by Noella Noelophile®
(Royalty-free image by feeligood from Pixabay.)
And, just like that–it’s almost time to celebrate the New Year!
Here are three uniquely-Californian celebrations, for New Year’s Eve.
Solvang
(Photo courtesy of SolvangUSA.com, and used with permission.)
“America’s Christmas Town” has something new this year!
As they wrap up their month-long “Julefest” Christmas celebration, Solvang will host their first-ever “Copenhagen Countdown” New Year’s Eve event.
Now, this one actually occurs in the daytime–2:00 to 4:00 pm, to be exact–because 2:00, Pacific time, is 11:00 pm in Denmark!
So, with this family-friendly European-style countdown to midnight, guests gather in Solvang Park for festive foods, music by top-drawing 80’s tribute band the Molly Ringwald Project, and, of course, everyone gathering, just before 4:00 pm–or midnight, Copenhagen time–to welcome the New Year.
The event is listed as “weather permitting” and the website does not list a fee for admission.
Solvang Park is located at the intersection of Park Way and Mission Drive.
Costa Mesa
(Photo courtesy of Winter Fest OC, and used with permission.)
Have you ever celebrated New Year’s Eve with a yeti?
How about–with a yeti who is, in all probability, a “Swiftie”?
Winter Fest OC, at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa, wants to give you that opportunity.
They’ll be hosting their “Swiftie Spectacular”, for New Year’s Eve, with two countdowns: one at 9:00 pm and one at midnight.
Yowie the Yeti and his friends will be on hand as guests welcome the New Year with dazzling fireworks celebrations, dancing to the “Taylor Nation Tribute Band”, and, of course, all sorts of wintry fun, including ice tubing, real snow play and carnival games.
Tickets to Winter Fest OC, at 88 Fair Drive in Costa Mesa, start at $25 for general admission, with add-ons available for ice skating, unlimited carnival rides and “Polar Putt-Putt”. In addition, if you’re coming with a group of family or friends, igloo rentals are available for up to 10 guests complete with plush seating and a private fire pit!
Long Beach
Splasshhhh!
Long Beach’s Aquarium of the Pacific invites you to “dive into” the New Year–with music, magic and marine life!
Tickets are still available for their New Year’s Eve celebration, which will include music of all varieties.
DJs will be spinning throughout different locations of the Aquarium. “Lowdown” will provide live music in the Great Hall. Karaoke sign-ups will be happening–AND there’s magic!
The Aquarium’s website invites visitors to experience the magic of Johnny Wu, in the Honda Pacific theatre. Cafe Scuba will serve a special New Year’s Eve menu.
And as that clock edges towards midnight, get ready for a confetti countdown!
Meanwhile, you’ll get to see almost all the residents of the Aquarium: all exhibits, with the exception of the Lorikeet Forest and the Penguins and Shorebirds areas. (Subject to change, according to the Aquarium’s website.)
Advance registration online is required for the festivities, which begin at 8:00 pm and continue until 1:00 am.
Ages 18 and up are welcome at Aquarium of the Pacific’s “Night Dive – New Year’s Eve” celebration, at 100 Aquarium Way, in Long Beach. Tickets are $89.95 per person, and advance registration is required. Here’s the link for information.
And, that’s a wrap–for this post, and for the year! Have a safe celebration, and may the New Year bring you good health, fulfillment and happiness.