by Maren Dougherty - 200 Reviews - 32 List
Most of the New Year's Eve parties downtown cater to the stiletto-wearing, Jager-drinking crowd, but there are some low-key options around town for people who are ready to ring in 2010 without buying drinks at $14 a pop. We've found ways to celebrate the dawn of 2010 for singles, couples and even as a family.
Updated: December 31, 2009
The annual all-inclusive Big Night San Diego event will be at the brand new Hilton Bayfront this year. Partygoers break out the glitzy Vegas gear for this massive party featuring six dance floors and popular local acts Discopimps and Lady Dottie & the Diamonds. Tickets start at $109.
Kaskade and Mark Farina are headlining the New Years Eve Extravaganza (General $55; VIP $110) at the Sheraton on Harbor Island. Stay at the hotel for a second day of drinking and dancing at the daytime pool party.
More than 20 DJs will spin in two ballorooms, a restaurant/lounge, and an outdoor pool lounge at this hotel party. An all-day, poolside Resolution Day Party follows from 8am-10pm. Tickets for the NYE party are $50; Resolution Day is $35.
A line-up of hip San Diego DJs Gabe Vega, Adam Salter and Erick Diaz will provide some of the entertainment at this five-room hotel party downtown. Tickets are $50, room packages are also available.
The dueling piano bar's party gets sold out every year. The $35 cover includes party favors, a champagne toast, and souvenir champagne glasses. Get ready for drunken 1:30am renditions of ?Sweet Caroline? and ?Walk This Way? with your new BFFs at the bar.
The Little Italy music lounge ushers in 2010 with Motown Eve, an ultra-classy night of dinner (choice of roasted turbot filet or kobe beef cap steak), champagne, party favors, and a live Motown revue show. Good for couples and small groups. Packages are $165-175; show-only is $45.
Wow your date with dinner at the lodge's signature restaurant, A.R. Valentien, where Chef Jeff Jackson is presenting a five-course, $120 prix fixe menu that includes oysters, lobster risotto, roasted duck and poached pears. For less of a splurge, make a reservation at The Grill, the hotel's more casual eatery, for the $45 prix fixe menu.
Couples in suits and gowns will board the aircraft carrier for an 8pm-1am gala with live music from The Big Daddy Orchestra. The $159 tickets include an open bar and catering from Peartrees Catering. Black-tie optional.
Twelve stages of entertainment and a midnight fireworks show bring families to First Night Escondido for a safe, inexpensive celebration. You'll also find puppet making, face painting, balloon artists, and a food court with hot dogs, funnel cakes, and BBQ ribs. Tickets are $10 in advance, $20 at the door. Kids under 6 are free.
Forget Times Square. In this tiny world, midnight strikes at 6pm with fireworks and a huge Lego brick dropping 22 feet. The party festivities start at 3pm, when attendees receive glow necklaces and noise makers for the afternoon shindig with headliners Justin Roberts and the Not Ready for Naptime Players.
