| IndyStar
20 ways to celebrate the new year
Check out 20 ways to sound in 2021 in Indianapolis.
David Lindquist, [email protected]
It’s possible to say goodbye to 2020 in a variety of ways, including children’s countdowns, punk rock shows, and jokes told by Pauly Shore.
Check out our suggestions for 20 New Year’s Eve events:
1. “New Year’s Eve 2021”
9 p.m., Dec. 31, Pan Am Pavilion, 201 S. Capitol Ave., $ 100, indypavilion.com, 317-500-4333.
Highlights of the party: DJs Hugh Jeffner, Corey James and FlyTy provide the soundtrack for this event with an open bar, an airbrush and three LED walls.
2. “New Year’s Eve 2021”
8 p.m., Dec. 31, Hyatt Regency Indianapolis, 1 S. Capitol Ave., $ 55- $ 90, eventbrite.com, 317-632-1234.
Highlights of the party: Performances by The Flying Toasters, My Yellow Rickshaw, Living Proof and more, plus more than 15,000 balloons dropped at midnight in the lobby of the Hyatt Regency Hotel’s 22-story atrium.
3. “Ciroc the New Year”
At 8 p.m., Dec. 31, Regions Bank, 1 Indiana Square, $ 130, cirocnewyears.com.
Highlights of the party: An “EDM Space Lounge” is a new addition to this event with an open bar and a 360-degree view of the city center.
4. “NYE 2021 presented by CCA”
9 p.m., Dec. 31, Indiana Roof Ballroom, 140 W. Washington St., $ 115, ccasports.com.
Highlights of the party: Circle City Athletics presents DJ Cool Hand Lex with percussionist Joe Meltdown at this open-bar event, palm readers and henna artists.
5. “Swap years”
9 p.m., Dec. 31, The Westin Indianapolis, 241 W. Washington St., $ 50 to $ 100, exchangingouttheyears.com.
Highlights of the party: The Indianapolis Urban League presents a DJ battle hosted by DJ MetroGnome at this event that encourages “sneaker chic” footwear for attendees.
6. “New Year 2021”
9 p.m., Dec. 31, The Vogue, 6259 N. College Ave., $ 80, thevogue.com, 317-259-7029.
Highlights of the party: DJs Marcus, X-tasy, LED, Rican and Chars provide the soundtrack for this event with an open bar and balloon launch.
7. “Countdown to noon”
From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 31, Indianapolis Children’s Museum, 3000 N. Meridian St., free with museum admission $ 18.50 to $ 23, childrensmuseum.org, 317-334-4000.
Highlights of the party: Musician Zak Morgan performs before noon and 1 p.m. at this youth-themed event.
8. “Family New Year’s Eve”
6 to 9 p.m., Dec. 31, Indiana State Museum, 650 W. Washington St., $ 16 for non-members, $ 10 for members, free for ages 3 and up, indianamuseum.org, 317- 232-1637.
Highlights of the party: The countdown and balloon drop are scheduled for 8 p.m. at this family event highlighted by magicians and face painting.
9. Pauly Shore
7:30 to 10:30 p.m., Dec. 31, Irving Theater, 5505 E. Washington St., madhattershows.com, $ 30- $ 50, 317-356-3355.
Highlights of the party: These two shows by independent comedian Pauly Shore conclude a tour of Indiana that includes performances in Lafayette (December 27), Plainfield (December 28), Kokomo (December 29) and Fort Wayne (December 30).
10. Todd McComas
8 a.m. and 10:30 p.m. Dec. 31, Helium Comedy Club, 10 W. Georgia Street, $ 35-59, indianapolis.heliumcomedy.com, 317-349-4800.
Highlights of the party: The first New Year’s Eve night at the Helium Comedy Club presents Todd McComas with the podcast “The Pat McAfee Show 2.0.”
11. The Cursed Band of the Rev. Peyton
8 p.m., Dec. 31, Brown County Music Center, 200 Maple Leaf Boulevard, Nashville, $ 16.80- $ 35, ticketmaster.com.
Highlights of the party: The first New Year’s Eve night at the Brown County Music Center features Nashville’s own Big Damn Band and special guests Chance McCoy and the Hammer & the Hatchet.
12. Blue River Band
8 p.m., Dec. 31, 8 Seconds Saloon, 111 N. Lynhurst Drive, $ 10, 8secondssaloon.com, (317) 486-1569.
Highlights of the party: Indiana-based Blue River Band performs a venue that hosts performances such as Miranda Lambert and Keith Urban on their rise to stardom.
13. The Why Store, Blackjack Davey and Rhythm Kings
8:30 p.m., Dec. 31, Slippery Noodle Inn, 372 S. Meridian St., $ 25, slipperynoodle.com, 317-631-6974.
Highlights of the party: The Why Store performs at 10pm in the back room and Blackjack Davey & the Rhythm Kings performs at 7pm in the front room of Indiana’s oldest continuous bar.
14. Toxic reasons
At 8 p.m., Dec. 31, Radio Radio, 1119 E. Prospect St., $ 10, futureshock.net, (317) 955-0995.
Highlights of the party: JJ Pearson, drummer of the long punk band Toxic Reasons, hosts this event titled “JJ’s New Year’s Rock & Roll Social and Polar Bear BBQ”. In addition to Toxic Reasons, the lineup includes Pearson and his Weapons of OAD, Not the Ramones and Outlaw Country Driver.
15. “Punk Rock Night Spectacular New Year’s Eve”
9:30 p.m., Dec. 31, Melody Inn, 3826 N. Illinois St., $ 10, punkrocknight.com, (317) 923-4707.
Highlights of the party: Punk Rock Night presents a special edition starring the bands Tiger Sex, Service, Bullet Points and Coolidge. Also on tap: burlesque and a toast of blue Pabst tape at midnight.
16. John Larner, Slater Hogan
9 p.m., Dec. 31, pattern, 250 S. Meridian St., $ 20, electrostub.com, 317-590-7000.
Highlights of the party: DJs John Larner and Slater Hogan are two of the owners of the Patron Saint, where the band Felonious Punk also performs on New Year’s Eve.
17. The Doo!
7 p.m., Dec. 31, at Rathskeller, 401 E. Michigan St., $ 50- $ 55, rathskeller.com, 317-636-0396.
Highlights of the party: The Doo! – a band that has about 500 songs in its repertoire – leads this event that includes a full buffet of food in its entry price.
18. “New Year’s Eve with ComedySportz”
7:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., Basil Theater at the Athenaeum, 401 E. Michigan St., $ 18-20, cszindianapolis.com, 317-655-2755.
Highlights of the party: ComedySportz presents two improvisation matches for all ages at the Ateneu.
19. “Murder in the mansion”
7 p.m., Dec. 31, Indianapolis Propylaeum, 1410 N.Delaware Street, $ 115 to $ 200, thepropylaeum.org, 317-638-7881.
Highlights of the party: This dinner includes an immersive murder mystery experience set in the Prohibition era in Chicago (but with beer and champagne for attendees).
20. “A Christmas Tale: The Musical”
At 8 p.m., Dec. 31, Beef and Boards Dinner Theater, 9301 Michigan Road, beefandboards.com, 317-872-9664.
Highlights of the party: The final performance of the Beef and Boards adaptation of the 1983 set-in-Indiana comedy classic “A Christmas Story.”
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Contact IndyStar reporter David Lindquist at 317-444-6404 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter: @ 317Lindquist.