Tracker Pixel for Entry

What are you doing New Year’s Eve?

Culture | December 23rd, 2019

Design by Raul Gomez

New Year’s Eve celebrations usually go one of three ways – you either end up introverting at home, go out to eat at your old standby or ring in another year at your favorite local bar. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with any of that.

But if you want to shake it up this year, you can drink champagne in 1920s formalwear or your best 80s looks, lace up your roller skates, twirl light-up hoops or prepare your own lobster dinner from scratch with someone special. Toast the New Year with punch and root beer floats with the kids and turn in early or raise a glass of champagne as the ball drops. There are drag shows, burlesque performances, live wrestling, and a salsa dancing masquerade party. With options this wild, it doesn’t even matter if you make it to midnight.

NDAWF Ring in the New Year by Art Riot & Valkyries of the Valley
10 p.m.
Rick’s Bar in Fargo
Burlesque goddesses Frisk. E. Business, Ketel Wonder, Holly Handful and Sasha Savage and the bruisers of the North Dakota Apartment Wrestling Federation bring a high-energy mash-up to your celebration. facebook.com/valkyriesofthevalley/

NYE Lobster Dinner for Two
6 p.m.
Square One Rental Kitchen and Events in Fargo
This evening is half cooking class and half fancy dinner. You’ll learn how to prepare and steam lobster and make the entire meal from scratch, from the mushroom risotto to crème brulee for dessert. squareonekitchens.com

JustNtyme’s Fierce Drag Show New Year Celebration
7 p.m.
Delta Hotels By Marriott Fargo
Host Jamie Monroe joins Geneva Richards and Tommy Boy to help the irrepressible JustNTyme ring in the New Year with sequins and glitter. VIP Platinum tickets include a bottle of champagne and party favors.

New Year’s Eve With The Force
4:30 p.m.
Scheels Arena in Fargo
The Frozen characters will be on hand to meet kids at 5:30 and there’ll be caricatures and games on the concourse both before and after the puck drops at 6:05. fargoforce.com

New Years Eve Skating Parties
10 a.m. and 8 p.m.
Skate City ND in Fargo
Go retro with an old-fashioned roller skating party. The daytime party is good for families and new skaters and features a balloon drop. The evening event is for experienced skaters 12+. skatecitynd.com

NYE 80s Retro Party
8 p.m.
Bar NINE in West Fargo
Bust out the fishnets and acid-washed jeans and compete for the chance to win prizes for the best look. There’ll be 80s and 90s hits playing all night and a free a champagne toast at midnight. barninewf.com

New Year’s Eve Dinner
5 p.m.
City Brew Hall in Wahpeton
Dinner music from Erin Gaffany turns into a party closer to midnight. Try the special dinner menu and a champagne flight and welcome 2020 in style. Reservations recommended. 701-591-2739

Kids Blast! New Year’s Eve Party
3 p.m.
West Fargo Public Library
Bring the kiddos out for craft projects and ice cream float during this free, family-friendly event for all ages. No registration is required. westfargopubliclibrary.org

Ring in the New Year Roaring 20s Style
8 p.m.
Firehouse Pub in Wahpeton
Rock your suits and fringed dresses for a high-energy costume party and a flapper-approved free champagne toast at midnight. 701-642-1554

Kids and Canvas
1 p.m.
The Art Bar West Fargo
Kids 5 and up can paint their own rainbow canvas during this 90-minute session. Snacks are provided. Register at least an hour in advance. creativetravelerFM.com

Glow Fun on New Year’s Event
Noon-1 p.m
6 and 7:15 p.m.
Moorhead Massage and Wellness Center
If you’ve always wanted to brush up on your glow stick, LED hoop twirling and Isis wing skills, you’re in luck. You can watch a performance, join the free play session and get tutorials upon request. moorheadmassagewellness.com

New Year’s Eve Celebration The Roaring 20s
5 p.m.
Fort Saloon Abercrombie in Abercrombie
Don your best 1920s costumes for the costume contest, raise your glass at midnight and register to win a 50-inch TV. 701-553-8780

New Year’s at the Museum
10 a.m.
Becker County Museum in Detroit Lakes
Go on a scavenger hunt, check out the interactive “Electrifying Minnesota” exhibit, and play games. Regular admission applies, but kids who visit will get free party hats and favors while supplies last. beckercountyhistory.org

Salsa Masquerade Ball
8 p.m.
Speedway Steakhouse and Event Center in West Fargo
Your admission buys you appetizers at 8 p.m. and champagne at midnight, an urban Bachata lesson and lots of high energy dancing. Dress to impress. Masquerade masks are available for purchase. facebook.com/Fargo.SalsaFriday/

It’s a British New Years Eve
3:30 p.m.
Family Community Center in Breckenridge
Can’t make it to midnight? Don’t fret – just switch your watch to London time and join the family-friendly party for sledding, board games, treats, and a balloon drop and punch toast. creckenridgemn.net/family-community-center

Family-Friendly New Year’s Eve Bash
4 p.m.
Detroit Lakes Community and Cultural Center
Can’t decide between snacking, playing bingo, sending the kids down the giant slide or entering the cannonball contest? Do them all. There’s a balloon drop at 6:45 p.m. too. dlccc.org

Roaring 2020 New Year’s Eve
9 p.m.
Level 10 Grand Forks
Champagne cocktails are the drink de jour and roaring 20s looks are strongly encouraged. Score a free bottle of Champagne and party favors when you arrange bottle service in advance. Come early for giveaways too. level10gf.com

New Year’s Eve Drag Show
7 p.m.
Ramada Inn in Grand Forks
Revelers 18+ can ring in 2020 with the most inclusive party in town. The event is hosted by BJ Armani and features performers like Trixi Del Mar and Janessa Jaye Champagne. A portion of the proceeds benefits the honor flight.

Frozen New Year’s Eve Party
11 a.m.
Fargo Public Library in downtown Fargo
Those Elsa and Anna Halloween costumes will be put to good use at this event, which boasts Frozen-themed activities, crafts, and snacks for kids of all ages. fargond.gov/city-government/department/library

Zoo Year’s Eve
1 p.m.
Red River Zoo in FargoFree admission and carousel rides, a New Year’s countdown every hour, and animal encounters make this is a great event for families. redriverzoo.org

Recently in:

By Alicia Underlee Nelsonalicia@hpr1.comDairy Queen restaurants across the country will raise funds for Children’s Miracle Network hospitals during Miracle Treat Day on Thursday, July 31. At least one dollar from every Blizzard…

By Michael M. Millermichael.miller@ndsu.edu The Northwest Blade, from Eureka, South Dakota, published a wonderful story in August 2020. It’s called “Granddaughter keeps Grandmother’s precious chamomile seeds,” by Cindy…

October 3-5, 2025Memorial Union at NDSU, 1401 Administrative Ave., Fargo With the theme of “Existence is Resistance: Healing Through Unity,” this year’s summit will kick off with a professional development day followed by a…

By John Strandjas@hpr1.com Yes, we know, everywhere you look, the world situation is mental. It’s almost inescapable just how tenuous life’s circumstances are. And how they are mostly — pretty much entirely — out of our…

By Ed Raymondfargogadfly@gmail.comWhat are the four freedoms of Donald John Trump? Nearly a century ago, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt said every citizen in the United States of America should have four freedoms: Freedom from…

By Rick Gionrickgion@gmail.com Holiday wine shopping shouldn’t have to be complicated. But unfortunately it can cause unneeded anxiety due to an overabundance of choices. Don’t fret my friends, we once again have you covered…

By Rick Gion and Nichole Hensenrickgion@gmail.com The wait is finally over. Those who have visited Nichole’s Fine Pastry & Cafe lately know about the recent major additions and renovations that have taken place over the past…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.com Dakotah Faye is a hip-hop artist from Minot, North Dakota, and he’s had a busy year. He’s released two albums. This summer he opened for Tech N9ne in Sturgis and will be opening for Bone…

By Greg Carlsongregcarlson1@gmail.com As a follow-up to “The Whale,” a raucous adaptation of the first novel in Charlie Huston’s Henry Thompson series was a good choice for eclectic auteur Darren Aronofksy, whose bold visions…

By HPR staffsubmit@hpr1.com Mark the first weekend of October on your calendar. It’s the weekend of the Studio Crawl, which takes us all on a wonderful, metro-wide tour of our talented (and often wacky) arts community. On October…

Alicia Underlee Nelsonalicia@hpr1.comPenn & Teller are returning to their roots. The legendary magic and comedy duo will appear on the Crown Stage at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival in Shakopee, Minnesota, where they first…

By Annie Prafckeannieprafcke@gmail.com AUSTIN, Texas – As a Chinese-American, connecting to my culture through food is essential, and no dish brings me back to my mother’s kitchen quite like hotdish. Yes, you heard me right –…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comNew Jamestown Brewery Serves up Local FlavorThere’s something delicious brewing out here on the prairie and it just so happens to be the newest brewery west of the Red River and east of the…

By Ellie Liveranieli.liverani.ra@gmail.com Loneliness is on the rise in North Dakota, where there is one of the highest rates of people living alone. The challenging winter can be a major contributor, yet North Dakota is not alone.…

By Alicia Underlee NelsonProtests against President Trump’s policies and the cuts made by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are planned across North Dakota and western Minnesota Friday, April 4 and…

By Vern Thompsonvern.thompson@rocketmail.com Working in the Bakken oil fields of the Williston Basin is so different from my home in Fargo. I'm not judging, because the people working and living in western North Dakota are very…