Where to Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Cincinnati, OH

Are you looking for somewhere fun in Cincinnati, Ohio, to celebrate New Year’s Eve? Whether you’re new to the area, a lifelong resident, or heading into town for the holidays in your Toyota vehicle, Cincinnati has a venue for everyone. Break out your shiny dress or fancy suit, gather your family together, and spend some time gazing at fireworks. Whatever way you choose to celebrate, there’s no better city to bid farewell to 2021 and welcome in 2022.

Note: Please confirm information related to health and safety requirements with event organizers before attending these events.

New Year’s Eve Blast at Fountain Square

Image via Flickr by Barta IV

Lace up your ice skates and ring in the new year in the heart of downtown Cincinnati at Fountain Square. This annual family-friendly event, canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, is the city’s main New Year’s Eve party. The ice-skating rink is open with regular admission and skate rental rates. Otherwise, the event is free and features games, food, and dancing. Once the clock strikes midnight, fireworks light up the sky. The celebration takes place from 8 p.m. until 1 a.m.

A Night of Standup Comedy at the Taft Theatre

Sometimes you need a good laugh, and comedians Sal Vulcano and Chris Distefano aim to entertain you. Vulcano is best known for his role in the reality comedy show “Impractical Jokers.” Friends dare each other to get through jovial public challenges on the show. Distefano has had several standup specials air on Comedy Central and MTV. The comedians perform a joint show at Taft Theatre at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $39.75.

Cincinnati Cyclones at Heritage Bank Center

Why not end your 2021 in a family-friendly environment by attending a minor-league hockey game? The Cincinnati Cyclones host the Greenville Swamp Rabbits at Heritage Bank Center. Doors open at 5 p.m. The puck drops at 6 p.m., and when the game ends, you can stay around to watch indoor fireworks. Tickets start at $19 for preferred seats and $31 for front-row seats.

Clutch at The Andrew J. Brady ICON Music Center

To celebrate its 30 years of rock ‘n’ roll, Clutch chose Cincinnati as one of the five stops in its winter 2021 tour. On New Year’s Eve, head to The Andrew J. Brady ICON Music Center, where doors open at 7 p.m., followed by the concert at 8:30 p.m. Supporting the tour is the brand-new band Stoner and Detroit natives The Native Howl. General admission tickets start at $35, while headliner general admission tickets are $49.50.

Donnie Baker and the Pork Pistols at The Redmoor

Bring in the new year with Donnie Baker and the Pork Pistols, Catfish Cooley, and the Blackbeard Gypsies at The Redmoor. Doors and the kitchen open at 7 p.m. Tickets are sold by general admission or by the table.

The general admission tickets begin at $50 and include party favors and an autographed photo of Baker. For $150, you can enjoy a VIP table experience with a bottle of champagne for the table, a hot pretzel and beer cheese appetizer, party favors, and a meet-and-greet with the artists. Everyone receives an autographed photo of Baker to take home.

A ‘Great Gatsby’ Celebration at the Westin Cincinnati Hotel

Put on your best 1920s attire and celebrate the new year with a party inspired by “The Great Gatsby” held at the Westin Cincinnati hotel. Doors open for this 21-and-older event at 8 p.m., with the festivities lasting until 1:30 a.m. Tickets include access to a five-hour prepaid bar featuring premium drinks from 8 p.m. until 1 a.m., top Ohio DJs spinning all the hits, and a giant ballroom countdown. From 9 until 11 p.m., you can enjoy appetizers at open seating areas.

Try your hand at a variety of casino games, including craps, roulette, and blackjack. A first-prize winner receives a one-night stay at the hotel with double occupancy, while a second-prize winner gets a pair of tickets to the 2023 Cincinnati New Year’s Eve Party.

Happy Zoo Year

Load up the kids in your Toyota minivan and head to the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden to celebrate the 13th annual Happy Zoo Year. The cost of admission includes event access, so there’s no additional fee to pay, but you need to make a reservation.

In previous years, this kid-friendly event has included a puppet show and meet-and-greet opportunities with costumed characters. The 2021 event takes place from 1 until 9 p.m. This event features an early countdown, typically around 9 p.m., which concludes with fireworks.

Hot Mags New Year’s Eve at Arnold’s Bar and Grill

If you’re hoping to hear a variety of music, this event is for you. The Hot Magnolias are a Cincinnati-based New Orleans-style party band that plays music from 1920s jazz to 1970s funky dance songs. As in previous years, this eight-person group performs on New Year’s Eve at Arnold’s Bar and Grill starting at 9 p.m.

New Year’s Eve at the Cincinnati Music Hall: Shaken, Not Stirred

Spend your evening enjoying iconic themes and famous music from one of the most storied and longest-running franchises in movie history. John Morris Russell leads the performance in Springer Auditorium at the Cincinnati Music Hall. Listen to the sounds from “Goldfinger,” “The World Is Not Enough,” and “Diamonds Are Forever.” The event begins at 7:30 p.m., and tickets start at $25.

Party at the Point (Schwartz’s Point Jazz and Acoustic Club)

Held at Schwartz’s Point Jazz and Acoustic Club, the premier jazz club in Cincinnati, Party at the Point features The Phil DeGreg Quartet. You’ll feel like you’ve been transported to New York City for the evening as you listen to live music from the band in this intimate setting. The event runs from 7:30 p.m. until 12:30 a.m. and includes appetizers, buffet dinner, desserts, roses, and a romantic champagne toast. Ticket prices start at $45.

Cincinnati is ideal for New Year’s Eve, with plenty of parties, concerts, dining options, and firework celebrations. What did you think of this list of must-visit spots this New Year’s Eve in Cincinnati? Did we highlight all the best places, or did we unintentionally miss one of your favorites? If we did, contact us so that we can make sure to add it to our list.

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