10 Ways to Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Western Massachusetts
Make your weekend plans to celebrate New Year’s Eve in western Massachusetts. Starting on Friday and right through January 1 there’s every kind of music, intimate dinners, story times, indoors and outdoors. Come with your kids, your better half, or a gang your friends. Check out our 10 fabulous “kickstarters” for 2018.
On New Year’s Eve
First Night Northampton is THE New Year’s Eve event in Western Massachusetts for all. Stroll Downtown Northampton for this 12-hour, family-friendly festival of the arts at 20 terrific downtown venues. At the end of the night, gather in front of the Hotel Northampton to watch our NYE ball rise up at midnight to welcome the New Year.
Convino Wine Bar’s Moulin Rouge party in Northampton starts with dinner til 10:00 and then snacks and revelry to ring in the new year.
Fort Hill Brewery in Easthampton celebrates from 3:00 to 6:00 PM with the Standing Bear Band, a classic rock jam band fusing the Dead with Neil Young.
In Northampton, the rootsy pop-rockers Colorway, perform for First Night at the Parlor Room
For all weekend
Take the kids January 1st to the HIlltown Families Saturday Morning Dance Party, Monday January 1 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Easthampton’s Flywheel.
Take a 2-hour mini-vacation with a couples massage and hot tub soak at our two favorite spas -- East Heaven in Northampton and Elements Hot Tub Spa in Amherst -- both open late on New Year’s Eve.
Dine romantic at 30Boltwood Restaurant in Amherst’s Lord Jeffery Inn on a 4-course prix fixe menu for New Year’s Eve. Or in Northampton at Bistro Les Gras for their extra festive menu and a special prix fixe menu with champagne pairings.
Arrive at 10:30 the morning of Friday the 29th for The Very Cozy Storytime at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Boook Art, wander through the Eric Carle Night exhibit and shop for your favorite picture book characters.
Another kid favorite is a drive through the Look Park Winter Wonderland through January 1.
Cozy up in your hotel room with your new favorite local foods, beers and wine chosen from Provisions in Northampton, Atkins Farm Market in Amherst or, Corsello Butcheria in Easthampton.
Explore more reasons for a winter visit and download our e-edition Visitor Guide at the other side of Massachussets.