Champagne toast

New Bedford’s Comprehensive Guide to New Year’s Eve

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Noah Griffith
by Noah Griffith

New Year’s Eve has always been a great time for celebration around the world.  Here in New Bedford it’s no different… we make it one of the most sensational nights to go out and about the city.  There are family-friendly events for people of all ages to enjoy, and there are also many activities geared a little more toward adults.  No matter how you want to spend your New Year’s Eve, you will be able surely be able to find something great to do in New Bedford!

There are also plenty of forms of public transportation that are available for those who would like to have a couple drinks or a night-cap before heading home.  Please don’t drink and drive: the police will be out.  My only wish is that everyone has a great (and safe) time and that you work on making this 2011 year a better one for yourself and all those around you.

Now let’s get into business!!!

New Year’s Eve events are listed alphabetically by venue.  Click on the venue for directions and/or additional information.

Arts & Culture

Artworks
New Year’s Eve Artworks is bringing the community together from 12P.M. to 4P.M. (Thursday & Friday).  Enjoy crafts and storytelling by Karen Chase from “Story Bug”. While she’s telling stories, everyone is invited to make and create hats for the New Year’s Eve Parade at 4:30P.M.  Awards will  be given to the biggest, fanciest, and most creative hats.  Then display your hat by marching in the parade!

New Bedford Visitor Center
Take your kids for crafts and games with the 19th Century Ladies from 5 to 7 P.M.

Whaling Museum
Fire & Ice!  Watch live ice sculpting at Custom House Square starting at 5 p.m. and stick around for real fire-eaters at 6 P.M.

Live Music/Nightlife

AHA! & Fairfield Inn Marriot
Ring in 2011 with the AHA! ReNew Year’s Eve Party.   from 9 P.M. to 1 A.M. at the newly-opened Waypoint Event Center at the Fairfield Inn and Suites.

Bar 908
Live DJ and dancing, champagne toast and balloon drop at midnight, party hats & noise makers, horns & tiaras, and it’s all FREE! That is if you’re our Facebook friend and you RSVP for your tickets! It’s just our way of saying “Thanks” for being our friend and supporting Bar 908 all year long!
RSVP NOW! Tickets are limited! Keep checking our FB Page for more details.

Bristol Hall
Swing dance to the beats of the The Hep Cats as they play from 5 to 7 P.M.

Café Arpeggio
For great folk music, Open Mic Night from  5 to 8 P.M.

New Year's EveCandleworks Restaurant
Infamous dining and drinking is what you will find at Downtown’s #1 restaurant this New Years Eve!!!  The Candleworks Restaurant is the place to be… A gourmet menu designed by executive chef & owner Jared Morgado will bring you into the 2011 with live piano music followed by the sounds of Vintage Soul, playing from 10 P.M. to 1:30 A.M. Make your reservations now or settle for something less.

Black Watch Pub
Ring in the New Year at the Black Watch Pub, where you’ll find three bands playing!
Lesser Knows
Figures
Aaron Alves

The fun starts at 9:30 P.M.

Café Funchal
New Year’s Eve party in the main ballroom.  DJ Music by Chris Saraiva of Sound Explosion.  Champagne toast and appetizers.  Doors open at 5:30 P.M. with appetizers at 6 P.M. Entrées will also be served.

Tickets are $75 for Adults/ $40 for Children (under 12)
**Formal Dress Required**

Catwalk
I’M SINGING!!! IT’S NEW YEARS EVE AND I’M SIIIINNNNGGIIIINNNNG!!!
Jim and Doris will host karaoke 10pm – 2am down at Catwalk. So come down and ring in the New Year to 2011 with a great bartending crew serving all your favorite drinks. The kitchen will be open till 9P.M. There is No Cover Charge, and the music starts at 9:00 P.M.

Celtic Coffee House
Eddie Dillon plays traditional Celtic Music from 5:30 to 7 P.M.

Cork
Cork will be open all day and at night, they have a special New Year’s Eve menu with Prime Rib, Surf ‘n Turf (with Tenderloins and a Baked Stuffed Shrimp), along with other seasonal specials.

Fathoms
Come celebrate the New Year at Fathoms.  Tickets cost $50, and the event runs from 9 P.M. to 2 A.M.  With your ticket you will receive valet parking, appetizers, a champagne toast, waterfront views, fireworks, and live entertainment provided by Slingshot!

Fins

Fins is closing down during the upcoming week for remodeling, but will be reopening December 31st 2010, just in time for New Years Eve.  Doors open at 7 P.M. with a free pizza buffet and a Champagne toast to ring in the New Year.  Music will be provided by DJ Lou.  You’ll be able to watch the ball drop on the new t.v.’s, and dance the night away on the new floor!

Ginger Grill
Adam Payne from 6 to 8 P.M.

Hibernia
Video Lounge starting at 10 P.M.  Forget your average DJ.  This New Years Eve DJ JK Music is going to have you dancing in the New Year. NOT ONLY will you hear all your favorite top-40 songs and requests, but you get to see the video’s while the songs are playing!

Ice Chest
Get your tickets early for Ice Chests’ 4th Annual ‘Ticket Only’ New Year’s Eve Party!  Reserved seating and sit-down dinner party with music by the Relics.  Party favors and a Champagne toast will also be included.  This event always sells out so it is advised that everyone get their tickets early! Starts at 6 P.M.

Inner Bay
For just $39.95, enjoy a wonderful Dinner for Two, which includes a dessert and a bottle of wine!

Kirby’s
Free appetizers and a Champagne toast at midnight.

Knuckleheads
Rock & Blues X-plosion will be going on down here at Knuckleheads to help you rock in your New Years Eve!!!
Music from everyone’s favorite Shipyard Wreck, and “Rock, Rhythm, & Blues All Star Band”. Party favors and champagne toast at midnight!!!

Libads
There is going to be a Champagne toast at midnight, giveaways, drink specials, and food.  Oh ya and don’t forget to come by and ride the Mechanical Bull, YEEEHAAA!

National Park
Fado musician Ana Vinagre will play from 7 to 8 P.M.

New Bedford Art Museum
The Michael Rollins Group will be playing jazz from 5 to 7 P.M.
The HQK Jazz Ensemble plays from 7 to 8 P.M.

New Bedford Public Library
If you’ve got kids, we’ve got activities! The Toe Jam Puppet Band will have concerts at 5:30 P.M. and 7 P.M., plus face-painting with Lulu the Clown before each show!

Pilgrim United Church
The Anchors, a local teen band, will play from 6 to 7 P.M.

Pour Farm
Doors open all day starting at noon.  Neal McCarthy will be playing from 9P.M. to Close. Come on down and rock in the New Year with one of New Bedford Favorite’s. No Cover Charge

Champagne toastRose Alley Ale House
Free Champagne Toast, $5 all you can eat Chinese Buffet (made by RAAH), & live entertainment.  No Cover Charge! Party starts at 9:30 P.M.

Seaport Inn & Marina
Diane Blue And The Beantown Boys from 6-10:30 P.M.
$25 Show only: $50 Dinner & Show

UMass Star Store
The HQK Jazz Ensemble plays from 5 to 6 P.M.

Whaling Museum

The Showstoppers will play from 5:30 to 6:30 P.M.

Dori Legge & Butch McCarthy (from the MRL Trio) will be performing a duet from 7 P.M.-10 P.M.

Zeiterion

Hosts one last big night of music for 2010: Shelley Chandelier & Her One Night Band, Boo City, Santa Mamba, Buzzard Blue Band, and Pumpkin Head Ted. From 4:30 to 8 P.M.

Other Cities/Towns:
I called around and there are no other city or town-sponsored events taking place on New Year’s Eve 2011.  Can you believe that there is nothing happening from Fall River to Wareham?  It’s just another of the many reasons why New Bedford is the bee’s knees.

For those of you planning on not wasting a single minute of the New Year, here are a few ideas to get you started:

NBG TshirtsJanuary 1, 2011

The 1st Annual Polar Bear Plunge at Fairhaven’s Fort Phoenix Beach.  All the money raised from this event (through T-shirt sales at the Plunge) will go toward a scholarship fund created in memory of victims of domestic abuse.  Also in support of this cause, New Bedford Guide will giving out five (5) FREE NBG T-shirts to the first five people who come to us (after going into the water).  Additionally, we will be selling New Bedford Guide T-shirts for $10 and ALL money will be donated to the Polar Bear Plunge Committee for its fund-raising purposes.

First Day at Kennedy Park in Fall River, from 12-3p.m.  This event is open to the public and is FREE.
In the case of inclement weather, the event will be postponed until Sunday, January 2, 2011, 12:00 noon- 3:00pm (and will be called Second Day… just kidding).

Check back to LocalOracle for additional entertainment and activities.

About ngriffith25

An official Tough Mudder. I grew up in New Bedford. Graduated from UMASS Dartmouth with Operations MTG Degree (BA). I'm the Head of Sales for RocketFish Media and New Beford Guide. I've been a Bartending for over 9 years and still love it. I try to stay very active and enjoy being outside. Getting married in September (9/10/11) Hobbies: Snowboarding, MMA, riding motorcycles, going on vacation, SCUBA diving, anything outdoors Favorite Authors/Books: Lee Child, George R. R. Martin, Tim Ferriss, Tucker Max, "The Dragons Path"

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