Where to Ring in the New Year North of Boston

It’s hard to believe we’re nearing the end of 2022, what a whirlwind year full of some pretty magical moments here North of Boston. From winter delights like Salem’s So Sweet Chocolate and Ice Sculpture Festival to summer highlights aboard our local schooners, we had an incredible year! Our area’s opportunities for fun are always expanding and we’re already excited just thinking about what the New Year will bring!

When it comes to ringing in the New Year there’s no shortage of celebratory events and exciting happenings to usher in 2023 in style here North of Boston. We’ve rounded up some entertaining options, from family-friendly fun to late-night parties for dancing the night away. We wish you a safe and happy New Year here North of Boston, let the good times roll!

Family Friendly Fun

 Kids Countdown to NYE with the Wenham Museum
Ring in the New Year at the Wenham Museum! With music, movement, performance, and art you can welcome 2023 in a fun and family-friendly way, and get home early! From 10 am to 1 pm enjoy festive fun including events and entertainment including a puppet show, balloon artistry, hat making, and face painting. Wenham Museum will countdown to “midnight” at 12 pm with streamers and a balloon drop! All of the museum’s galleries will be open, and only for this special program. Tickets start at $12. Get your tickets.

 Downtown Rockport New Year’s Eve
Rockport New Year’s Eve is an annual family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebration of the arts that has been held in picturesque downtown Rockport since 1997, and returns after a two-year hiatus! Halls, churches, town offices, and downtown streets are taken over by happy revelers celebrating the New Year. Some 30 performers will appear between 6 pm and midnight at 14 venues, entertaining through music, storytelling, magic, and more. The evening will culminate with a midnight ball drop in Dock Square! Purchase a button to gain access to all of the events. Buttons for adults aged 19 and up cost $15 through December 25 and $20 thereafter. Buttons for youth ages 13-18 cost $10. Children 12 and under are free. View the schedule of events.

New Year’s Eve LAUNCH!
Come ring in the New Year with Salem Main Streets and the City of Salem at LAUNCH!, a family-friendly New Year’s Eve party, on Saturday, Dec. 31 from 4:30 pm to 6 pm on Charlotte Forten Park. Programming will include art-making activities, face painting, a silent disco, an early countdown, and more! The event this year is being hosted by the Anthem Group’s Frozen Fire Festival, which is transforming Charlotte Forten Park into a winter wonderland from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1. Additional Frozen Fire features will include curling rinks, a S’mores and Hot Chocolate Garden, and The Polar Bar, featuring a selection of beer and wine. Event activities are free to all and family-friendly, with a $5 suggested donation to help support Salem Main Streets’ “Holiday Happenings” initiatives.

Downtown Beverley New Year’s Eve
Beverly’s New Year 2023 will be a fun and free-to-attend event happening in downtown Beverly from 3:30 pm to 7 pm, concluding with a grand procession down Cabot St. The exciting line-up of performers and entertainers includes: Curious Creatures, the coolest interactive and educational live animal show around!; Eli 5 Stone a renowned comic book artist that will be leading a superhero drawing exercise for kids; Mr. Lobster performing catchy and clever acoustic songs; Murder Attic, local musicians Eli Younger and Alex Tagliani will be bringing the vibes; ND Productions, karaoke and DJ sets from a North Shore favorite; Pete Jackson’s Magic Show, a can’t miss magician and his adorable rabbit; and Stephanie Beach Magic, delighting with mind-blowing tricks and illusions!

Live Entertainment and Exciting Events for the Grown Ups

Club Castle at Hammond Castle Museum

Grab your friends and keep it local at Club Castle’s debut event! Ring in 2023 on Cape Ann with a fun night of dancing through the decades in our castle’s Great Hall with DJ Dmus. Plus, enjoy fire-spinning performances by Fireborn Performance Arts heavy Hors d’Oeuvres by Creative Catering will be served all night! 70s, 80s & 90s inspired attire are encouraged. Doors open at 9 pm and the party goes to 1 am. 21 & Over. Cash bar. Free parking. Tickets are $125 each.

Reserve your spot at the party!

New Year’s Eve Cruise with Beauport Cruiselines

Ring in the New Year on the water and under the stars! Beauport Cruiseline’s New Year’s Eve cruise celebration will include a champagne toast, DJ entertainment, Passed Hors d’oeuvres, Mac & Cheese Martini Bar, Chinese Food Station, & more! Cruise sets sail at 8:30 pm and disembarks at 12:30 am. Tickets are $89, adults and children 13 and over. Get your tickets.

Tower of Power at The Cabot
Nothing says New Year’s Eve like a rocking good time enjoying live music! For over 50 years, Tower of Power has delivered the best in funk and soul music, traveling the world, enjoying hit singles on their own, and backing legendary artists including Otis Redding, Elton John, Santana, the Grateful Dead, John Lee Hooker, Aerosmith, Bonnie Raitt, and countless others. This year they take the stage at The Cabot on New Year’s Eve from 8 to 10:30 pm, doors open at 7 pm. Tickets start at $99.50. Get your tickets.

Off Cabot Comedy Club is also hosting two shows on New Year’s Eve featuring some of Boston’s best comedians including the hilarious Kathe Farris (as seen on Dry Bar Comedy), Harrison Stebbins (as seen on Comedy Central), Corey Rodrigues (as seen on Conan & Amazon Prime), and the legendary Christine Hurley (as seen on America’s Got Talent), Sean Sullivan (as seen on Comedy Central), and Harrison Stebbins (as seen on Comedy Central). Early show at 6 pm, late show at 9 pm. Tickets are $50 and include a champagne toast during the show. Get your tickets.

New Year’s Eve Comedy Night at the Larcom featuring Paul D’Angelo
Comedian Paul D’Angelo is a former Essex County (MA) assistant district attorney and criminal-defense trial attorney who simultaneously became one of the country’s top stand-up comics. Besides headlining A-List comedy clubs for over thirty years, Paul has also opened for over sixty internationally known recording acts including Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Tom Jones, Tony Bennett, The Beach Boys, Chicago, and more. He has performed in many famed entertainment venues ranging from the legendary Friar’s Club and the main ballroom of New York City’s Waldorf Astoria, to the main showroom at Harrah’s Casino and Caesar’s Palace, and this New Year’s Eve you can find him at the Larcom. Tickets are $36 and the show begins at 7:30 pm. Get your tickets.

New Year’s Eve Bash Featuring The Fools at Blue Ocean Music Hall
Ring in the New Year with unforgettable fun at Blue Ocean featuring New England’s best party band, The Fools, along with Psychedelic Relics. The party features an optional dinner buffet, expansive dance floor, midnight champagne toast, party favors and a midnight balloon drop. Tickets start at $28. Dinner at 7 pm, show at 9 pm. Get your tickets.

Greater Cape Ann ALT NYE Party @ Beauport Hotel Gloucester
Ready to make an IMPACT in your community in 2023? Dare to be different and celebrate New Year’s Eve on December 30th at the Beauport Hotel. Party for good at the ALT New Year’s Eve Party, in the name of collaboration and community. The Greater Cape Ann Development Warriors is inviting the next generation of changemakers to get down to live music by The DubTones (featuring members of The Runaround & Jambalaya Horns), enjoy delicious food and drink, and learn more about how you can make an impact in the Cape Ann and beyond in 2023. Event takes place from 7 to 10 pm, Tickets are $50 each or 2 for $75.