The new year is almost here, and Baltimore restaurants and bars will be celebrating all across town will be celebrating. While there will be no shortage of places offering food and drink specials, we wanted to round up a list of some of the best theme parties, musical performances, vibrant displays and special events to ring in the new year. Here’s a list of some of the best parties happening in Baltimore on and leading up to New Year’s Eve:
Saturday, Dec. 29
Screening of “The Thin Man”: 11:30 a.m. at The Charles Theater. As part of its Revival Series, The Charles screens W.S. Van Dyke’s 1934 film “The Thin Man,” based on the mystery novel by Dashiell Hammett, in 35 mm. Also happening on New Year’s Eve at 7 p.m. and Jan. 3 at 9 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 30
A Very Punk New Year’s Eve Eve!: 7 p.m. at The Depot. The Station North bar and music venue hosts a half-dozen punk bands from Maryland and New Jersey on the night before New Year’s Eve.
Monday, Dec. 31 (New Year’s Eve)
Midnight Noon: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Maryland Science Center. The Inner Harbor museum, planetarium and observatory lets kids get in on the party. The ball drops at noon, the whole museum is open for playing and kids rock band Milkshake is performing live.
Noon Time New Year!: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at Port Discovery Children’s Museum. Bring the kiddos to the award-winning children’s attraction downtown for a noontime ball drop.
A Miller High Life NYE 2019: 4 p.m.-2 a.m. at Don’t Know Tavern. The champagne of beers is packaged in actual champagne bottles this year. Fittingly, the Federal Hill bar will toast with High Life at midnight (they’ll have sparkling wine, too), and a special of 10 Miller High Life ponies for $20.19.
Kids New Year’s Eve Party: 6-8:30 p.m. at Iron Rooster Baltimore. Another party geared toward the wee ones. The Canton bar and restaurant will be serving dinner (reservation required) with special children’s and adult menus, and have a DJ, dancing, a toast and a ball drop that’s just a few hours before the real thing.
NYE Kiddie Scoop Ball Drop: 6:30-8:30 p.m. at The Charmery Ice Cream Factory at Union Collective. Ice cream, classic rock and an early ball drop for families. Have a scoop and watch Heart N Dagger, a Bon Jovi tribute band from Glen Burnie, play live to celebrate the new year.
Miracle on 34th Street: Sundown at 34th Street and Chestnut Avenue in Hampden. Take in the dazzling, nationally renowned display in Hampden on its second to last night of the holidays. In celebration of the new year, neighbors are leaving the lights on all night.
New Year’s Eve Dance Party: 7 p.m.-2 a.m. at Clifton Pleasure Club. The Lauraville social club throws a party with music from DJ Rosie Hicks, dancing and a bevy of finger foods, including Swedish meatballs, finger sandwiches, skewered snacks and Spanish-style cod cakes. Costumes optional, and inspired by the 1990 film “Mermaids,” a Facebook event says.
New Year’s Eve: 7 p.m.-3 a.m. at Tagliata/The Elk Room/Italian Disco. This trio of Harbor East restaurants is offering a celebration with options, and lots of great food. Enjoy an open bar, standing buffets and live music–piano in the Tagliata lounge, a jazz band in The Elk Room and a DJ at Italian Disco. The ball drop in Times Square will air on the Italian Disco TVs at midnight.
New Year’s Eve With 2 Live Crew: 7 p.m.-6 a.m. at Larry Flynt’s Hustler Club Baltimore. Hip-hop legends and pioneers 2 Live Crew come to The Block to play live at the strip club. Open bar from 10 p.m.-1 a.m.
New Queer’s EVE!: 8 p.m.-1 a.m. at The Windup Space. An eclectic lineup of queer artists play to a partying crowd at the Station North venue, including Joseph & The Beasts, Manners Manners, Sybling and Dreambush.
Roaring Twenties New Year’s Eve: 8 p.m.-3 a.m. at the Owl Bar. The old-school hotel bar and famed speakeasy during Prohibition throws it back to the 1920s. Wear your best suit or flapper dress.
TAUK w/ The Fritz on NYE: 8 p.m. at Baltimore Soundstage. Prog rock instrumentalist groups Tauk and The Fritz jam out in downtown Baltimore. Among the funkiest ways to spend your New Year’s Eve out.
Better Off Dead New Year’s Eve Bash w/ Squaring The Circle: 8 p.m.-1:30 a.m. at The 8×10. Keep truckin’ into 2019 with a set from the Grateful Dead cover band and the prog-funk group.
New Year’s Eve Party: 8 p.m.-2 a.m. at Arch Social Club. It’s been a big year for the historic Penn North social club. Come celebrate what will hopefully be an even better 2019 with food, drink specials, two dance floors and a midnight champagne toast.
New Year’s Eve Glow Party: 8 p.m.-4 a.m. at Fish Head Cantina. DJ Eric Stevens of RaceCarBed is on the decks, and the dancefloor will be lit up with black lights. Stick around for a glowing champagne toast at midnight.
DEEP SUGAR presents NYE Gilded Disco 2: 8 p.m.-8 a.m. at Club 1722. An event for house music heads or those looking to dance until the sun rises. “Big Papa” Wayne Davis, former owner and operator of the bygone dance party spot Paradox, will be DJing alongside Deep Sugar’s Lisa Moody. Other things to know: Cash bar all night, the dress code is “golden disco fantasy” and continental breakfast will be served at 4 a.m.
New Year’s Eve Party: 8 p.m.-2 a.m. at Little Havana Restaurante y Cantina. Ring in the new year with a full buffet, open bar and music from the group Bye Felicia.
Fully Tilted Brew Year’s Celebration: 8 p.m.-12:30 a.m. at Full Tilt Brewing. The newly opened brewery will have 16 different beers on offer, red and white wine, food from The Rolling Grill, music by DJ Lefty and a champagne toast at midnight.
New Year’s Eve Party: 8 p.m.-1 a.m. at the Boumi Shrine Center. The local chapter of the society hosts a party with a carving station, oysters and clams, open bar, champagne toast and music from Prince Havely & the HRH Band.
Stepping Into The New Year Black Tie Affair New Years Eve 2019: 8 p.m.-4 a.m. at 12 S. Calvert St. Distinguished Events hosts a party with two levels of dancing, and for an additional cost, an open buffet and champagne toast.
Laser Disco 2018: 8 p.m.-5 a.m. at Charm. The party features seven rooms of dubstep, house music and drum & bass, including headliners Crizzly, Megalodon, Dara and B2B.
NYE Live! New Year’s Eve Baltimore: 8 p.m. at Power Plant Live! The bars in the nightlife hub band together for a huge party on the big night. Entrants get access to 11 bars in all, plus there’s a laser show and the Times Square ball drop on 20-foot LED screens.
Live Music of Alex Davis: 8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. at Tagliata. Davis, of the pop-jazz group Passing Worth and prog-rock outfit Miles to Go, plays solo music to ring in the new year.
2 K9 TEEN! BROS New Year’s Eve Bash!: 9 p.m. at Ottobar. The only party you’ll around where everyone is dressed and acting like a dog. Baltimore Rock Opera Society members will be doing tricks, and Outcalls, Joe Keyes and The Late Bloomer Band, Hollywood Blanks and DJ Pancakes will perform live. Complimentary champagne served for the ball drop.
Searching 4 Something NYE Party: 9 p.m.-4 a.m. at Sir Duke Bar and Liquor Store. The hip bar and to-go booze spot is going all out. Three bars and four DJs, all from the Searching4Something DJ collective, spread across two floors, with drink specials running all night.
New Year’s Eve Celebration!: 9 p.m.-3 a.m. at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church. Mark the church’s 50th anniversary and the start of the new year with a party that includes live music by Mortes, vasilopita (New Year’s Day cake), a champagne toast, traditional dancing and more.
Big Vibe NYE 2019: PURPLE GATEWAY: 9 p.m-3 a.m. at The Crown. Dance your way through the Purple Gateway into the new year, with music from “Big Vibe,” featuring Mr. 14th and D.K. The Punisher, and other special guest DJs. No cover, RSVP gets you guaranteed entry before 11 p.m.
Baltimore’s New Year’s Eve Spectacular 2018: 9 p.m.-12:30 a.m. This is the city’s big one: Fireworks at midnight over the harbor, ice skating at the rink near the amphitheater, live rock music covers from Thunderball and plenty of other entertainment. It’ll also be broadcast by WJZ-TV starting at 11 p.m.
90th Birthday Bash and NYE Party: 9 p.m.-2 a.m. at the Lord Baltimore Hotel. Not only is it almost 2019, but it’s also the Lord Baltimore Hotel’s 90th birthday. Admission gets you a full spread of food, sparkling wine and noise makers. The party will happen in the historic Calvert Ballroom, with a live swing band, discounted drinks, an oyster bar and heavy hors d’oeuvres.
Venetian Masquerade Ball: 9 p.m.-2 a.m. at the Sagamore Pendry Baltimore. Likely among the swankiest parties you’ll find here in Baltimore. The luxury hotel in Fells Point hosts a masquerade party in the Sagamore Ballroom with a live DJ, open bar and VIP options with bottle service.
The Cultural Renaissance NYE Party: 9 p.m.-2 a.m. at the Downtown Cultural Arts Center. A Gatsby-style throwback party celebrating the “cultural success and creative renaissance” afoot in Baltimore. While you’re dressed to the nines, enjoy a six-course meal from Chef Bentley of Bentley’s Bites, drinks, music from DJ King RJ and The Royal Band and more.
LIT AF Tour hosted by Martin Lawrence: 9 p.m. at Royal Farms Arena. Ring in the new year with comedy great Martin Lawrence, joined by Jay Pharoah, Bruce Bruce, Michael Blackson, Rickey Smiley and other big touring names in black comedy.
Metro/Sexual | New Year’s Eve Party: 9 p.m. at Metro Gallery. Baby hosts a night of “fashion, art, tease, filth and drag” with a lineup of 10 other performers.
Free NYE Show: 9:30 p.m-2 a.m. at The Sidebar. The basement bar and venue downtown hosts New Jersey sludge rockers Sunrot, members of Thee Lexington Arrows and Syringe covering Plasmatics songs and DJ Sad Mountain. Admission is free and it’s a potluck, so bring some food to share.
NYE with Ultra Sonic: 9:30 p.m.-1 a.m. at The Admiral’s Cup. The pop-rock group specializing in ‘80s hits and modern chart-toppers plays a set, and the band is taking requests.
NYE Kickback w/ Stoop Nerds: 10 p.m.-2:30 a.m. at Nori Sushi Bar. The Hampden sushi spot hosts a New Year’s Eve party with sounds from DJ Ball-Tech and DJ Cheakywillie of the Stoop Nerds.
New Year’s Eve Charm City Fireworks Cruise: 10 p.m.-1 a.m. at Watermark Cruises. Enjoy the downtown fireworks from a the yacht Raven in Baltimore. The party includes a DJ playing music, light bites and dessert, and a champagne toast.
NYE with Amongst Friends: 10 p.m.-1 a.m. at Fells Point Tavern. The pop-rock duo is joined by a third member, Clint Szafader, to celebrate the end of 2018.
Bad w/ Names rocks the WTF on NYE!: 10 p.m.-2 a.m. at The Waterfront Hotel. Across from The Pendry, rock and cover band Bad w/ Names plays at the Thames Street watering hole.
