By Taylor Villanueva
Signal Staff Writer
As the clock strikes midnight and the ball drops, signaling the new year, no matter what you choose to do, there are plenty of options to make sure it’s a night to remember.
Whether your party has small children or even more boisterous adults, there are several local options for celebrating New Year’s Eve this year. Although if you’re willing and able to venture south of the Newhall Pass, there are admittedly more choices for both types of parties, and everything in between.
Here are a few ideas for the family:
Inside the SCV
(Family-friendly) Valencia Lanes will hold a Cosmic New Year’s Eve bowling celebration.
There will be party favors, a countdown to the ball drop and a champagne or apple cider toast if you reserve the 9:30 p.m. bowling session. There are also midday and evening bowling sessions for families with younger children who might not stay awake until midnight. A lane reservation includes two pitchers of soda and a jumbo pizza. Lanes must be reserved in advance.
Valencia Lanes is located at 23700 Lyons Ave., Santa Clarita. For more information, call 661-222-9080.
The Canyon Santa Clarita is welcoming one of the SCV’s favorite tribute bands, Led Zepagain, to rock in the new year with some of rock ’n’ roll’s all-time greatest sounds.
Before the champagne toast at midnight, you can also enjoy opening sets by Deepest Purple, a tribute to Deep Purple, and TnT, a tribute to AC/DC.
Guests are asked to arrive by 7 p.m., and those under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a paid adult.
The Canyon Santa Clarita is located at the Westfield Valencia Town Center, 24201 Valencia Blvd, Suite 1351, Santa Clarita. For more information, visit wheremusicmeetsthesoul.com.
Le Chène French Cuisine has two dinner options on New Year’s Eve. The first is a murder mystery dinner theater by Sharpo! This option includes a three-course meal and the show. Or if you want to skip the murder mystery, you can enjoy the New Year’s Eve dinner in the dining room.
You can also read more about the story behind Le Chène, which is French for “the oak,” with our profile on its founder on page 35. Le Chene is located at 12625 Sierra Highway. Make reservations online at lechene.com.
Double Trouble Wine Room will be holding a New Year’s Eve event where guests can enjoy some wine and music. The wine room features drinks from two wineries — Hoi Polloi Winery and Pagter Brothers Winery. Guests can enjoy wine until 10 p.m. on Dec. 31.
The tasting rooms are located at 24338 Main St., Newhall. For more information, call 661-476-5627.
Outside the SCV
Grand Park and The Music Center
(Family-friendly) This event begins at 8 p.m. and offers fun for the whole family. The website promises the opportunity to “dance your heart out and into 2019 with best friends, sweeties, friendly neighbors, and those cousins from out-of-town at the West Coast’s flagship New Year’s Eve celebration.”
The event begins at 8 p.m., and there’s information on what’s allowed and what’s prohibited at the event’s website, nyela.grandparkla.org. The event is located at 200 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles.
L.A. Zoo Lights 2018/19: Family New Year’s Eve
(Family-friendly) Celebrate the new year at the home of some of L.A.’s furry friends, as well as with express entry to L.A. Zoo Lights, a dinner buffet and carousel.
Attendees can “Raise a toast to the New Year with complimentary champagne for adults and sparkling apple cider for kids,” according to the event’s website, which promises fun for all ages.
Dinner is served from 6-8 p.m. For ticket information, visit lazoo.showare.com. The event is located at 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles.
If you like more intimate gatherings
There’s no better time to host a party than on New Year’s Eve. Invite your closest friends and family and enjoy the countdown together.
All you need are some noisemakers, snacks and champagne for midnight. Watch the ball drop on TV and beat the cold weather by staying indoors.
If you like bars
The Old Chalet bar in Los Angeles will be hosting a night of drinks and karaoke with “great and terrible singers guaranteed.” The party starts at 9 p.m. on Dec. 31 and ends at 2 a.m. on New Year’s Day.
Guests can “enjoy all night happy hour, featuring $5 draft beers, well drinks and wine by the glass, plus a complimentary champagne toast at midnight,” according to the Eventbrite description. Make sure to reserve a spot by calling The Old Chalet at 323-508-5058.
The address is 1630 Colorado Blvd, Los Angeles, and it can be found online at theoldchalet.com.
If you like to party
The Hollywood Roosevelt is hosting its third annual New Year’s Eve event. There will be four rooms of music, a premium open bar and a giant project wall to countdown the new year. There is even a VIP option, which features a nightclub, upgraded party favors and more.
The Roosevelt is located at 7000 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles. For ticket information, visit thehollywoodroosevelt.com.
If you like dressing up
IX Tapa Pasadena will be host to a New Year’s Eve Masquerade Party. The event will feature live music from DJ BeatDrop from Power 106 and VDJ Culprit.
There will be party favors, a balloon drop and a champagne toast. The party goes from 9 p.m. Dec. 31 to 2 a.m. Jan. 1, and doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 online before a service fee. The restaurant is located at 119 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. For more information, call iX Tapa at 626-304-1000.