Haven’t booked a restaurant, reserved a hotel suite, or invited the gang over for New Year’s? No problem! We’ve got last-minute ideas to make the last night of 2023 (and the next day) a joyous occasion.

Fireworks

Many will be watching New Year’s Eve fireworks from rooftops and high-rise windows. But if you want an up close and personal encounter, there are several options. 

Head to Penn’s Landing when the skies light up at 6 pm and midnight and you can skate your way into the New Year. Enjoy comfy warming cabins, fire pit stations, a Ferris wheel ride, live music, food and soft drinks inside the lodge, and a pay-as-you-go bar. Watching the fireworks at Penn’s Landing is free but, on New Year’s Eve, tickets are required for ice skating. Independence Blue Cross River Rink Winterfest,101 S. Christopher Columbus Blvd. 

You can also watch fireworks from the deck of the historic tall ship Moshulu which features rock on the main deck and a jazz band in the ballroom. Choose from general admission for dancing and open bars or reservations for seating and buffet dining.401 S, Christopher Columbus Blvd. 

Another seaworthy viewing location is aboard the Battleship New Jersey on the Camden side of the Delaware River. $10 donation for General Admission to view fireworks from the Main Deck and a $100 donation for access to the Admiral’s and Captain’s cabin with food and drinks. 100 Clinton St, Camden.  

Family-Friendly Activities

Now until January 1st, head to FDR Park for the Tinseltown Holiday Spectacular. Skate along a winding ice trail or glide down a 160-foot-long ice slide. Timed tickets are required, with optional add-ons available for the Ice Trail and Independence Blue Cross ice slide.1500 Pattison Avenue &, S Broad St. 

The Please Touch Museum offers morning and afternoon sessions of Countdown to New Year on Sunday, Dec. 31st to ring in 2024. Both sessions feature access to the museum’s exhibits, dance performances, jugglers, live music, and New Year’s swag. Tickets are required. Memorial Hall, Fairmount Park, 4231 Ave. of the Republic.

Through Jan. 6th, you can also visit LumiNature, an immersive, multi-media, nighttime spectacle that lights up the Philadelphia Zoo while the animals are sleeping. Seasonal snacks, live performances, hot chocolate, and adult beverages round out the feelings of winter spirit. Timed tickets are required.3400 Girard Avenue. 

Strike Up the Band!

From high-brow to funk, Philly has no shortage of musical offerings for New Year’s Eve. 

Join The Philadelphia Orchestra’s New Year’s Eve Celebration at the Kimmel Center with a concert of Broadway classics and a complimentary glass of bubbly. Pre-concert dinner features a fixed-price menu. 300 S. Broad St.  

Chris’ Jazz Cafe offers three New Year’s Eve shows at 7,9 & 11 pm, with a three-course tasting menu and the smooth jazz sounds of Chelsea Reed and the Fair Weather Nine.1421 Sansom St.

Want to experience the cuisine and music of New Orleans without going through TSA? Attend the New Year’s Eve Celebration at South Jazz Kitchen featuring a four-course dinner and jazz performance featuring V Shayne Frederick and his quartet. Early seatings from 6:30 pm. Reservations are a must.

In the mood for funk, punk, jazz, pop and R&B? Catch Snacktime, a seven-piece band at Brooklyn Bowl in Fishtown. If Indi Folk Rock is more your style, get tickets for the 10 pm show of The Nude Party at World Cafe Live at 3025 Walnut.

Want to rock out, but keep it low-key? Head to Fishtown’s Middle Child Clubhouse for a no-fuss dance party with burgers and champagne. No prix fixe menu, but reserve now. This will sell out. 1232 N. Front St.

Morning After

The annual Mummers Parade is a Philly tradition. That is when 10,000 people, mostly males from South Philly, Kensington, and Jersey, dress up in feathers and sequins and march along South Broad Street from City Hall to Washington Avenue playing banjos, saxophones, and glockenspiels. If standing out in the cold to watch the parade isn’t your thing, you may choose to indulge in a cozy brunch. Here are some local favorites.

The Dutch, 1537 S 11th Street, specializes in reinvented and classic Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine.. On Jan. 1st, this East Passayunk eatery opens at 8 a.m. for those still standing from the night before. They will be offering an exclusive New Year’s Day special of pork and sauerkraut.

Red Owl Tavern, 433 Chestnut St., across from Independence Hall in Old City, features New Year’s Day Brunch including Apple Cider Belgian Waffles.

Square 1682,121 S. 17th St., a modern American restaurant and award-winning bar located in Rittenhouse Square, on 17th and Sansom Streets, also features a special New Year’s Day Brunch with festive seasonal cocktails including A Cozy Quilt, a blend of whiskey, apple cider, and cinnamon.

No matter how you celebrate, the Solo Real Estate team wishes you a safe, healthy, and happy New Year ahead!