2021 is on it’s way, and we couldn’t be more thrilled!
It’s pretty safe to say that we are all ready for 2021. The time has finally come to bid this tumultuous year adieu! And while we can’t go out and party like we’d like to, we can still celebrate the strike of twelve in style (and comfort). Whether you’re looking for a party or just want to sit back and relax this NYE, this year’s lineup of online events presents something for everyone.
Here are 10 ways you can spend your NYE and safely celebrate the end of 2020 right from your home:
[Image: Boonoob]Join a virtual party with people from all over the world as you ring in the New Year with countdowns from New Zealand all the way to Hawaii. This livestreamed party lasts a full 24 hours, so you can join in the fun whenever (and from wherever) you want! There’ll be more than 24 performers and DJs curating this massive dance party, and the event will also feature video chat rooms, celebrity appearances as well as prizes and giveaways.
[Image: Cal Performances]Sit back and enjoy an evening of exclusive performances by the artists that brought us Cal Performances at Home this past fall. Prepare to be taken away by soloists, recitalists, jazz artists, and chamber ensembles by acclaimed artists like Yo-Yo Ma, Julia Bullock, Bria Skonberg, Leif Ove Andsnes and Matthew Whitaker Quartet. It’s a wonderful and relaxing way to spend the evening, not to mention a great way to support the arts! The premier watch party begins at 10pm on December 31, but the video will also be on demand beginning December 31 at 4am through January 2 at 6am (CT).
[Image: Tomorrowland]This is an online celebration no EDM fan wants to miss. Tomorrowland 31.12.2020 features sets performed on four different virtual stages by world-renowned artists like Major Lazer, Armin van Buuren, David Guetta, Diplo and even DJ Snoopadelic (yes, Snoop Dogg does electronic music now). The performances are adapted to 27 time zones across the world, so you can dance your way into 2021 from 8pm to 3am, wherever you are. Can’t watch live? There are also on-demand tickets available so you can watch on your own time, or just watch again to relive the awesome lineup!
[Image: Times Square NYC]There won’t be massive crowds of people in Times Square this year for the annual NYE Ball Drop, but the celebration will go on! Tune into Times Square’s live webcast to see all the usual festivities including live performances by Gloria Gaynor, Jennifer Lopez, Cyndi Lauper, Jimmie Allen and Machine Gun Kelly, as well as other activities and guest appearances. The best part? There are no commercials, and the time difference provides an opportunity to countdown more than once, because honestly, 2020 merits more than one anyway.
[Image: Grand Park]Night owls should definitely check out Grand Park’s NYELA 2020 event. The event is going online this year, and it’s free! This special west coast celebration is headlined by Steve Aoki, featuring other artists like AQUIHAYAQUIHAY, Andrekza, BIA, and 2DEEP. Join DJ Eddie One and Jessica Flores for this virtual bash on Fuse and Grand Park’s YouTube channels, or on Fuse TV.
[Image: Opera San José]The Parting Glass is a free performance for New Year’s Eve that follows a barkeeper named Patrick, whose night quickly turns into a musical party full of drinking songs as more and more characters join in. The program invites you to join in song as the cast says good riddance to 2020 with tunes inspired by music from all across the globe – so grab a drink and start warming up those vocal chords!
[Image: Co-Reality Collective]This online party is certainly the most ambitious celebration on our list. The party starts at 1am PST on NYE with the Pacific islands of Kiribati, and ends with Baker Island a smooth 28 hours later. New Year’s Eve.rywhere is meant to bring the world together in a celebration of culture, diversity and joy so that we can all start off 2021 on the right foot. The celebration is free, so you can drop in whenever you want – even if you already have other plans!
[Image: Asian Art Museum]Join the Asian Art Museum for its 35th annual Japanese New Year Bell Ringing Ceremony, this year held virtually! The ceremony will include a traditional blessing by Reverend Akiba, the chanting of the Heart Sutra, and the 108 rings of a Buddhist temple bell meant to purify participants and listeners for the New Year as they say goodbye to the previous one. This year’s events will also include a sneak peek of the preparation activities at Kojin-an. The official ceremony will begin at 1pm CT, but the museum is also hosting a special New Year Bell Ringing Storytelling Program for families beginning at 12pm CT.
[Image: Dragon Theater]Dragon Theater created a new interactive platform to ring in this New Year – avatars and all! Interact with other participants as you explore this virtual theater space. There are lots of fun activities and performances on the schedule, including musical sets, acrobatics, a live cocktail demo and a pandemic fashion contest! And of course, participants will toast to 2021 with each and every time zone in North America. Get ready for a night of fun!
[Image: BRCvr]BRCvr, one of the many universes of the Burning Man Multiverse, is hosting a NYE event like no other. The virtual space is an at-scale version of Black Rock City that you can explore on your browser or using a VR headset. And for New Year’s, BRCvr is hosting an event this weekend full of dance parties, collaborative healing circles, interactive talks, intention-setting activities, and a whole lot more. The first of the festivities begins at 8pm CT on December 31 and the celebrations continue through Sunday, so there’s plenty of time to pop in and enjoy the fun! Check the full schedule here.
