2015 Holiday Happenings: New Year’s Eve in Buffalo-Niagara

credit: Wikimedia Commons/parenting.leehanson

Whether you’re into music, food, large crowds or intimate gatherings, New Year’s Eve in the Buffalo-Niagara region has something for everyone: celebrate a new year in Niagara Falls, downtown Buffalo or the suburbs on Thursday, December 31.

Hard Rock Café New Year’s Eve Party – the Hard Rock Café Niagara Falls, located at 333 Prospect St., will feature the band Joyryde from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. – call 716-282-0007 for reservations. Find out more at the HRC Niagara Falls website.

First Night Buffalo – 5 to 10 p.m. at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center, 153 Franklin St. in downtown Buffalo. For the 27^th year, Buffalo’s biggest drug- and alcohol-free New Year’s Eve celebration will feature family activities throughout the evening. Parking for the event is free at the Main Place Mall and Fernbach Ramps only; there will also be extended Metro Rail service until 2 a.m. Tickets are $10 pre-sale and available at Wegmans; tickets at the door will be $12 – find the complete First Night schedule at www.firstnightbuffalo.org.

Old Falls Street’s Family Fun New Year’s Eve – from 6 to 10 p.m. at The Conference & Event Center Niagara Falls, 101 Old Falls St. in Niagara Falls. This family-friendly event will feature a dance floor, inflatable obstacle courses, face painters, balloon artists, movies, costumed characters and more. Admission is $6 per person and is payable at the door. Find out more at fallsstreet.com.

Statler City Ice Ball – doors open at 6 p.m. at Statler City, 107 Delaware Ave. (entrance will be on Franklin and Genesee Sts.) in downtown Buffalo. The event will feature live music – including Boys of Summer and Jeremy Hoyle and the Strictly Hip – hot and cold food stations plus a dinner buffet and much more. Ice Ball tickets includes five hours of premium open bar, food, a champagne toast and seating for all guests. There will also be free parking at the Turner Ramp next to City Hall and free coat check at the Statler. Tickets are still available for the Golden Ballroom (single seats only) and the Terrace Room – celebrate with a “nightclub experience” at the Niagara Room (does not include Ice Ball access). Tickets can be purchased and more information can be found at www.statlercity.com/iceball.

Banchetti By Rizzo’s – celebrate New Year’s Eve with Nerds Gone Wild and more at Banchetti, located at 550 N. French Rd. in Amherst. The party begins at 7:30 p.m. with five hours open bar, includes champagne at midnight and food stations throughout the night. Joining the Nerds (performing in the Michelangelo Room) are the Buffalo 5 Band in the Rose Room and Bryan Berhalter in the café. Reservations are $90 per person – call 716-691-4045 for reservations, and visit www.banchetti.com for more information.

**More parties and activities are listed in Step Out Buffalo’s “Best New Year’s Eve Parties to Ring in 2016.”