December 28, 2013, N.J. New Year’s Eve Updates. Our New Year’s Eve Guide has gotten so large that we’ve made some changes. The events are now listed by region on individual pages as we expand our coverage. This page features our top 10 list of the best events in the state.
Best New Jersey New Year’s Eve Events of 2013-14
Here are our choices for this year’s best ways to ring in the new year in New Jersey.
New Year’s Eve @ The Manor, West Orange, Essex County, North Jersey, $69.95 to $145.00 per person: The Manor has been hosting weddings and special occasions since 1956. It is situated on a 20-acre estate with manicured gardens and is next to Eagle Rock Reservation. For New Year’s Eve, you can choose from a dance party for $75.00 complete with champagne, party favors, pastries, and a D.J., or a lobster buffet for $69.95 with prime rib, lobster, oysters, and lamb, or a 5-course dinner for $79.95, or an all-inclusive Gala Dinner Party Package for $145.00 that includes the lobster buffet, a Viennese dessert table, premium open bar, continuous dance music and a champagne toast at midnight.
New Year’s Eve @ Crystal Springs Resort, Vernon, Sussex County, North Jersey, $25.00 to $345.00 per person: Crystal Springs has a multitude of celebrations that they are featuring for New Year’s Eve. You can pay as little as a $25.00 cover charge for the party at Kites restaurant which features a DJ, party favors, and a champagne toast at midnight. If you’re looking for a more refined celebration, you can check out Restaurant LaTour’s 7-Course Prix Fixe Formal Dinner with wine pairings for $345.00. The resort has a wide array of celebrations in every price range. Some of the more popular ones are already sold out.
New Year’s Eve Hogmanay Bonfire, Lawrenceville, Mercer County, Central Jersey, Free: The Hogmanay Bonfire has been a Lawrence Historical Society tradition for 16 years. Hogmanay is a Scottish New Year’s celebration that has it roots in Pagan tradition. The celebration involves creating a list of all the bad things you want to forget about the past year and bring it to the fire. Toss it in the giant flames and watch it burn. It’s a cleansing ritual for a new start, for a new year.
Trenton New Year’s Eve Concert, Trenton, Mercer County, Central Jersey, $25.00: The New Jersey Capital Philharmonic will host their annual New Year’s Eve concert this year at the Patriot’s Theatre at the War Memorial. This year the concert will feature a spectacular program of popular classics featuring Miklos Rozsa’s “Spellbound Concerto”, from the classic Hitchcock film with Gabriela Imreh, the pianist. Also included are works by Liszt, Bernstein, Johann Strauss, and much more. Daniel Spalding, conductor. More info
New Year’s Eve Fireworks, New Brunswick, Middlesex County, Central Jersey, Free: New Brunswick celebrates the coming of the new year at midnight with a fireworks display sponsored by The Restaurant Guys. The display is staged by Garden State Fireworks at midnight at Monument Square Park. In previous years, the fireworks were shot off the roof of the Heldrich Hotel. The park is located at Livingston Avenue and George Street. Some local restaurants are serving a-la-carte menus and the local bars will be serving champagne.
New Year’s Eve Kids Kazoo Parade, Collingswood, Camden, South Jersey, Free: Take the kids out for a chance to toot their own horn or their own kazoo. The Pop Shop in Collingswood will be holding its 5th annual kazoo parade this year. All the kids will be given kazoos at the restaurant and the parade will start at 4:15 p.m. Mummers from a local string band will lead the children down the street where a New Year’s Eve countdown will be held and cookies will be served. The restaurant will be serving dinner that night till 10:00 p.m.
New Year’s Eve Fireworks @ Battleship New Jersey Overnight Encampment, Camden, Camden County, South Jersey, $64.95: Ring in the New Year in Camden and stay overnight on the Battleship New Jersey. You’ll have one of the best seats in the house to see the fireworks over the Delaware River that are being staged in Philadelphia at 6:00 p.m. and at midnight. A $64.95 ticket gets you dinner, a chow-line breakfast, a tour of the ship, and a ride in the 4D Flight Simulator are included. More info on BestofNJ.com
New Year’s Eve at David Burke Fromagerie, Rumson, Monmouth County, Jersey Shore, $105.00: David Burke is ringing in the new year with an exquisite 4-course dinner that includes your champagne toast. Menu highlights include a pretzel-crusted crab cake, zampone (holiday stuffed pork sausage), lobster steak, lamb shank, and seared trout. Dinner seatings are available from 5:00 to 10:30 p.m.
New Year’s Eve @ Tuckahoe Inn, Marmora, Cape May County, Jersey Shore, Entrees @ $12.00 to $33.00:: Tuckahoe is one of South Jersey’s and the Jersey Shore’s favorite restaurants. It is located on the Great Egg Harbor Bay just off the Garden State Parkway. For New Year’s Eve, they are offering their extensive regular menu at their regular prices. Reservations are highly recommended. Early bird seatings start at 11:30 a.m. and go till 5:00 p.m. Dinner reservations are available until 10:30. There will be live music by Chameleon from 9:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.
Ocean City First Night, Ocean City, Cape May County, Jersey Shore, $15.00: Ocean City sponsors one of the biggest parties in New Jersey to ring in the new year that culminates with a grand fireworks display at midnight. The celebration starts early and continues all night long. The festivities include a long list of concerts: rock, country, folk, doo-wop, Broadway, gospel, big band, and barbershop quartets. You’ll also find jugglers, magicians, storytellers, and Irish Dancers. There’s also a Taste of the Jersey Shore dinner.
New Jersey New Year’s Eve Balls and Galas to Consider for 2015
New Year’s Eve Masquerade Ball @ the Westwood, Garwood: $145.00 per person & $275.00 per couple The NYE Masquerade Ball features a 5-hour premium open bar, coat check, unlimited dining, DJ playing top 40 hits, dancing, a champagne toast and a live broadcast of the ball drop from NYC. The event is limited to the first 280 guests to purchase a ticket. Local lodging at discounted prices is available at the Hilton Homewood Suites in Cranford and at the Holiday Inn in Clark.
Glitter Ball @ Congress Hall, Cape May: $179.00 per person The Glitter Ball sells out every year and features a 5-course dinner, a full open bar, and live music by the Tribeca Grand Band. Special Glitter Ball packages are available at any of the Cape Resort Properties with a 2-night stay.
If you know of any fabulous New Year’s Eve party in New Jersey that we’ve missed for this year just leave us a comment below.