New Year's Eve Parties and Events

It's happening Monday, Dec. 31 in the South Sound

By Rachel Thorne on December 12, 2012

Ah yes, another year and another step ahead. This is it: the one annual holiday where everyone comes together to reflect on things, to celebrate what's going well, and to vow to improve what's not. It's the big night. The fireworks, the countdown, the football scores, the confetti, the sloppy kiss at midnight, the cheap champagne in plastic tulip glasses ... the booze and the noise. In the South Sound area, there are plenty of events for all walks of life to consider (although they may not remember much about them on Tuesday morning). Listed below are a few of the standout shows:

Noon New Year's Eve Party: There will be dancing, games, and other special events to keep your little ones entertained. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Discovery Village, 4835 Borgen Blvd., Gig Harbor, 253.858.4835, $3 for kid members, $12 for kid non-members, all accompanying adults free.

Meditate In Tacoma: Taiso Fitness will celebrate New Year's Eve with snacks and Compassion Buddha chnated prayers with guided meditation. 5-6:30 p.m., Taiso Fitness, 1501 Pacific Ave., Suite #301, Tacoma, 253.227.8772.

Katie Ainge: Live Christian music show. 6 p.m., Timberline High School, 6120 Mullen Road SE, Lacey, 801.602.2533, no cover.

New Year's Pre-Funk with the Middle Floor Merchants: Expect snacks and a special "Happy New Year" gift bag to the first 50 shoppers that spend $25 or more in its shops. 6-11 p.m., 743 Broadway, Tacoma, 253.272.034, purchase your First Night button to gain entry.

First Night Tacoma: An all-ages family friendly celebration held in downtown Tacoma's Theater District. The affordable admission price includes museums, music, art, drama, dance, and a whole day and night of activities. 6:30 p.m. to midnight, Ninth and Broadway, Tacoma, firstnighttacoma.org, $10 before Dec. 31, $14 after.

Campus MLK Party: Ring in the New Year with Campus MLK and First Night with DJs and breakdancing with Fab-5, The Koomaniacs, Write@253, Jai X Jrm, MLKBallet, Q-Dot and Rockwell Powers. 6:30-10:30 p.m., Graffiti Garages, South Seventh and Broadway, downtown Tacoma, free.

Spy-tacular New Year's Eve: Morso Wine Bar will convert into Club Morso - a Monte Carlo-style casino - for a night of food, gambling, wine and hopefully you dressed as your favorite spy. 9 p.m., Morso, 9014 Peacock Hill Ave., Gig Harbor, 253.530.3463, $64 includes buffet and dessert.

Rockin' New Year's Eve: Rock-Bot Live Band Karaoke will be in full force New Year's Eve, plus an opportunity to win a burger a day for 2013. 7 p.m., Varsity Grill, 1114 Broadway, TAcoma, 253.627.1229, no cover.

NYE On Two Floors: DJs Mauro and Niros will spin on two floors, plus champagne toast. 9 p.m., Masa, 2811 Sixth Ave., TAcoma, 253.254.0560.

Roller Skating New Year's Eve: Roller skating, prizes and more. 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., Tiffany's Skate Inn, 1113 N. Meridian, Puyallup, 253.848.1153, $16.

Comedy with Donnell Rawlings: Donnell is the franchise player Dave Chappelle and Neal Brennan wanted as a writer and prime time player on their team. 8 p.m., Grit City Comedy Club, 445 Tacoma Ave. S., Tacoma, 253.961.4262, $36.53.

DJ Dead-Air: The Brotherhood Lounge's NYE Party features DJ Dead-Air spinning 80s, rawk, punk and disco. 9 p.m., 119 Capitl Way N., Olympia, $5 to benefit Planned Parenthood.

Schooner New Year's Eve: DJ dancing, drink specials, free raffle and party favors. 9 p.m., Schooner Pub & Galley, 100th and Bridgeport Way SW, Lakewood, 253.584.1919.

Longhorn New Year's Eve: A party featuring live entertainment, DJs, raffle, cigar lounge, and free champagne and chicken buffet at midnight. 9 p.m., Longhorn Saloon, 10011 Bridgeport Way SW, Lakewood, 253.581.2580, $5.

Fun Danceable Rock: Tacoma's Spincycle will rock in the New Year. 9 p.m., Westgate Bar & Grill, 5928 N. 26th, Tacoma, $6.

Scenic New Year's Eve: Two Plus Two featuring Nico Olajoyegbe will fill The Cliff House - with its awesome view of Tacoma - with jazz and blues. 8 p.m., The Cliff House, 6300 Marine View Dr., Tacoma, 253.927.0400.

New Year's Eve with Chris Anderson: The Pacific Grill hosts this smooth crooner (often compared to Michael Bublé) for your dancing pleasure, plus appetizer buffet, cash bar, champagne toast and party favors. 8:30 p.m., Courtyard Marriott- Tacoma Downtown, 1515 Commerce St., Tacoma, 253.627.3535, $60 and $35 show and champagne toast.

Encore Nightclub's New Year's Eve 2013 Party: A musical journey through the top songs of 2012 with a giant video wall, dancers and special effects. 9 p.m., 1025 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 206.335.9139, $25.

New Year's Eve Bash with Burton Cummings: He played with a band called the Deverons before joining The Guess Who as lead vocalist in 1965. 7 p.m., 2024 E. 29th St., Tacoma, 253.594.7777, free.

Comedy: Andrew Rivers, Marc Ryan with champagne toast. 8 and 10 p.m., Tacoma Comedy Club, 933 Market St., Tacoma, 253.282.7209, $25, $40 couple.

Broken Oars Last Show: Salute Ike and the boys and rock out to Act of Sabotage, 13 Scars, Piss Drunks, Crawl Unit with Chkn from D.I., Neutralboy, Dying Off, South 11th, Anticulture and Conniption Fits. 6 p.m., all ages until 11 p.m., The Loch's, 928 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, $5-$8.

New Year's Eve Blues: Kari Ehli plus champagne toast, party favors and balloon drop with prizes inside. 9 p.m., Rock The Dock Pub & Grill, 535 Dock St., Tacoma, no cover.

Big Band New Year's Eve: Rich Wetzel and the Groovin' Higher Orchestra ring in the New Year with jazz and rock. 9 p.m., all ages, Harmon Brewery & Eatery, 1938 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, no cover.

Tacos & Rock: Lozen will rock, tacos will be served. 10 p.m., Top of Tacoma Bar and Cafe, 3529 McKinley Ave., Tacoma, no cover.

Fancy New Year's Eve: Live music in the lobby bar, plus dinner and room packages. Hotel Murano, 1320 Broadway, Tacoma, 877.986.8083, $329 dinner for two, champagne, and room; $279 New Year's Day brunch and room.

Studio 54 Style: A re-creation of the famous Studio 54 in New York by P.J. Hummel & Co., with DJ Marc Sense, dance performance by Studio 6 Ballroom, drinks by The Mix, photo booth and food. 9 p.m., Tacoma Art Museum, 17th and Pacific, Tacoma, 253.272.4258, $50-$150.

Steve Pielak's New Year's Eve Masquerade Party: This party features rockin' blues by The Cody Rentas Band and the comedy of Amos Mack and John Farley, plus a potluck reception, but bring your own beer and wine. 7 p.m., 21+, Waller Road Grange Hall, 2708 65th St. E., Tacoma, pielaks@comcast.net, $10.

Partying In Puyallup: Spend a romantic New Year's Eve at the Hampton Inn & Suites, then "Do" Puyallup with dinner reservations at Toscanos, followed by a special New Year's Eve Party. This package includes overnight accommodations, transportation to and from Toscanos, a New Year's Eve Party at the hotel (including party favors, appetizers, no host beer and wine bar, midnight champagne toast catered by Toscanos), breakfast the next morning and many other extras. RSVP 253.770.8880, $159.00 plus tax, dinner at Toscanos separate.

CD Release Party: Amadon releases its new CD Step Into The Light on New Year's Eve with bands Atomic Outlaws, Moms Rocket, Riot In Rhythm, Insuburban Ave and Static. 6:30 p.m., all ages, Louie G's Pizzeria, 5219 Pacific Hwy. E., Tacoma, 253.926.9700, no cover.

New Year's Eve Party: After the band Nana's Pant Suit will fill the Red Lion Hotel Olympia with ‘80s tunes, you may stay overnight with two celebration packages, one includes dinner and breakfast. 6:30 p.m. dinner, 9 p.m. music, Red Lion Hotel Olympia, 2300 Evergreen Park Dr. SW, Olympia, 360.252.0977. $149-$199.

R&B In A Golf Clubhouse: After a three-course dinner, the Kim Archer Band will blast the Oakhouse with a mean mix of R&B, funk and soul. 7 p.m., Oakhouse Restaurant & Bar, 8102 Zircon Dr. SW., Lakewood, 253.584.8888, $50.

Vicci Martinez: Tacoma's star performer celebrates New Year's Eve with Perry Acker and Matt Brown. 7 p.m., Jazzbones, 2803 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.396.9169. Reserved seating sold out, $19.99 general admission.

Two DJS: DJ Atom Ant and DJ Brittles spin at this party that includes a dinner buffet, party favors, champagne toast and more. 8:30 p.m., The Luck Nightclub, 14114 Pacific Ave. S. Tacoma, 253.538.4996, $20-$25.

Champagne Toast: El Gaucho Tacoma will provide complimentary champagne and party favors for a toast at midnight. 10 p.m., 2119 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.1510.

Blues: The Blues Redemption band featuring Brian Feist will keep the party going until you take advantage of the overnight package you bought. 9 p.m., McMenamins Olympic Club Hotel & Theater, 112 N. Tower Ave., Centralia, 360.736.5164, $15, free for overnight guests.

Olyswing New Year's Eve Dance Party: Dance the night away to swing, blues and party music. 8:30 p.m. dance lessons, 9 p.m. music and dance, all ages, The Olympia Eagles Ballroom, 805 Fourth Ave. E., Olympia, olyswing.com, $5.

Rockin' New Year's Eve Blitz: MILK/BATH PARTY (from Portland), plus free champagne toast at midnight. 9 p.m., The New Frontier Lounge, 301 E. 26th St., Tacoma, 253.572.4020.

KRY: Adored by their fans and reviled by their critics, not since Stryper has a band been so close to heaven and hell. But when it comes to who owns the cover rock band scene in the South Sound, there's no debate. KRY will once again turn The Swiss into the largest meat market of the night. 9 p.m., The Swiss, 1904 Jefferson Ave., Tacoma, 253.572.2821, cover charge.

Darlings And Deviants: Pick and slap in the New Year with Barleywine Revue, The Cottonwood Cutups and The North.Oakes.Project. 9 p.m., Harmon Tap Room, 204 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma, 253.212.2725, $5.

Contra Dance: Matt Temmel calls for Susan Burke on fiddle and Terry Wergeland on piano and Tom Wimmer calls for the Contra Quartet. 8:30 p.m., South Bay Grange, 3918 Sleater-Kinney Road NW, Lacey, $10.

LINK: First Night Tacoma 2013

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound tonight