New Year’s Eve in L.A.: Top picks for the best ways to ring in 2020

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The scene at last year's N.Y.E.L.A. in front of City Hall (Photo by Grand Park/The Music Center)

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 sixth annual N.Y.E.L.A. in downtown’s Grand Park brings the Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra, Thee Sinseers and more among three musical stages, along with 3D video mapping, art projections, food trucks and much fun. A family affair.

► Fireworks, live DJs, dance music, dancers, circuit breaker robot, face painting, bubbles, photo booth, food trucks and other family fun at Marina Del Rey’s Glow Party at Burton Chace Park. Free.

► First Night Fullerton in the Orange County city’s downtown area will be a family-oriented celebration with live music and more.

► #BOOM 2020 is West Hollywood’s family-friendly celebration.     

Rock picks

► Robert Pollard and his merry band of Guided By Voices intend to play 100 songs at the Teragram Ballroom, and despite the fact that it is sold out, a certain Editor in Chief of this publication strongly suggests that you scalp a ticket or just sneak in.

► A stellar collection of our local stars– among them Moon Honey, Lauren Ruth Ward, Draemings, Jeffertitti, Palaye Royale, Blame Candy, Mac Hanson, Mack, Rachel Fannan, Ariel Beesley, Veronica Bianqui, Bonavega and more– are putting on a fantastic lil’ Rock + Roll Carnival at the Taix Champagne Room. Tickets.

► Poolside with a late night Poolside DJ Set with the Undercover Dream Lovers and Katzù Oso bringing in the new year at the Fonda Theater. Tickets.

► Restless Nights and Spaceland present SUBSTANCE NYE, with a headlining set by TR/ST, performances by Light Asylum, Patriarchy, Machine Club DJ’s and special guests at the Regent Theater. Tickets.

► Sweet and sultry Houston hip-hop queen Megan Thee Stallion will perform at the Novo. Tickets.

► Old-school hard rock with L.A. Guns, Venrez, Lowside, Motorsickle and Black Star Sinners at the Whiskey A Go Go. Tickets.

► Mickey Avalon brings his party anthems to the Viper Room. Tickets.

► A night of proper blues with Sugaray Rayford and the Real Stills at The Mint. Tickets.

► Handlebarz, The Lungs and DJ Johnny Scott Gramercy ring in the new at the Maui Sugar Mill Saloon. Free. 

► Riverside punx Alien Ant Farm ring in the new year at the Slidebar, with Marko DeSantis (Sugarcult) and Lit. Tickets.

► Escape-ism (feat. Ian Svevonious & Alexandra Cabral), CRUSH (feat. Zumi & Cole of the Black Lips) and more at Harvard & Stone. Tickets: $25 at the door.

► There will be brilliant, silly singalong fun with Black Crystal Wolf Kids at Pappy & Harriet’s. Tickets. 

► The Cavemen & The Premonitions headline the New Year’s Eve Hop – Rock and Roll Masquerade at Zebulon. Tickets.

Special event picks

► Dita Von Teese hosts her third annual New Year’s Eve Gala at The Orpheum Theatre. Tickets. 

► The ghost of the man in black chimes in the new year with Cash’d Out at The House of Machines. Tickets.

► Dress to impress, Roaring Twenties-style, at Prohibition NYE at Union Station, where RAC has your soundtrack. Open bar. Tickets, 

► At Disney Hall, it’s Tony and Emmy Award winner Kristin Chenoweth, two shows worth. Tickets.

► Gilded, a NYE dinner and dance party at the Theatre at Ace Hotel, features DJ sets from Project Pablo, Ash Lauryn, Cooper Saver and Jen Ferrer, spinning disco, house, funk, soul and boogie. Tickets.

► Ring in the New Year at the Standard Downtown LA featuring Tony Humphries, Geneva Jacuzzi (Live), TK, Dirty Dave and more. Tickets. Stop by early for the Disco Dining Club’s “Age of Excess” themed night featuring a 3-course meal with paired cocktails, caviar, eccentric cabaret-style performances and musical numbers (separate tickets required, which include access to the Rooftop club and DJ set).

► New Orleans funk band Dumpstaphunk plays a special Sly & Family Stone set as part of “I Wanna Take You Higher” NYE 2020 at the Wisdome Immersive Art Park. The Gaslamp Killer and Houseshoes also perform. Tickets.

► The Illustrious Ancestors Interstellar Psychedelic Country and Eastern bring an eclectic evening to the Corazon Performing Arts Center. Tickets.

Electronic/club picks

► Trance in the new year with world-class superstar Markus Schultz on the decks at the Avalon. Tickets. 

► Welcome to a night of dreamy vaporwave by George Clanton, Negative Gemini and more at the Lodge Room. Tickets.

► Minimal Effort has a lineup of heavy hitters with Ross From Friends (playing live), Bart Skils b2b Layton Giordani, Detlef b2b Latmun, Doc Martin and more at the Los Angeles Theater. Tickets.

► Alesso, Borgore, Galantis and the The Chainsmokers headline the sixth annual Countdown NYE party hosted at NOS Events Center in San Bernardino. Tickets.

► L’Affaire Musicale, Orlove Entertainment & Absolut Elyx team up for a night of enchantment, open bar, two rooms of dancing and more at Hotel Figueroa. Tickets. ToKa also plays at the Tangier Room. Tickets.

Other dance picks

► The Candi Pop crew brings a celebration of glitter, lollipops, rainbows, unicorns and girl power at Don Quixote. Tickets.

► Bootie LA will get things all sweaty at El Cid. Tickets.

► KCRW’s Anthony Valadez spins all night at the Townhouse. Tickets.

► Club Underground’s annual New Year’s Eve Ball boasts two floors of dance music from the stellar Underground DJ crew at the Grand Star Jazz Club. Tickets.

► The Love Song Bar is throwing the Swing Easy New Year’s Party with DJs Gaby Loks, Shawn Atkinson, Adrian Villalobos, Rhygin Paul and more spinning 60’s ska, rocksteady, reggae and soul. Free before 10 p.m., $5 at the door thereafter. 

► You can be certain that Gay Ass New Queer Eve at the Satellite is gonna be lit. Tickets.

► Sweet and Tender Hooligans’ Jose Maldonado DJs at Part Time Punks at the Moroccan Lounge. Tickets.

► A night of old school by 143 Soundsystem at the Echoplex. Tickets.

For a full list of NYE events, see our weekly shows post.