What to do in San Francisco for New Years Eve 2024
There’s tons to do in San Francisco to ring in 2024. These are my personal picks.
I never got along with New Years Eve. The cacophony of invitations make me tongue-tied for what to do, and nothing ever lives up to what I should have done in my head. My personal best pre-pandemic: I invited over a few friends and streamed the ball dropping in Times Square, and it was only maybe five minutes after midnight that we noticed I’d selected a year-old recording. Happy 2019, again. So what’s my advice on how to spend New Years Eve?
Go to bed early. Or maybe host one of those murder mystery parties. My parents used to get decked out in costume and do that at a friends’ place when I was growing up, and it looked super fun.
As I was saying, though: there’s tons to do in San Francisco this New Years Eve and on January 1st. The following are my personal picks, but don’t get tongue-tied and FOMO like me. Commit to your selection.
Fancy soirées, concerts and dance parties
- New Bohemia New Year’s Eve 2024 — The venerable Mint undergoes a metamorphosis into a sensory playground. Delve into 23 immersive environments over a span of 6.5 hours, featuring 7 dance floors, game rooms, a Shibari Lounge, a variety and sideshow stage, themed karaoke, circus performances, and scattered dancers and art galleries. The cheapest ticket I spotted goes for $119 plus fees.
- LCD Soundsystem — For two evenings of live dance music by the Brooklyn-based electronic and rock band, 2ManyDJs and Peaches will kick off the performances. Enhance your experience with optional upgrades, offering access to a lounge featuring hors d’oeuvres, desserts, and a beverage for the midnight toast. Cheapest ticket I spotted goes for $125.
- Eye Heart New Years Eve — At the iconic Fort Mason Center, this party features a special countdown performance by none other than Grammy-winning super producer and DJ, DIPLO. Cheapest tickets I spotted are $185.
- Mother of All New Years — At the Regency Ballroom, dance to top 40, hip hop, and EDM with the electrifying sounds of DJ EXILE (Las Vegas), Papi Chulo, and Kemist. I checked out the Regency Ballroom for the first time just this year and loved it. And it’s hosted by Bucket Listers, sort of an Instagram-forward event company that puts together pretty okay events. It’s one of the cheaper parties with a $55 ticket price, although I definitely wouldn’t expect an open bar.
- New Years Eve at Press Club — Press Club will be decked out in shiny accessories and a balloon arch, providing a backdrop for memorable photo opportunities. DJ Jerry Ross will spin a mix of hip-hop, top 40, EDM, 2000’s hits, throwbacks, and anthems that will keep you grooving until the Champagne toast at midnight. Tickets begin at $50.
- Black Tie New Years Eve — At the Clift Hotel, this New Years party gets going with live DJs, a red carpet entrance, and multiple rooms of music catering to diverse tastes. As the clock nears midnight, join the crowd for a massive balloon drop and a countdown. Enjoy complimentary party favors and secure your spot with limited discount tickets for an unforgettable night of glamour, music, and dancing. Tickets are $45 plus fees.
- San Francisco’s Black and White Ball — This one’s at The Hibernia San Francisco, where they’ll play top 40, Hip Hop, House, Salsa, 80s, Reggaetón, Old School Flashbacks, and more. Dance the night away in style. $100 ticket plus fees does come with a 4 1/2 hour open bar, but I will say the event listing gives me standard big-party vibes and not super fancy. Black-and-white attire is encouraged, not required. I am reminded with this listing and many others how hard it is to get a drink at a New Years party’s open bar.
New Years Eve cruises
Cruises feel like the sort of thing that could be great unless you actually want to leave something. I’d love to hear from people who have done these. Are drunk strangers fun on a boat? What’s the weather going to be like? Will you be able to see the fireworks? Check Yelp before boarding, but in theory they seem pretty cool. Call ahead and ask if ticket price includes drinks, and verify that the boat leaves the dock — seriously, I spotted one company where they do not. This one still has tickets as of December 28th, 2023:
Speakeasy Cruise — Speakeasies were secret bars during prohibition that sold alcohol when doing so was illegal, not big-ass boat parties floating around the bay serving very sanctioned libations. We’ve really doubled down on the 20s era in San Francisco, though, so this very non-secret cruise comes as no surprise. Tickets start at $209, and per the event description:
“This themed event will transport you back to the 20s as you’ll be surrounded by a slew of movers and shakers all decked to the nines. You’ll be taking in the best views that the city has to offer from the outside in, including Treasure Island, Alcatraz, The Bay Bridge Lights, Golden Gate Bridge, and the magnificent San Francisco Skyline.”
And of course: The elusive fireworks
We all love a good fireworks show. Unfortunately, any good SF resident knows Karl the Fog makes it hard to spot the spectacular displays in the sky. We’ve been having a beautiful rainy season, and Sunday has a cloudy forecast with a high surf warning. So keep that in mind when picking your spot.
I only once went out for a New Years fireworks show at the Embarcadero, and I do recommend that if the conditions are amicable. The Bold Italic also produced pretty photos of July 4th fireworks at Pier 39, so that also feels like a good option.
Kron4 also suggested Twin Peaks, Treasure Island, along with some other shows in the Bay Area.
Saul Sugarman is editor in chief of The Bold Italic.
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