10 Cheap But Amazing Places in the USA to Ring in New Year’s in Style
Looking to welcome the New Year with a bang without blowing your budget? For the last decade, I’ve always opted for elaborate New Year’s counting down at raves in Rio or watching the ball drop in NYC.
However, these top destinations do not come cheap. If you aren’t ready to drop big on hotels and parties the very first day of the year, here are the best cheap places to go for New Years in style without draining your wallet.
1. New Orleans, Louisiana
In the Big Apple, they have the ball drop in Times Square. In New Orleans, they have the Fleur de Lys, a large gold and blue ball that drops near Jackson’s Square. After the ball drops, over 10,000 bright fireworks blast over the Mississippi River.
The Sugar Bowl parade runs on New Year’s Eve during the day, and elaborate masquerade balls take over the night. This year, the city will host New Orleans Eve in Jackson Square with live bands and DJs right until the ball drops.
Street vendors with local gumbo and beignets will help you stay within budget, and you can bet the bars will have drink specials.
2. Austin, Texas
Austin counts more than 250 live music venues, and that number alone suggests a wild December 31. Many spots leave fancy dress codes at the door, and late-night parties with casual drink deals pop up everywhere.
Head over to Auditorium Shores for the city’s annual Austin’s New Year celebration. This free event has live music from local acts and headliner Third Eye Blind, food trucks, a countdown, and a fireworks spectacular.
3. Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville knows how to celebrate with live music rolling out way past midnight, and New Year’s Eve is no exception. The honky-tonks on Lower Broadway rarely charge admission.
On New Year’s Eve, a giant music note drop draws over 100,000 hopeful revelers in Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park for Nashville’s Big Bash. Kane Brown, Keith Urban, and Jelly Roll are headlining this year’s free event and there will befireworks, food trucks, and lots of fun for everyone.
If the concert scene is not for you, the Nashville Zoo for Zoolumination has the biggest Chinese lantern festival in the United States. You can see animals as well as more than 1000 Chinese silk lanterns, some of which are 100 feet long and 50 feet high.
4. Miami, Florida
Miami is known for its nightlife and extravagance, but you can also experience New Year’s Eve on a budget here. As one of the best warm winter destinations in the country, start your new year with a beach vacation and mild temperatures in sunny Florida.
On New Year’s Eve, head to the beaches between 21st and 22nd Streets for a free live concert with an orchestra and a variety of jazz, classical, and Latin performers. At midnight, fireworks over Biscayne Bay can hit the sky by the thousands.
Street DJs appear out of nowhere or try to score an invite to galas like the one at the Ritz-Carlton. Events like balls, concerts (including a stand-up show by Patton Oswalt), and nightclubs with special parties and famous DJs are happening all over the city.
5. Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh, North Carolina, is an affordable and fun destination for ringing in the New Year. During the day, a New Year’s Eve parade known as the People’s Parade runs down the streets.
Raleigh’s First Night spans more than 20 downtown blocks at City Plaza. This budget-friendly event costs less than $20 per person and includes music at multiple venues, art displays, Ferris Wheel rides, the acorn drop, and fireworks at midnight.
The city may not top every New Year’s list, yet it still gathers crowds of over 80,000. Raleigh’s walkable streets let you hop between events in a matter of minutes.
6. Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta’s Peach Drop tradition stretches back decades, with tens of thousands watching that giant fruit descend. That’s not the only free New Year’s activity in Atlanta. You can also head to The Battery Atlanta for live music, food, a midnight countdown, fireworks, and confetti.
Affordable public transit beats pricey cabs any night of the week. Vendors hawk party favors for just a few bucks.
7. Las Vegas, Nevada
If Las Vegas knows how to do anything, it’s how to throw a party. Las Vegas might sound expensive, yet the Strip pulls in over 300,000 New Year’s revelers who manage fine on smaller budgets.
The boulevard shuts down to cars, and Fremont Street hosts free light shows. If you choose a hotel off the Strip, you can still party like a high roller with free concerts, fireworks, and parties at places like the MGM Grand or raves at the Sphere.
Multiple rooftops launch fireworks in sync, and you can enjoy all of it from the street below.
8. Boston, Massachusetts
First Night Boston is an annual tradition that has been going strong for more than 40 years, and it’s absolutely free to attend.
Frog Pond on the Common features ice sculptures, live music, dancing, and even an ice skating show. Many events remain free, a nice surprise in a city known for hefty price tags.
Stroll around the waterfront and explore even more ice sculptures and holiday decorations. Many clubs have special New Year’s events but may require reservations and an admission fee or drink minimum.
9. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The City of Brotherly Love is known for its rich history, but it also rings in the New Year with free and inexpensive celebrations.
The Mummers Parade rolls out on New Year’s Day, entertaining crowds for over a century. This Philly tradition attracts more than 10,000 adults and children in colorful costumes to dance their way down the streets, all vying for the year’s top prizes.
Philadelphia’s fireworks along the Delaware River require no ticket. They happen at 6 p.m. and again at midnight.
10. Chicago, Illinois
Chicago can be pricey, but many people stand on public ground for Chicago’s Navy Pier fireworks and live music without spending a penny. Before the fireworks start, stop in one of the restaurants or bars on the Pier for a drink or a meal.
Want to see the fireworks and ring in the new year from the water? Enjoy an affordable dinner cruise with the clinking of champagne toasts at midnight.
Catherine, a seasoned travel writer, has lived in 4 different states and explored 36 states and 28 national parks. After spending two years embracing van life, she's now dedicated to sharing her vast knowledge of day trips across America. Catherine's other works has been referenced in major publications like MSN, Self, and TripSavvy.
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