Whether your 2017 was full of highlights or lowlights, you’re a party animal or an artistic soul, NYE means classic toasts or unconventional activities, fear not – there’s something for you to do at the holidays. We’ve rounded up most festive dinners, shows, programs, and parties to ring in 2018. Get a start on perusing the best the Toledo area has to offer so you can plan the ideal evening with family and friends.
AHEAD OF THE CURVE
Can’t wait for the actual night of New Years to start celebrating? Check out these awesome events that take place in the days leading up to the big night.
Here at the Toledo City Paper, we know that Toledoans love to party. So why wait? Kick off the final weekend of 2017 with food, fun, and friends at The Night Before The Night Before Party. There are three ticket levels: Life of the Party starts the night at 6pm with dinner and drinks ($60); Fashionably Late gets you in at 9:30pm for hors d’oeuvres and cocktails ($30); and Burning the Midnight Oil allows you to take full advantage of the live music and dancing starting at midnight ($10). 6pm-2:30am Friday, December 29. Maumee Bay Brewing Company, 27 Broadway St., Call 419-244-9859 and ask for Robin to purchase tickets. toledocitypaper.com
Try a selection of delicious Sparkling Wines from around the world, and take home your favorite to drink the next night. Saturday, December 30. 2-6pm. Prices vary. Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield Blvd., Maumee. 419-794-4000. waltchurchillsmarket.com
Planning to get a little tipsy for New Years? Do it with class at A Toast to 2017 at the Bottle Shop at Mancy’s Italian. Sample bubbles all day and be sure to stock up for your later celebration. 11am-9pm Saturday, December 30. Pours start at $3. Bottle Shop at Mancy’s Italian, 5453 Monroe St. 419-824-2463. mancys.com/#bottleshop.
Don’t want to brave the traffic and hectic social scene on New Years Eve itself? Get your kicks a day early at Great Black Swamp Brewing Company’s New Years Eve Eve bash. The Audiophiles will keep you dancing all night, or at least until you’re ready for the champagne toast at midnight. The kitchen will be open for pizza only, and you can also enjoy a variety of hors d’oeuvres. 9pm-2am Saturday, December 30. GBSBrewing Co., 26611 N Dixie Hwy., Perrysburg. 419–873-6101. facebook.com/gbsbrewingco
The past year has been full of some extreme highs and lows. The Culinary Vegetable Institute is ignoring the bad and showing love for the good at their Celebration of 2017, which features all the fresh ingredients, delicious dishes, and culinary experiences that guests voted as their favorites. Admission includes a specialty cocktail, a 7-course dinner, and some bubbly to take home. 6:30-9:30pm Saturday, December 30. $140. Culinary Vegetable Institute, 12304 Mudbrook Rd., Milan. 419-499-7500. culinaryvegetableinstitute.com
DINNER, DANCING, DRINKS
Classic night-of NYE parties and events focused on treats and tunes.
Sunday 12.31
Ring in the new year at NINE’s New Years Eve Dinner and After Party with a scrumptious five-course dinner from Chef Tony, followed by music, dancing, a champagne toast, and a balloon drop at midnight Semi-formal attire. Reservations required. 6pm-1am. $70/ticket. NINE at Hensville, 9 N. St. Clair St., 419-724-4499. Hensvilletoledo.com
Celebrate at the club by indulging in a dinner buffet, listening to live music from “Distant Cousinz” and having a champagne toast at midnight at Maumee River Yacht Club’s New Years Eve. Take advantage of the party favors and midnight snacks. Must be a member MRYC, AYC, ILYA, or a guest of a member. Dinner reservations required. 7pm-1am. Maumee River Yacht Club, 2735 Broadway. 419-382-3625. mryc.us
Beacon Church welcomes in the new year in style with their annual Diamond Gala, a formal, catered event boasting live music, raffles, a live auction, and guest speaker Apostle Greg J. Davis. Tickets are only on sale until December 27, so grab yours today. 7pm-1am. $10. Beacon Church, 1664 W. Bancroft. facebook.com/beaconinternationalchurch
Party all day and rock around the clock at Hollywood Casino’s NYE bash. There will be live entertainment all day in the H lounge, limitless choices at the EPIC Buffet, and a four-course meal at Final Cut Steakhouse & Seafood. 12pm-New Year’s Day. Hollywood Casino, 777 Hollywood Blvd. 419-661-5200. hollywoodcasinotoledo.com
Time to cue your dancing feet and fulfill your beer cravings at the New Years Eve Dance Party at Hensville. DJ One Tyme will be spinning their beats inside Fleetwood’s Taproom, while The Grape Smugglers will play upstairs in the Armory. 8pm-1am. $15-$20. Fleetwood’s Tap room, 28 N St Clair St. 419-724-2337. hensvilletoledo.com
Decadence is the theme of Element 112’s New Years Party this year. You’ll be greeted with a glass of bubbly and a festive six-course tasting menu prepared by Chef Nixon. Reservations for this popular event, available at 5:30pm and 8:30pm, are extremely limited, so hop on the phone to save your spot. $150/person. Element 112, 5735 N. Main St., Sylvania. 419-517-1104. facebook.com/Element112
Reset & Bar 145 New Years Eve Party has been a hit 7 years running, and 2018 will be no exception. A $25 ticket gives you access to both locations, where you can ring in the new year right with an ice luge, appetizer buffet, balloon drop, arcade games, balloon drop, a champagne toast, and music from DJ Adubb and DJ Manny. Tickets available at eventbrite.com. Doors 8pm. Bar 145 & Reset, 5305 Monroe St., 419-593-0073. bar145toledo.com
Get ready for dinner, drinks, and dancing at New Years Eve at the HIFQ. Their featured NYE package also includes live music, party favors, and champagne toast. If you prefer dinner without overnight accomodations, check out J. Patrick’s for a New Years Eve buffet and live music. 3pm. 21+. Prices vary. Holiday Inn French Quarter, 10630 Fremont Pike, Perrysburg. 419-874-3111. facebook.com/HIFrenchQuarter
It’s all about fancy feasting at Evans Street Station this New Year’s Eve. Welcome the new year with elegance and a six-course menu with bubbly at midnight. Upgrade your meal with wine or beer pairings for additional charges. Reservations welcomed between 5-10pm. Open until 1am. $75. 517-424.5555. evansstreetstation.com
Say goodbye to 2017 and hello to 2018 with dinner and dancing at the 3rd Annual New Years Eve Gala. Put on your dancing shoes with dance instruction by The Ballroom Company, followed by a catered dinner by LaScola Italian Grille. The fun will continue with a cash bar, photo booth, and midnight champagne toast. 7:30pm-1am. $60-$70. $30 for students. Graystone Hall, 29101 Hufford Rd, Perrysburg. 419-874-5016. graystonehall.com
Dress to impress at the Ultimate New Year’s Eve Bash at Pier 7 on the Docks. Ticket includes entry, appetizers, and champagne. Keep your eyes peeled at the midnight balloon drop for the purple balloon to win a one week paid vacation in Miami, Florida. With music by DJ Money Knox, you’ll want to get your dancing feet ready. 8pm. $25. Pier 7 The Docks, 26 Main St. 419-350-3926. Search “Pier 7 The Docks” on Facebook.
NYE is for partying, and what better way to party than with music, booze, and nosh? Bar Louie’s 2017 NYE Party will have all this and more, and the scratch kitchen is staying open til last call in honor of 2018. 8pm-2am. $20-$50. Bar Louie at the Franklin Park Mall, 5001 Monroe St., 567-318-1050. facebook.com/FranklinParkMall
Party all night long at Doc Watson’s with DJ Gary Collier at their annual New Years Eve bash. Your $5 admission includes champagne to toast at midnight, a party hat, and the chance to dance your face off well into the new year. 10pm. Doc Watson’s, 1515 S Byrne Rd., 419-389-6003. docwatsonstoledo.com
You won’t enter 2018 hungry at Brandywine Country Club’s New Year’s Eve. Treat yourself to multiple appetizers, a dinner buffet featuring Prime Rib, and sweet desserts. Still hungry after that? Midnight appetizers featuring traditional Kielbasa and Kraut will help fill you up. Ending the night will be a champagne toast. 21+, Reservations required. 6pm-1am. $75. Brandywine Country Club, 6904 Salisbury Rd, Maumee. 419-865-2393. brandywinecc.com
OUTSIDE THE BOX
These unconventional holiday happenings break the mold of what a New Years Eve party should look like.
If you’re from Northwest Ohio, chances are you’ve heard of one of the area’s most beloved NYE traditions: the Port Clinton Walleye Drop. All of Port Clinton will be hopping with events and holiday specials, including DJs and free entertainment, teen activities, a minnow drop for the kiddies, a rock-paper-scissors tournament, and more. At midnight, prepare for the drop of the fiberglass walleye, weighing in around 600 pounds and measuring 20 feet. Starts 10am. Port Clinton, OH. 419-635-7470. wyliewalleyefoundation.com. Free
Tired of the same old song and dance every New Years Eve? Try out something a little more mysterious this year with the Old Road Dinner Train’s NYE Murder Mystery Dinner. You’ll get to enjoy a five-course dinner, champagne toast, and party favors, but this time it’ll all happen on a three-hour train ride – oh yeah, and you’ll be solving a murder. Reservations required. 7:30-10:30pm, boarding starts at 6:30pm. $79.95. The Old Road Dinner Train, 301 East Adrian St., Blissfield, MI. 517-486-5979. murdermysterydinnertrain.com
At Miss Cue South’s New Years Eve Party, your ticket doesn’t just get you through the door. Admission covers drinks, hot dog buffet, pool, darts, ping pong, and shuffleboard. 9pm-1am. Miss Cue South, 1720 S Reynolds Rd., 419-865-3792. misscuetoledo.com
South Creek Clydesdales take you on a magical Sleigh Ride Through Spiegel Grove, treading the same path President Hayes took during his holidays at the house. From December 26-31, you can enjoy this special winter treat. 1-4pm. $3/rider ages 3 and up. Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library & Museums, Spiegel Grove, Fremont. 419-332-2081. rbhayes.org
If the years feel like they’re moving at light-speed, now’s your chance to slow down and step back a few decades. At the New Year’s Eve 1940s WWII-Era Big Band Hangar Dance, the 1950’s Tin Goose Diner is open for classic foods and desserts, prizes are awarded for best vintage garb, and you can enjoy champagne, dance lessons, raffles, a silent auction, a cash bar, and live music. 8pm-12:30am. $60-$65/single, $115-$120/couples, $460/reserved table of 8. Liberty Aviation Museum, 3515 East State Rd., Port Clinton. 419-732-0234. libertyaviationmuseum.org
Continue the holiday spirit as you stroll through town and admire the vibrant lights display at Hensville. With more than 200,000 lights and a 45 foot lit tree, your eyes will surely be delighted. Accompanying the sight is a dancing light show synced with music. Enjoy this winter wonderland on St. Clair St. between Monroe and Washington. The lights will continue to shine until January 20. 6pm-12am. Hensville, 406 Washington St. 419-725-4367. Hensvilletoledo.com. Free
COMEDIC STYLINGS
Andrew Z’s Laugh in the New Year Party features comedians Jake Dickey, Mark Frederick, And Chris Tiefel, along with a champagne toast, midnight pizza buffet, party favors, dancing, and karaoke. The evening is hosted by special guest Hershae Chocolate from America’s Got Talent. 9:30pm. $15/person, $25/couple. Rockstar Karaoke Bar, 3560 Dorr St., 567-377-6657. facebook.com/RockstarBarUSA
Laugh your way into 2018 with a one-of-a-kind show filled with magic, ventriloquism, and illusions at the New Years Eve Comedy Bash with Hypnotist Michael Night. Opening the stage are stand-up comics Rob Wilfond and Reese Leonard. You may even get picked to participate in Michael Night’s act of hypnotism. Hotel package deals including a room, tickets, dinner and dancing after the show are available. 8pm-1am. $30. Quality Inn and Suites, 1225 N Dixie Hwy, Monroe, MI. 734-242-6000. www.michaelnight.com.
Get ready to laugh until your stomach hurts at a new kind of NYE party. Josh Sneed brings the hilarity with a special New Years performance at the Funny Bone. Enjoy dinner at the club or just come for the laughs. 7pm. $60/person. 21+. Toledo Funny Bone, 6140 Levis Commons Blvd., Perrysburg. 419-931-3474. toledo.funnybone.com
FEELING FIT FOR 2018
Toledo Yoga knows that a new year is the perfect time to celebrate growth, renewal, and inner peace. That’s why they have you covered on New Years Eve with Yoga in the Glow, and on the first day of 2018 with 108 Sun Salutations. Party in the evening while decorated with glow accessories and paint, or spend a relaxing morning full of community and positive vibes. Register online. $25. 4-5pm Sunday, December 31. 11am-12:30pm Monday, January 1. Toledo Yoga, 4324 West Central Ave., 419-531-0006. toledoyoga.com
Hey runners, start the new year doing what you’re passionate about; participate in Toledo Roadrunners Club’s Midnight Special 5K that takes “two years to finish.” Wearing light-colored and reflective garments is strongly recommended. Awards will be given at the end of the race. 11:45pm. $20-$25. Fallen Timbers Middle School, 6119 Finzel Rd, Whitehouse. 419-360-3709. midnightspecial5k.com.
KIDS AND FAMILIES
The holidays are a time for family, and New Years is no exception. We’ve found the most fun and exciting NYE parties that the whole gang can enjoy.
Your inner child will be bounding with joy at Imagination Station’s New Years Eve EVE Bouncy Ball Drop. The whole family can enjoy fun and festive activities centered on science, including making your own noisemakers to ring in the 2018 the next night. At 2:18pm, thousands of bouncy balls will be released into the Atrium during the science center’s take on the ball drop. 10am. 1 Discovery Way. 419-244-2674. imaginationstationtoledo.org. Free with admission.
TMA will host fun daytime New Years Eve Family Center Activities for families to enjoy, including giant chess and a handmade gift crafting station. Noon-5pm. Toledo Museum of Art, Sunday 12.31 2445 Monroe St., 419-255-8000. toledomuseum.org. Free
For some of the youngest family members, midnight can be a little too late. So why not ring in the New Year a little early? The Toledo Zoo hosts Noon Year’s Eve, complete with confetti and an apple juice toast. Enjoy crafts, ice carving, animal feedings, the ice slide and bumper cars. This is a great way for the whole family to ring in 2018! 11am-1pm. Toledo Zoo, 2 Hippo Way. 419-385-4040. toledozoo.org
Roll on over to Bowlero Lanes where they will host a New Years Eve Family Fun Night of unlimited bowling the whole family will enjoy. Admission includes shoe rental and 1 spin on the prize wheel per person. Reserve your lane early for a lower price. 8-9pm. $10-$20. Bowlero Lanes of Toledo, 4398 Monroe St. 419-473-1257. https://www.bowlerolanestoledo.com
