It’s New Year’s Eve in New Orleans. See our roundup of fireworks, parties and special dinners.

To Shannon Bingha, executive chef at the downtown Devil Moon Barbecue and its adjoining Brewery Saint X (1188 Girod St., New Orleans), New Year’s Eve is all about atmosphere and tradition. As evidence, his team’s popular brewery is hosting its second annual all-inclusive New Year’s Eve bash.

“Last year’s party went so well, we decided to make it an annual thing,” Bingham said. “I think it works because it’s an event that’s elegant enough for New Year’s Eve, but a little less rigid given that our main business is beer and barbecue.”

The DJ’d extravaganza starts at 9 p.m., and your $125 ticket gives you access to plenty of food — including a whole hog barbecue with all the fixins — plus an open bar featuring house-brewed beer, specialty cocktails, wine and Champagne.

For those who want something fancier, more casual or think the brewery barbecue sounds just right, New Orleans on Dec. 31 has it all. Whether it’s with world-class food, top-tier local music, or fireworks over the Mississippi River, there’s something for everyone on this special night. Here are just a handful of the events we are most excited about.

Party in the 504

This city is full of options as the calendar turns.

The biggest party of the night will take place in Jackson Square. Spectators will fill the park beginning at 9 p.m. to listen to live music by Tank and the Bangas, Bonerama and DJ RQ Away. The event is free and will culminate with a countdown to the new year, the iconic fleur de lis drop and fireworks over the Mississippi River. Attendees are welcome to bring their own food, drinks and chairs.

Virgin Hotels New Orleans (550 Baronne St.) has a pair of experiences beginning at 8 p.m. On the rooftop (starting at $40), guests can enjoy themed photo-ops and views of the city skyline along with a welcome cocktail, midnight Champagne toast and beats by celebrity DJ and musical artist Pellow Talk. Meanwhile, in the one-night-only Dreamboat (starting at $199), partygoers have access to a four-hour open bar, passed hors d’oeuvres and live music by Jelani Bauman, as well as entry to the rooftop party.

The Columns Hotel (3811 St. Charles Ave.) is hosting its fourth annual disco-themed Studio 504 party ($250). This is a full-on spectacle with cocktails, a dedicated espresso martini bar, cognac and cigars, a Champagne fountain, fire performers, disco fish, live paintings, flash tattoos, balloon artists, poets, plenty of food and much more. Then, once the clock strikes 12:30 a.m., your Columns ticket gets you transportation and entry into the after-party nearby at The Rabbit Hole (1228 O.C. Haley Blvd.). The after-party (separate tickets can be purchased starting at $25) rages until 7 a.m. with house music setting the dance floor ablaze.

Other events around town include ones aboard the paddlewheeler Creole Queen ($239) or the Steamboat Natchez ($225), a black-tie-encouraged buffet-style affair ($225) overlooking the Mississippi River at The Riverview Room, an elegant evening at Bar Métier ($175) with a live DJ set accompanied by light bites and a complimentary bottle of Champagne, four musical acts starting at 9 p.m. at The Barnett ($100) with free beer and wine and headlined by Maggie Koerner, and two burlesque shows with Champagne toasts by the Vivacious Miss Audacious ($35-$75) at The AllWays Lounge.

A blowout featuring the sounds of DJ Char and Trumpet Mafia, plus 2025’s first second-line will grace the NOPSI Hotel ($50 — $150), while the Westin New Orleans is back with a tiki-themed extravaganza including vibrant island-inspired food stations, batch tiki cocktails, go-go dancers, and plenty of live music.

For lower key options, a self-led Bywater food and drink crawl between Bar Brine, The Country Club (heated pool included), Parleaux Beer Lab and Bacchanal makes for a great launching point to watch the midnight fireworks from Crescent Park.

And, if you find yourself in Mid-City and don’t feel like paying a cover, Finn McCool’s Irish Pub rings in the new year starting at 6 p.m. (Dublin time), and neighboring Twelve Mile Limit has one of the best dance parties in town, hosted by DJ Ann Glaviano at 10 p.m.

It’s all about the food

For those wanting to prioritize the dining experience for their last meal of 2024, dozens of the city’s restaurants are featuring special New Year’s Eve menus. Wherever you decide to go, you’ll obviously want to make a reservation in advance, since New Year’s Eve is a popular night to dine.

Saffron, an upscale Indian eatery at 4128 Magazine St., will continue its annual tradition of themed New Year’s Eve dinners. This year the focus is on an Indo-Euro celebration. The restaurant’s award-winning team will blend the elegance of classic European dishes with the recognizable flavors of India during an amazing five-course meal ($125) that includes curried mussels velouté with saffron risotto, and masala beef Wellington. A wine pairing ($65) is also available.

Tujague’s, 429 Decatur St., will host a four-course prix fixe menu ($95) with seatings at 5 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. The traditional New Year’s side of collard greens — meant to usher in a year of good luck and prosperity — is on the menu and braised in Abita beer, as is a varied menu that includes a mushroom crêpe, a pork shank with Hoppin’ John, a pan-seared maple leaf duck breast, a pan-roasted pompano, filet mignon, seafood gumbo, a gingerbread blondie with eggnog créme anglaise and more.

For black-eyed peas at home, Cochon Butcher, 930 Tchoupitoulas St., is offering meals for pickup that pair the good luck veggie with a pair of other symbolic foods: braised cabbage for money, and onion-braised pork shoulder for prosperity. The meal feeds four people ($75), is available to order online, and can be picked up on December 30 or 31.

Prime rib is another dish that has become popular this time of year. Mr. Mao, 4501 Tchoupitoulas St., is offering a four-course prix-fixe meal inspired by San Francisco’s famous House of Prime Rib ($85) featuring the iconic dish along with a handful of creative sides and appetizers. The following morning — well, seatings at noon and 2 p.m., because who’s getting up early on New Year’s Day? — Mr. Mao will be back at it with their à la carte Walk of Shame dim sum brunch, served with the option of bottomless mimosas.

Down in the French Quarter, Jewel of the South, 1026 St. Louis St., is getting decadent for the holiday with a prix-fixe menu ($145) that includes Siberian caviar, truffled eggs royale, daube glauce, a rabbit, trotter and andouille pie, and a baked egg custard dessert.

Dozens of restaurants around the city are offering prix-fixe New Year’s Eve menus of their own. Palm & Pine, Osteria Lupo, Costera, Compere Lapin, Bywater a.m.erican Bistro, Miss River, Couvant, Bar Brine, Aca.m.aya, Wild South Restaurant, Coquette, Boucherie, The Bower, La Petite Grocery, Herbsaint and The Peacock Room are just some of our favorites.

Feel the beats

If it’s live music you’re after, New Year’s Eve in New Orleans never disappoints.

Big Night New Orleans advertises itself as one of the biggest New Year’s Eve shows in the country. Its musical lineup backs that statement up, featuring Trina, Yung Joc and the Brass-A-Holics. This year’s concert will be at The Fillmore, inside Caesars Casino at the foot of Canal Street. $59.99 gets you into the party, and various upgrade options can get you different levels of food and drinks.

DJ Soul Sister is a New Year’s Eve staple in New Orleans and this year she’ll be at No Dice (formerly Hi-Ho Lounge), 2239 St. Claude Ave., for her Jackpot Discotheque ($49.61). The Marigny and DJ Soul Sister are always a great combo. Speaking of New Year’s Eve staples, Galactic is back at Tipitina’s for their annual show ($81 — $225) featuring Jelly Joseph and special guest Big Chief Juan Pardo’s Tribal Gold.

If you’re looking for a bigger, but less intimate show, you’ll want to consider Juvenile and Mannie Fresh ($59), accompanied by the 400 Degreez Band, for their second annual New Year’s Eve celebration at the Saenger Theatre.

It also happens to be the last stop on Juvenile’s 63-city “Back That Azz Up” 25th anniversary tour. Meanwhile, up at the Lakefront Arena, Grammy Award-winning bluegrass artist Billy Strings will be playing the final of his three shows ($49.50).

Of course, a New Year’s Eve on Frenchmen Street is never a bad idea. Kermit Ruffins and Flow Tribe are closing out the year at Blue Nile ($35), while the Soul Rebels will be blowing our faces off at D.B.A ($125 includes unlimited beer, wine, spirits, and food). A few doors down, Ashlin Parker, Trumpet Mafia and Gabrielle Cavassa will charm us at Snug Harbor ($45 to $55), and across the street you’ll get to dance to Sierra Green + The Giants ($150 with an open bar beginning at 10 p.m.). Maison will feature the Paradise Brass Band at 7 p.m. and the New Breed Brass Band at 10 p.m., while a walk up and down Frenchmen Street is sure to uncover other gems.

Fun for the whole family

Just because you’re trying to keep the kids and pets entertained doesn’t mean you have to welcome 2025 at home. Well, not all day, at least!

The Louisiana Children’s Museum is hosting its yearly Noon Year’s Eve party ($8-$25). Choose among 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. start times. Children will be able to make their own noisemakers and festive paper hats, and the party will include music, face-painting, dancing, games, and fun for guests of all ages. The celebration ends with an explosion of bubbles and colorful confetti.

There’s even something for the four-legged kiddos (a.k.a. dogs)! The Dog House, 2736 Banks St. in Mid-City, is a membership-based off-leash dog park that also serves cocktails, beer, sandwiches and snacks. The business has a food and drink menu for both humans and dogs, and on Dec. 31 it is hosting its first-ever New Year’s Ball Drop. The New Year’s Eve event is free and open to all (no membership required), but proof of vaccination is required for dogs. Go to the business’ website to register your dog and provide vaccination records. Doors open at 11 a.m., but the party will go off the chain at 5 p.m. when 500 tennis balls are dropped from the sky. Gnarly Barley is listed as a special guest, which is a great sign for beer lovers.

And, finally, the Allstate Sugar Bowl Parade begins at 2 p.m. at Elysian Fields Avenue and Decatur Street. The Mardi Gras-style parade with floats and bands heads up Decatur through the French Quarter and will be broadcast on TV and online by WDSU.