Pittsburgh has a distinct New Year’s Eve characterized most prominently by Highmark First Night. The annual celebration reportedly attracts thousands of people Downtown with free events ranging from magic shows to exciting music acts (Pittsburgh City Paper was pleased to see Frzy, one of our 2023 People of the Year, chosen as the 2024 headliner).
Still, in a city with loads of holiday spirit, Highmark First Night offers one of many things to do on NYE. Pittsburgh City Paper compiled a list of NYE events for partiers of all ages and interests. From daytime fun for kids to naughty nighttime revelry for adults, Pittsburgh has plenty of ways to ring in 2025. (Please note: All events are 21 and over unless stated otherwise.)
The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh allows parents, caregivers, and their early-to-bed little ones to celebrate the New Year with the return of Countdown to Noon. The morning party has a silent disco, appearance by SLB Radio Productions, crafting, and music by Lee Robinson and ISKA. 10 a.m.-12 p.m. 10 Children’s Way-Allegheny Square, North Side. Included with regular admission. All ages. pittsburghkids.org
Noon Year’s Eve. 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Bakery Square. 6425 Penn Ave., Larimer. $30. All ages. bakery-square.com
Noon Year’s Eve/Glow Year’s Eve/New Year’s Eve. 10 a.m., 2 p.m., and 10:30 p.m. Legacy Lanes. 5024 Curry Rd., South Hills. $225 a lane for five people. Reservation required. All ages. Search “Legacy Lanes Inc” on Facebook
Baby Noon Year’s Eve. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. SouthSide Works. 27th St. and Sidney St., South Side. Free. All ages. facebook.com/southsidekidspgh
New Year’s Eve with The Wolf Tones and DJ Dini Daddy. 4 p.m. Allegheny City Brewing. 510 East Ohio St., North Side. Free. All ages. alleghenycitybrewing.com
Festive fun and Syrian fare are on the menu at Khalil’s during a special New Year’s Eve Belly Dance Show. Enjoy a five-course prix fixe menu featuring a Kebsa dinner, a traditional dish served with hummus, Khalil’s signature salad, and roasted lamb, followed by a variety of Syrian desserts, Arabic coffee, and Syrian mint tea. Dancer Jennifer Jemeena will provide the entertainment. 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. 4757 Baum Blvd., Oakland. $135 per couple. Reservations required. khalilsrestaurant.com
Harold’s Fancy-Ass New Year’s Eve. 6:30 p.m. Harold’s Haunt. 142 Grant Ave., Millvale. $15-25. haroldshaunt.wixsite.com/haroldshaunt
Y2K NYE with Rojo. 8 p.m. Doors at 5 p.m. Bottlerocket Social Hall. 1226 Arlington Ave., Allentown. $12. bottlerocketpgh.com
New Year’s Eve with Paul Cosentino’s Boilermaker Jazz Band and Erin Keckan. 7 p.m. Con Alma. 613 Penn Ave., Downtown. Reservations required. conalmapgh.com/jazz
A Bejeweled New Year’s Eve. 7 p.m. Kingfly Spirits. 2613 Smallman St., Strip District. $35. 21 and over. kingflyspirits.com
Irish New Year Party. 7 p.m. Cork Harbour Pub. 181 43rd St., Lawrenceville. Free, $10 after 9 p.m. corkharbourpgh.com
CHROME: NYE Holographic Dance Party. 8 p.m. Belvedere’s Ultra-Dive. 4016 Butler St., Lawrenceville. $25. belvederesultradive.com
New Year’s Eve with Saved by the 90s. 8 p.m. Doors at 7 p.m. Hard Rock Cafe Pittsburgh. 230 West Station Square Dr., Station Square. $25-240. 21 and over. cafe.hardrock.com/pittsburgh
Uncover the secrets of Cobra‘s The Third Room during an immersive New Year’s Eve event. The evening includes “three top-secret art, sound, and design installations” inside the karaoke rooms. Dance into 2025 with a DJ lineup featuring Keebs and Cosmic Drip, Detour’s Naeem and Gusto, and Jaguar’s Dave Clevr and Repeat Offender. Ring in the New Year with Cobra’s holiday cocktails, including the brunette Chūhai — a Japanese cocktail that combines fruit juice, shochu, and carbonated water — with cinnamon and pear. 8 p.m. 4305 Main St., Bloomfield. $20 in advance. sevenrooms.com/events/cobra
Spirit Spaghetti NYE Disco. 8 p.m. Spirit. 242 51st St., Lawrenceville. $30 in advance, $40 at the door. spiritpgh.com
Killing Moon New Year’s Eve Dinner and Dancing Celebration. 8 p.m. Dancing at 10 p.m. Mixtape. 4907 Penn Ave., Garfield. $25-45. mixtapepgh.com
New Year’s Eve with DJ Stealth-1, Tiny Wine, and Pretty Tony. 8 p.m. Trace. 4312 Main St., Bloomfield. Free. tracebloomfield.com
Slayd Productions presents HyperSpeed NYE 2025. 8 p.m. SideQuest. 146 44th St., Lawrenceville. $20. facebook.com/SideQuestPGH
Pack your most festive jammies and spend the night at Glitterbox Theater for Slumber Party New Year’s Eve ’25. The event description promises the “chillest, coziest, craftiest” New Year’s Eve party filled with live performances, hands-on activities, and more. 8 p.m. Overnight event. 210 West Eighth Ave., Homestead. $30. theglitterboxtheater.com
New Year’s Eve with DJ Steve Spin. 9 p.m. Doors at 4 p.m. Butler Street Derby. 4203 Butler St., Lawrenceville. $35 pre-sale. butlerstreetderby.com
New Year’s Eve with DJ Nugget and DJ Red. 9 p.m. The Goldmark. 4517 Butler St., Lawrenceville. $35. thegoldmark.com/events
New Year’s Eve with Cindy Crotchford. 9 p.m. Drag shows at 9:30 p.m. and midnight. Blue Moon Bar. 5115 Butler St., Lawrenceville. $5. Tip money recommended for performers. instagram.com/vilelynn
Totally 80s New Year’s Eve. 9 p.m. Rivers Casino. 777 Casino Dr., North Side. Free. riverscasino.com/pittsburgh
New Year’s Eve 2025. 9 p.m. City Works Pittsburgh. Two PPG Pl., Downtown. $60. cityworksrestaurant.com
Slapper N Bangers New Year’s Eve. 10 p.m. Doors at 9 p.m. Thunderbird Music Hall. 4053 Butler St., Lawrenceville. $50. thunderbirdmusichall.com
This article appears in Dec 25-31, 2024.
