Wondering how to ring in the New Year? Check out our list of the different NYE events happening around Colorado.
Aspen
Host to perhaps one of the most unique Colorado New Year events, “12 Days of Aspen” is comprised of activities that span Christmas and New Years. Broadway plays, live DJ’s, and free fireworks shows are just a few of the ways you can ring in the new year here. For those who want to do it big: the Little Nell Hotel is hosting the Dom Perignon Party with bottomless Dom Perignon, food stations, and live entertainment all night for $495 per person. For those on more of a budget, the city is hosting a free bonfire with a DJ at Wagner Park, and St. Regis Resort has free cover for their “Cocktails in the Courtyard” event.
Boulder
Whether you’re looking for something casual or classy, you’re sure to find it here. Sophisticated tastes? Try Hotel Boulderado’s Black Tie Gala for dinner and a dance. This is one of the oldest Colorado New Year events around - they’ve been throwing NYE celebrations since 1909!
If you’re more inclined to the arts, try The Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art. Here they’ll have live music, local art, free desserts, and a champagne toast. Other activities include skating at the ice rink or catching a performance of Yonder Mountain String band at the Boulder Theater.
Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs hosts a plethora of NYE activities, many are classic Colorado New Years events. For the kids, check out “Noon Year’s Eve,” an event held at the United States Olympic Training Center that includes entertainment and a balloon drop at noon. If adventuring outdoors is more your style, consider the “First Day Hike” at Mueller State Park, where the emphasis is put on starting the year connecting with the outdoors. A number of New Year’s parties and dinners will also take place, including “Colorado’s Finest Dinner Train” ($99 per person) and the AdAmAn Club Fireworks show displayed by Pike’s Peak climbers every year since 1922.
Denver
As you can probably imagine, Denver has a TON of things to do on NYE, so there’s no reason to stay home (unless you want to)! Like Colorado Springs, the Children’s Museum of Denver (Marisco campus) will be hosting “Noon Year’s Eve”, complete with glittery ball drops, bubble wrap in place of fireworks, and confetti. There will be costumed entertainers and firework shows at the 16th Street Mall (shows at 9pm and another at midnight), and the Grand Hyatt Denver Downtown is set to have one of the biggest celebrations in the city.
Denver is also home to America’s biggest NYE music festival “Decadence”, that draws artists like Bassnectar, Chainsmokers, Flume, and many more. Other clubs and bars are sure to be poppin’ too, so start making plans now!
Fort Collins
Each year the city holds “First Night Fort Collins”, a free family event that will sprawl across the downtown area and will include 50+ performances (magic, comedy, international dance, etc.). There will also be giant inflatables, face painting, and a kids’ countdown. For aspiring chefs, The Cooking Studio will be holding a class and a dinner. For our musically inclined friends, stop by and enjoy EDM artist Michal Menert who will be at The Aggie Theatre. The Budweiser Event Center will ring in the new year with their “Eleventh Annual First National Bank’s New Year’s Eve Extreme Rodeo Challenge”, so if boots and bulls are your thing, this is the place to be!
Vail
If you're in the
Vail area, you're in for a treat! Try the tradition of icy swimming in Vail Valley, or take your family for a gondola ride down at Eagle Bahn Gondola at First Night Family Activities. If you're looking for a show, try the Torchlight Parade. Skiers ride down Golden Peak holding lights to create a stunning procession down the mountain followed by fireworks.
