excuse (the best, actually) to go all out for a fancy dinner. Options abound throughout the city and some that our on our radar include the whole Peking duck and bottle of Veuve Clicquot dinner at Chang Chang ($198); the Omakase menu, DJ, and champagne experience at Nobu ($210); a romantic tasting menu at The Greenhouse ($195); the black truffle, caviar, and champagne dinner at Lutèce; a chill, no pre-set menu at L'Avant-Garde, where all diners will enjoy a flute of French champagne at midnight; and the luxurious truffle dinner at L’Ardente (okay… this is more of a dream at $2,024).

Best Washington DC New Years Events and Parties
Noon Yards Eve | Photo courtesy of Noon Yards Eve

Family-Friendly New Year’s Eve Events in Washington DC

Dec 31, 10 am–1 pm
Navy Yard, Free
For all the families with little kids who simply can’t (or shouldn’t!) stay up until midnight on New Year’s Eve, there’s a giant daytime party at Navy Yard to celebrate the arrival of the new year. The event is an outdoor bonanza featuring a DJ, swings and rides, a miniature train, arts and crafts, party hats and noisemakers, and magicians. The bash culminates with a countdown and epic balloon drop at 12 noon.

Arts and Culture New Year’s Eve Events in Washington DC

Dec 31, 9 pm–11 am
Northeast DC, $35 Suggested Donation
Say goodbye to 2023 with a mindfulness walk in nature at the sprawling National Arboretum. The two-hour guided walk, inspired by Shinrin yoku, the Japanese concept of engaging all the senses in a therapeutic connection to nature, will include three prompts that will encourage participants to reflect on nature, the past year, and the new one to come. The walk will conclude with a short tea ceremony and light snacks.

Dec 31, 7 pm & 9 pm
Foggy Bottom, $79 and up
There are few things more festive than big band music, and the Kennedy Center is bringing some of that brassy holiday cheer to audiences to close out the final day of 2023. Renowned jazz vocalist (and three-time Grammy Award nominated artist) Jazzmeia Horn will be performing with her band for two evening performances. You might like it enough to go to both!

Dec 31, 6:30 pm & 10 pm
Georgetown, $150 and up
One of the city’s most legendary jazz venues is putting on quite the party this New Year’s Eve. Blues Alley, in Georgetown, will be hosting the Grammy-nominated pianist Monty Alexander and his Trio, as well as Integriti Reeves and her quartet. The night’s two seatings feature back-to-back performances by both ensembles, as well as a three-course meal, and champagne. We might just go ahead and call this the classiest way to ring in the New Year.

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Madeline Weinfield is a Thrillist contributor.