(Contributed photo)
Sunday is New Year’s Eve, and all over the Central Coast events are being planned to ring in the new year. From concerts to bowling, dancing to dining, there is definitely not a shortage of ways to celebrate and welcome 2018 — and you don’t have to make a trek to the big city for any of them.
Here are just some of the many New Year’s Eve events happening Sunday in the Monterey Bay Area:
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PAJARO VALLEY
• Ella’s 5-Course New Year’s Eve Dinner
Ella’s at the Airport, 100 Aviation Way, Watsonville
Reserve your spot at Ella’s at the Airport for a five-course meal, with a complimentary glass of bubbly and an East Coast countdown. The event is $65 per person and includes dessert. Call 728-3282 for reservations. For menu information, visit ellasinwatsonville.com.
• New Year’s Eve with The Lovedogs
California Grill, 40 Penny Lane, Watsonville
Come see pop-punk/rockabilly band The Lovedogs at Watsonville’s California Grill and Bar, from 9 p.m. to midnight. Enjoy a menu of mainly locally-grown, in-season food and a wide selection of wine, beer and cocktails. For information and menu options, visit californiagrillrestaurant.com or call 722-8052.
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GILROY
• New Year’s Eve at Holiday@Night
Gilroy Gardens, 3050 Hecker Pass Road, Gilroy
Celebrate New Year’s Eve at Gilroy Gardens. Enjoy the Holiday@Night attraction, with millions of twinkling holiday lights strung up throughout the park. Live music events, including a performance by brother-and-sister duo The Pfeffers at 8 p.m., will be held at the Events Plaza and fireworks will be shot off over Coyote Lake after counting down to the new year. Reserve tickets at gilroygardens.org.
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MID-COUNTY
• New Year’s Eve Party at Severino’s
Severino’s Bar & Grill, 7500 Old Dominion Court, Aptos
Spend New Year’s Eve at Severino’s, from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. with a four-course meal, live music by the Joint Chiefs and dancing. Dinner seating times are 6:30–8 p.m. Entry is $109 per person. Dinner and hotel packages are available. To reserve a place and for information, call 688-8987.
• NYE at Cantine
Cantine, 8050 Soquel Drive, Aptos
Join friends and family at Cantine in Aptos Village for a New Year’s Celebration. The wine pub will offer its usual selection of wine and beer, along with a number of small plate tapas choices. The new year’s event will be held from 9 p.m. on Sunday to midnight. There will be dancing, with music provided by DJ Stoney. For information, call 612-6191.
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SANTA CRUZ
• New Year’s Eve Bowling at Boardwalk Bowl
Boardwalk Bowl, 115 Cliff St., Santa Cruz
This popular, often sold-out annual event will include party favors, a glass of champagne or apple cider, shoe rental and Atomic Bowling. Everything will begin at 9 p.m., with local band Cruzah playing at Coasters at 9:30 p.m., and it will run until around 12:30 a.m. Lanes are $119 and can be reserved by calling 426-3324.
• Abbott Square Market NYE Extravaganza
725 Front St., Santa Cruz
Come to Abbott Square Market in Downtown Santa Cruz to ring in the new year. Music by Jive Machine, with special guest performances are planned. Things will start up by 8 p.m. and continue till past midnight. Abbott Square offers food, beer and wine, desserts and more to guests. Visit abbottsquaremarket.com and jivemachine.com for information.
• NYE 2018 Black & White Unity Ball
Motiv Night Club, 1209 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz’s Motiv Night Club will host an event from 9:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m., ringing in the new year by celebrating diversity in all its forms. Dress up in your best black and white outfits for a night of dancing and music from DJ Eden Rock. Call 429-8070 or visit Motiv’s Facebook page for details.
• Malabar New Year’s Eve Dinner & Dancing Competition
Malabar Restaurant, 514 Front St., Santa Cruz
Head over to Malabar for New Year’s Eve. There will be a dinner beginning at 5 p.m., live music by Saturday Night Stars, and a dancing competition from 10–11:30 p.m. Prizes will be given out to Best Couple, Best Male and Best Female dancers. Entry is free. For information, call 458-3023.
• Cats on the Moon New Year’s Eve Celebration
Cafe Mare, 740 Front St. #100, Santa Cruz
From 9 p.m. till 3 a.m. come to Cafe Mare for an event of music, dancing, food and drinks. A lineup of eight live music performers, plus a midnight champagne toast. $10 in advance at Eventbrite.com. For information, call 458-1212.
• New Year’s Eve Speakeasy Soiree
Chaminade Resort & Spa, 1 Chaminade Lane, Santa Cruz
Celebrate the new year with a Roaring ‘20s experience. For $160, guests can enjoy appetizers, dinner, drinks, live music by the John Michael Band and dancing. Festivities begin around 7 p.m. and end around 12:30 a.m. Overnight packages are also available. Contact the resort directly at 475-5600 to make reservations and for information.
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MONTEREY
• First Night Monterey 2018
Downtown Monterey
The 25th annual First Night Monterey celebration will once again take over downtown Monterey with a number of different artistic and cultural performances. An affordable, alcohol-free family event, First Night Monterey boasts more than nine hours of entertainment from 3 p.m. to midnight. A selection of food and beverage booths will be available to guests, in addition to a number of nearby restaurants which will be open New Year’s Eve. Buttons are available for advance purchase online at firstnightmonterey.org.
• Noon Year’s Eve Party
Monterey County Youth Museum, 425 Washington St., Monterey
The whole family can enjoy celebrating the new year together at MY Museum. Along with the museum’s staff and Board of Directors, party with noisemakers, face painting and party hats. Watch the Noon Year’s Ball light and count down together. Reservations are required. Members get into the event free, and non-members pay $15. For information, call 649-6444.
• Celebrate the New Year at the Sardine Factory
The Sardine Factory, 701 Wave St., Monterey
Visit one of Monterey’s most famous restaurants, The Sardine Factory, while also ringing in 2018. Serving a four-course Prix Fixe menu featuring Main Lobster Bisque, salad, various entrees and dessert. A limited a la cart menu will also be available. $79 per person. Reservations are recommended. For information, call 373-3775.
• New Year’s Eve Cruises
Discovery Whale Watching, 66 Fisherman’s Wharf #1, Monterey
Come along for a 45-minute cruise around Monterey Harbor and Cannery Row with Discovery Whale Watching. Music, refreshments including beer, wine and champagne and snacks are available. All ages welcome. Cruises begin at 5:30 p.m. and end before 9 p.m. Price is $30 for adults and $20 for children. Under 3 are free. For information, call 372-7064.
• New Year’s Eve Party 2018
Portola Hotel & Spa, 2 Portola Plaza, Monterey
Visit the Portola Hotel & Spa in Old Monterey for a 1960s-themed New Year’s Eve bash. This 21-and-older event includes live music from The Money Band, dancing, dinner (plus hor d’oeuvres and dessert) and an open bar in the Spa’s grand ballroom and newly renovated hotel lobby. A gallery of photographs of the famous 1967 Monterey Pop Festival by Tom G O’Neal will also be on display. Things kick off at 7:30 p.m. and end at midnight with a balloon drop. Tickets are $150 and available on Eventbrite.
