Say goodbye to 2025 and ring in 2026 in Grand Rapids, which celebrates the new year with everything from extravagant adult parties to fun-filled activities for kids and families. We’ll keep updating this page as more and more events are announced – check back as the new year draws closer!
Enjoy nearly two miles of Christmas magic and drive through over one million Christmas lights.
Photo by Nick Irwin for Experience GR.
New Year’s Eve for Families
New Year’s Early Eve at the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum takes place from 5-8pm on Dec. 30 – the day before New Year’s Eve. This annual tradition features party hats, noise makers, music, dancing a photo booth, disco ball drop and more.
The New Year’s Eve Party at Battle GR offers two sessions of fun with laser tag, archery tag, corn hole, board games and more: 1:30-4:30pm for families with kids under 10 years old and 5-8pm for families with kids 10 and older.
New Year’s Eve Family fun at Craig’s Cruisers is an early (4-8pm) party offering go-karts, laser tag, cruiser coaster, bumper cards, glow golf, frog hopper, a trampoline park and slide zone, plus an unlimited buffet and party favors.
Kent District Library invites kids to Countdown to Happy Noon Year with noisemakers, crafts and fun at its Ada, Byron Township, Cascade, East Grand Rapids, Grandville, Kentwood, Lowell, and Plainfield branches. Times vary between 10am and 1pm.
The Grand Rapids Public Library hosts its own Happy Noon Year celebration with crafts, games and a dance party at the Main Library in downtown GR as well as the Madison Square, Seymour, West Leonard, West Side and Yankee Clipper branches. 11:30am-12:30pm.
Neon New Year’s Eve at Walker Ice & Fitness Center offers two hours of ice skating for $10 per person – and no charge for skate rental! 5-7pm.
Roll into 2026 at a bowling alley: New Year’s Eve at Clique Lanes means pizza and unlimited bowling from 12:30pm-3pm, 3:30pm-6pm, 6:30pm-9pm or 10pm-12:30am.
The Grand Rapids Griffins host their annual New Year’s Eve Celebration, featuring fireworks and open skating at Van Andel Arena after their game against the Milwaukee Admirals.
Other ideas for closing out the old year with kids:
Treat the family to another dose of holiday cheer – the Christmas Lite Show at LCMU Ballpark, Christmas Adventure Drive-Thru at Deer Tracks Junction and Joyful Lights drive-thru at Hudsonville Fairgrounds are all open today (and tomorrow, Jan. 1!).
Experience a Victorian Christmas Afternoon Tea at High Tea GR, featuring a special holiday menu and festive decorations.
The Grand Rapids Public Museum is open from 9am-5pm New Year’s Eve – so you can take the kids to see the awesome Tyrannosaurs: Meet the Family exhibit and the Historic Grand Rapids LEGO display before you get ready for your night out.
Sweat 2025 out of your system at the 43nd Annual Reeds Lake Resolution Run around the historic East Grand Rapids lake. The USAT-certified four-mile run starts at 2pm, with a kids’ race commencing at 1:30pm.
At Ada Hotel’s NYE celebration, guests can enjoy an evening of luxury and elegance, marking the perfect start to 2026.
Photo by Courtesy of The Ada Hotel
New Year’s Eve for Adults
Get a jump on New Year’s Eve festivities at the New Year Glamour Formal Tuesday Swing Dance at DeVos Place on Dec. 30. Local high-energy pop band BRENA supplies the tunes for beginner swing lessons and East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing and line dances. Formal attire encouraged, no partner needed!
Join Grand Rapids Beer Tours for an NYE Beer Tour of Vivant Brewery & Spirits, Harmony Brewing Co. and Kusterer Brauhaus. The tour includes 12 beer samples and transportation to and from breweries with a knowledgeable tour guide, and an opportunity for dinner at Harmony Brewing.
Founders Brewing Co. hosts an NYE Pre-Party from 5-8pm, with live music from Desmond Jones and Ficus, cold beer and zero cover charge.
Celebrate the New Year at one of GR’s most iconic parties – the Ballroom Bashes at downtown’s Amway Grand Plaza and JW Marriot hotels. Enjoy music, dancing and endless celebration while you travel between hotel ballrooms via climate-controlled skywalk. Book a room at either hotel to keep the celebration going (and enjoy late check-out on Jan. 1).
You’ll enjoy VIP access to the Ballroom Bashes if you start the evening at an exclusive Black-Tie Dinner at the Amway Grand Plaza. The gala event features a five-course dinner with curated wine pairings and live music by rising star Olivia Van Goor & Quartet.
Elsewhere in the Amway, New Year’s Eve at IDC toasts 2026 with sparkling vibes, dazzling tunes and crowd ready to dance their way into the new year.
Attend the NYE Midnight Masquerade at downtown’s B.O.B., offering five floors of live entertainment and DJs, stand-up comedy, chef-created dinner menus, craft beer and specialty cocktails.
Wear your best dancing shoes to the New Year’s Eve Disco at New Holland - The Knickerbocker, with music from DJ PJ, pinwheel pop-up, a midnight disco ball drop and more.
Ring in the New Year with glitz, glam and disco magic at the Ada Hotel, which invites guests to don their best black-and-white attire and dance the year away under sparkling lights. Elevate your experience with an overnight NYE room package.
Dress to impress – don’t forget the mask – for New Year’s Eve at the Rapid River Stillhouse, a black tie masquerade featuring great food, handcrafted cocktails, DJ music and a champagne toast at midnight.
Dance, drink and dig into a signature hors d’oeuvres bar at the AC Lounge New Year’s Eve Party featuring the music of DJ Buck. The NYE package includes complimentary parking at the JW Marriott.
Countdown to 2026 at The Score Restaurant & Sports Bar, which includes the fan-favorite Surf n’ Turf dinner, dessert for two, a bottle of champagne per couple, trivia, music bingo, raffle prizes, party favors and more.
Get in touch with your inner child at the Adults Only New Year’s Eve Party at Craig’s Cruisers, complete with go-karts, laser tag, bumper cards, glow golf, trampolines and more.
Get a country-style start on the New Year at The Back Forty Saloon NYE Party in downtown GR. DJ Slavin will be slinging tunes, drinks will be flowing and guests are welcome to bring dinner in with them from another establishment.
Check out the new HUB 07 community center in Boston Square at a Met Gala-inspired NYE celebration of style, rhythm and grown-folk vibes. This AHOY Events production features dinner, music, dance and a fabulous fashion show.
Settle in for a night of dinner, dancing and live music at New Year’s Eve with Azz-Izz, a popular local band. Hosted at the Grand Celebration Center, the event includes a luxurious buffet dinner, midnight champagne toast and commemorative souvenir.
Bid a musical farewell to 2025: The Intersection’s Afterglow: New Year’s Eve concert features a DJ set by Big Gigantic and Tip Top Deluxe’s New Year’s Eve for the People welcomes Only the Middle and Adam Gottlieb & OneLove to welcome the New Year with empowerment and intention.
Dance, drink, eat, shop, celebrate and support one of downtown’s premier event venues during New Year’s Eve at The Lit. You’ll enjoy three sets of great local music and be able to bid on exclusive items as you luxuriate amidst the sumptuous surroundings of an 1887 landmark building.
Soak up vintage Vegas glamour, live jazz, libations and live DJs at Hipster Disco’s Copa Social Club, a Rat Pack-meets disco takeover of West Side GR’s Studio Cor3.
Head to Cedar Springs, 20 minutes or so from Grand Rapids, for the New Year’s Springin’ Eve Ball Drop, an annual outdoor event featuring live music, local food, dancing, a light show and midnight ball drop on Main Street.
Start the new year on the slopes!
Photo by Aaron Peterson for Experience GR
New Year’s Day
Many attractions are closed on Jan. 1 – but scores of restaurants, breweries and stores will be open for your dining, drinking and shopping pleasure.
Snow willing, you can take the kids sledding at Richmond Park, Belknap Park, Johnson Park and Cascade Township Park . Or head downtown for ice skating at Rosa Parks Circle.
Does your New Year’s resolution involve healthy living? Get off on the right foot with a day of snowshoeing, cross-country skiing or some other outdoor winter sport. Or get your steps in with a walk around the Downtown Refreshment Area – you can enjoy food and beverages from approved restaurants while you stroll.
See a movie in downtown’s Studio Park entertainment complex or at Celebration! Cinema locations on the city’s north (with giant IMAX screen), south and southwest sides.