New Year's Beave: Ring in 2024 at these local celebrations
One of these years, Beaver County movers and shakers might come up with plans for a big, outdoor New Year's Eve celebration.
Like a First Night, or a mini-Times Square countdown. Let's call it New Year's Beave.
Until then, we can still savor and celebrate at standbys and fresh community-minded New Year's Eve parties like these:
Ambridge
Ambridge rings in its bicentennial celebration with a New Year's Eve bash at Franzee's-Javy's on Duss Avenue.
$100 bucks gets you in the door for two floors of all-night entertainment.
Franzee's features a cocktail hour, Grande Royale Dinner Buffet, five hours of open bar, and live dance music by Occasional Reign.
A Midnight Champagne Toast, Midnight New Year Buffet, prizes, raffles and giveaways are part of the fun.
Every guest will be invited downstairs to Javy's to enjoy a full evening of Monte Carlo Night featuring casino gaming tables and chances to win prizes. Javy's will have a fully stocked open bar and music amid a speakeasy vibe.
Tickets are available at eventbrite.com and ambridgeregionalchamber.org., and also through Ambridge Borough for those who would like to avoid the online ticketing service charge. This event is limited to 250 tickets.
Beaver Falls' Neighborhood North Museum
Neighborhood North Museum of Play celebrates New Year's early, specifically 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Dec. 30.
The Beaver Falls children's museum's New Year’s @ Noon Celebration offers family-friendly fun. Young guests and their grown-ups can create special Maker Space crafts, take a turn in the photo booth, enjoy ice cream sundaes, be part of a dance party, and welcome in 2024 with a huge countdown and balloon drop.
This year’s theme is "Time Flies," and partygoers are asked to dress in one or all three of the museum's main colors: blue, silver and white.
"The team at Neighborhood North looks forward to this event each year," founder and executive director Christine Kroger said. "It’s a wonderful way for families with young children to join with the community and create memories and fun traditions around celebrating the year being left behind and welcoming the one that is yet ahead. Of course, once you add balloons and bubbles, it’s going to be a celebration."
Tickets cost $5 at neighborhoodnorth.com. This event tends to sell out, so advance purchase is recommended For more information call 724-601-5686 or email hello@neighborhoodnorth.com.
Neighborhood North is at 716 14th St.
New Brighton celebration
The Promise Blend coffee shop in New Brighton will stay open late, from 8 p.m. to midnight, for a New Year's Eve party.
"We will be having pizza, games and fellowship," the Mercer Avenue coffee shop, and winner of The Times's Mocha Madness contest, said in a Facebook post. "We will also be having the ball drop playing live."
Bridgewater celebrations
Kelly's Riverside Saloon hosts its annual Dropping of the Lighted Beaver (dangled from the second story window) as revelers count down to midnight. There's also a champagne bar and Lighted Winter Wonderland outside, with the kitchen open until 12:30 a.m.
Mario’s 410 Grille in Bridgewater hosts jazzy, soulful rock band Mean Blue Planets from 8-11 p.m., followed by a big screen viewing of the New York City ball drop and complimentary champagne toast.
Earlier starts in the valley
Jus1More sports bar in Beaver Falls has an early celebration, too, a New Year's Eve Brunch, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 31, with DJ Durty Beats playing tunes, and Bloody Mary and Mimosa bars offering refreshments (purchase required).
Altered Genius Brewing in Ambridge presents an 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. brunch and New Year's Eve afternoon toast.
"We're looking to host an obscure 'French Toast' at 2 p.m. (the time Port of France in Antarctic Lands celebrates," Altered Genius says om Instagram. "We'd feature various French toasts on the menu and toast with Framboise Cider or French cider."
The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh also host its annual New Year’s Eve celebration, Countdown to Noon, on Dec. 31, with guests invited to enjoy a day of family fun that includes, musical performances by Lee Robinsin & ISKA, a silent disco, art-making activities, and a celebratory confetti drop at noon. Details at pittsburghkids.org
Highmark First Night Pittsburgh 2024
From 6 p.m. to midnight on Dec. 31, Pittsburgh's Cultural District will be booming for the Highmark First Night Pittsburgh 2024 celebration.
A production of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, the six-hour, arts-focused, family-friendly celebration is free.
Thousands of revelers will count down the final seconds of 2023 as the glittery Future of Pittsburgh Ball rises to its perch atop Penn Avenue Place, signaling, as it has for decades, that Pittsburgh is a city on the rise. Fireworks will color the skies at midnight. A 6 p.m. fireworks display launches the party.
The main stage musical headliner, New Orleans-based Pittsburgh native Lyndsey Smith, is known as “The Goddaughter of Soul.” Influenced by Etta James, Chaka Khan, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, and Whitney Houston, Smith’s performance starts at 10:45 p.m.
Pittsburgh’s reggae-rockers The Flow Band and the Zuzu African Acrobats will perform earlier on the main stage, at the intersection of Penn Avenue and Stanwix Street.
Downtown Pittsburgh’s 14-block Cultural District will set the stage for more live music, dance, theater, visual arts, magic, kids’ activities, an 8 p.m. Penn Avenue parade, and more.
“Artists lead the way at Highmark First Night Pittsburgh,” Sarah Aziz, director of programming for the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, said in a press release “Their work helps us reflect on the past year and consider the possibilities in the year ahead. Exploring art in the Cultural District has proven to be an incredible New Year’s Eve tradition in our region.”
More: Beaver County business helps add historic violin to Violins of Hope traveling exhibit
A new public art premiere, The Firetree Project, towers 24-foot high The steel sculpture looks like it was lifted from a fairytale. While visiting the sculpture in the Backyard at 8th & Penn, guests can enjoy entertainment from School of Rock and finalists of the annual SING-OFF Competition. That's also a place to warm up and refuel with outdoor heaters and a sampling of some of Pittsburgh’s top food trucks.
Pittsburgh jazz standout Dwayne Dolphin will perform in the newly renovated Greer Cabaret Theater and Lounge.
Street magic will entertain those outside of Liberty Magic, while the neighboring Harris Theater screens classic shorts featuring Popeye and Betty Boop.
For a full list of activities, visit TrustArts.org/FirstNightPGH.
Other options
Specially crafted New Year's Eve menus are offered at places including Frank G's Place in Bridgewater (lobster and lump crab cakes specials), Jackson's Restaurant + Bar in Center Township, and Shakespeare's Restaurant & Pub in North Sewickley Township, which from 4- 8 p.m., has a four-course meal with champagne (reservation only), plus a Sunday Prime Rib brunch buffet from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Jergel's Rhythm Grille in Marshall Township hosts a $1,000 balloon drop with live '80s music by BB Steal.
Beaver County indie-rocker Andre Costello and his band Forestry Division join Pittsburgh psych-folk outfit Ames Harding & The Mirage and Philadephia’s MINKA for a 9 p.m. concert at Spirit Hall in Lawrenceville. Tickets are $20 and $25 at showclix.com.
The Harmony Silvester Celebration in historic Harmony, Butler County honors its German heritage by celebrating Silvester (New Year’s Eve) on German time. The family-oriented evening starting at 3:30 with a 5k race, followed by a Christmas tree toss, pork and sauerkraut dinner and a traditional German movie. Beaver County musical spouses James and Debra Tobin will perform from 3-6 p.m., with the evening ending with a New Year’s Eve ball drop at 6 p.m., which is midnight German Time.
Game Time Sports Bar & Grill in Ambridge will host a classy dress celebration with its champagne toast at midnight.
Count on a bunch of local taverns still doing the traditional champagne toast at midnight.
Though keep in mind televised coverage of the Pittsburgh Steelers game at Seattle starts at 4:05 p.m. Dec. 31, so many bars might focus more on that.
Scott Tady is entertainment editor at The Times and easy to reach at stady@timesonline.com.
This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Ring in 2024 at these Western PA celebrations
