New Year’s Eve in Los Angeles: Top picks for the best ways to ring in 2018

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Prohibition NYE 2016 (Photo by Milagro Flix)
Prohibition NYE 2016 (Photo by Milagro Flix)

Here’s our select list of New Year’s Eve happenings in and around L.A. Got another favorite? Leave a comment …

Free (and alcohol-free)

► The fifth annual N.Y.E.L.A. in downtown’s Grand Park brings Dexter Story and the All-Star New Year’s Eve Band, the Beat Junkies and more to three musical stages, along with 3D video mapping, art projections, food trucks and much fun. A family affair.
► Two rounds of fireworks, face painting and other family fun will turn up at Marina Del Rey’s Glow Party at Burton Chace Park. Info.
First Night Fullerton in the Orange County city’s downtown area will be a family-oriented celebration with live music and more.

Rock picks

► Three SoCal favorites — Chicano Batman, Hanni El Khatib and Thee Commons — mix ’n’ match styles at the Fox Theater Pomona. Tickets, $35.
Nick Waterhouse counts out 2017 with a whole lot of soul at the Moroccan Lounge. Tickets, $45.
► Resurgent power-pop heroes the Flamin’ Groovies ring in the new year at the Bootleg Theater, along with Matt Hollywood & the Bad Feelings and GospelbeacH. Tickets, $22.
► Germany’s VNV Nation greet 2018 with uplifting electronic anthems at the Regent Theater. Tickets, $40.
► Pedro the Lion — reuniting after 10 years — will play the Observatory, opening for Third Eye Blind. Tickets, $49.50.
► New Orleans flair with Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue at the House of Blues Anaheim. Tickets, $55.
Conor Oberst & the Mystic Valley Band play L.A. for the first time since 2010 when they visit the Lodge Room. Sold out, but you might get lucky?
► And New Year’s Eve is the rare chance to see long-running SoCal luminaries the Blasters in a small room — they’re at the Maui Sugar Mill Saloon. Tickets, $25 and up.

Special event picks

► Dress to impress, Roaring Twenties-style, at Prohibition NYE at Union Station, where Goldroom has your soundtrack. Open bar. Tickets, $175
► From the minds of Burger Records and Gnar Tapes comes Gnar Year’s Eve, where Cosmonauts, White Fang and Bud O.D. get crazy at the Standard Hollywood. Tickets, $25.
► Rage with Dirtybird Records co-founder Justin Martin, underground hero Maya Jane Coles and many more in four rooms at Minimal Effort NYE, at the MacArthur (fka Park Plaza). Tickets, $69 and up.
► Party for a cause at the NYE Party to Cure Parkinson’s Disease, which brings Billy Joe Shaver, Norm Macdonald, Swamp Dogg and Guitar Shorty to the Roxy Theatre. Tickets, $51 and up.
► At Disney Hall, it’s Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox, two shows worth. Tickets.
KCRW’s Jason Bentley DJs a big tent party outside the Bungalow Santa Monica. Open bar. Tickets, $150.

Electronic/club picks

Dillon Francis’ IDGAFOS NYE doesn’t give a … hoot. His big bash goes off at the Shrine with Whethan, Valentino Khan, Yung Pinch and Team EZY. Tickets, $74.50 and up.
► Englishman Gareth Emery definitely gives a hoot — he does an extended NYE set at Exchange. Tickets, $55 and up.
Markus Schulz gives a hoot, too — he goes open to close at Avalon. Tickets, $80 and up.
► It’s a heavyweight night of rap as Ty Dolla Sign, Wiz Khalifa and YG take over OHM Nightclub. Tickets, $60 and up.

Other dance picks

Dance Yourself Clean heads up the party at the Teragram Ballroom. Tickets, $35.
► Get footloose and hit the photo booth at Hollywood Prom with the Puscie Jones Revue at Boardner’s. Tickets, $20-$25.
► Bootie LA will get things all sweaty at Resident. Tickets, $20 and up.
► Bubblegum hits will be the fare at the Candi Pop Dance Party at the Satellite. $15-$20.
► Celebrate My Chemical Romance, pop-punk and 2000s-era anthems at Club Y2K: My Chemical New Year’s Eve at the Echo. Tickets, $10.
Jose Maldonado and Xian Vox DJ at Part Time Punks at the Echoplex. Tickets, $15.

For a full list of Sunday night events, see our weekly show post