CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS: Lincoln Park, Bucktown and Wicker Park, Lakeview, River North, Lincoln Square, Oak Park

Lincoln Park: Celebrate your New Year’s in style at the J. Parker rooftop! Enjoy panoramic views of Lake Michigan and the downtown Chicago skyline. This year’s theme is Purple Rain- so get ready to party like it’s 1999! Tickets are $125 and include a premium open bar from 9 pm to 1 am, passed appetizers, desserts, late night snacks, a midnight champagne toast, and 80s and 90s jams spun by DJ Kareem! Purchase your tickets here now.

Bucktown and Wicker Park: Ring in your New Year’s with a Black Tie Bash at The Violet Hour! This party will be elegant, delicious, luxurious, and fun. There are two seating options available! The first is for the Early Birds from 6 to 8 pm for $15. Skip the line and guarantee your seat with purchase of this ticket! In addition to guaranteed seating, this ticket comes with a New Year’s punch or a champagne cocktail slushy. Cocktails from Violet Hour’s curated New Year’s Eve menu of favorites (both past and present) are available for purchase a la carte. The second seating is from 9 pm to 1 am and tickets are $150. Guests can select their own seats from a floor plan and drink unlimited cocktails from the special New Year’s Eve menu. Complimentary food will also be available with the second seating. For more information, check out Violet Hour’s event page.

Lakeview: Need another kid friendly way to celebrate the New Year? How about with the Blue Man Group?? There will be four performances on Monday, December 31. The kid-friendly performances are at 1 and 4 pm. The festivities include pre-show face painting, hats, and noisemakers for the audience, and a special performance of “Auld Lang Syne” by the Blue Men. The 7 pm show offers festive party hats and a champagne toast. After the 10 pm show, there will be a midnight champagne toast, confetti drop, and another performance of “Auld Lang Syne”. Tickets are available online.

River North: Ring in the New Year at River North’s trendiest location- Spin Chicago! This subterranean ping pong warehouse boasts music, art, and culture- with enough space to show off your dance moves and your serve. Your NYE package includes a four-hour premium drink package, upscale appetizer stations, complimentary ping pong, a live DJ, interactive photo opportunities, and a champagne toast at midnight. Doors open at 8 pm, the party package begins at 9 pm and ends at 1 am, and the venue closes at 2 am. Find more information and buy your tickets here.

Lincoln Square: Tired of the same old New Year’s Eve parties? If you’re looking for something different this New Year’s, try Brew Year’s Eve! This is a craft beer centric New Year’s Eve party at the Architectural Artifacts building on Ravenswood, just steps away from the Montrose brown line. Your Brew Year’s Eve ticket includes access to ten Chicagoland breweries serving 25 different craft beers. There will be live music, passed appetizers, and many unique photo opportunities! There will also be 5 signature cocktail drinks and a wine bar. Tickets are $135 and are available for purchase here.

Oak Park: Every year, Wonder Works Children’s Museum hosts the largest family New Year’s Eve party in Oak Park! And this year is no exception— it’s going to be bigger and better than ever! There will be special games, crafts, noisemakers, parades, singing, food, and so much more. Admission is just $2 per person for Wonder Works members and $10 per person for non-members. The party is on Monday, December 31 from 12 noon to 5 pm. Keep up to date on the event’s Facebook page.

RACHEL HOOVLER & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO