Last-minute ideas for New Year's Eve in the suburbs
No New Year's Eve party invitation yet? No problem.
The suburbs are teeming with end-of-2014 celebrations for every age and personality type, from daytime kiddie events to boisterous bar parties that will go into the wee hours of Jan. 1.
Here are some last-minute ideas for fun ways to celebrate auld lang syne in the suburbs.
Rosemont
This will be one of the hottest party spots in the region. ABC 7 Chicago will broadcast its live “Countdown Chicago 2015” show from MB Financial Park, where there will be parties in all of the bars and restaurants, midnight fireworks, live bands, ice skating, tubing, bowling, movies, indoor sky diving and more.
Hotel parties
Room with a party! Among the many suburban hotels hosting parties, a new one is the New Year's Eve Family Bash at the Hilton Chicago/Oak Brook Hills Resort & Conference Center. After a lavish buffet of food ranging from Peking duck to chicken nuggets, guests can play free arcade games, watch movies, dance with a live band, watch the countdown on big screens at midnight and enjoy a breakfast buffet the next morning.
They'll sing songs from the “Frozen” soundtrack at the Lake Zurich Holiday Inn Express & Suites, where Elsa and Olaf will make a visit, followed by a pool and pizza party.
Pheasant Run Resort's “New Year's Eve Party Gras” in St. Charles has a selection of parties, many of which include a comedy or theater performance and a gourmet meal.
Comedy
“Saturday Night Live” star Sasheer Zamata, who does a great Michelle Obama impersonation, will perform at 8 and 10:30 p.m. at Zanies in Rosemont, and “Last Comic Standing” winner John Heffron will end his 10 p.m. stand-up comedy set at Chicago Improv in Schaumburg with a champagne toast and a balloon drop.
“The Second City's Holidays in the Heights” will conclude its 10 p.m. show with a champagne toast and favors at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre in Arlington Heights, and WGN radio and TV stars, including Steve Cochran, will headline a comedy show at the Raue Center for the Arts in Crystal Lake at 3 and 7 p.m.
Culture
The New Philharmonic orchestra will put on three performances featuring guest tenor John Irvin of Lyric Opera's Ryan Opera Center at the McAninch Arts Center on the campus of College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn at 1, 5 and 9 p.m. If the tickets sell out, you can hear the 5 p.m. performance in a live broadcast on WFMT 98.7-FM.
The Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace stages two performances of “Camelot” at 5 and 8:30 p.m. In Lincolnshire, theater lovers can take in an 8 p.m. show of “The King and I” at the Marriott Lincolnshire Theatre.
Family-friendly parties
Celebrate New Year's before noon with the kids. The DuPage Children's Museum in Naperville will transform into a superhero headquarters for its Bubble Bash 2014 from 9 a.m. to noon, with a countdown, live music and activities.
From 10 a.m. to noon, the Schaumburg Sports Center's annual Itsy Bitsy New Year's Eve Countdown will feature a balloon drop, inflatables and riding toys.
A massive confetti drop is part of the parties at Kohl's Children Museum in Glenview. The morning party runs from 8:30 to 11 a.m., and the afternoon one goes from 12:30 to 3 p.m.
Live performers, free trolley rides and hot chocolate are part of the all-day activities in downtown Naperville. And a DJ will start rockin' Brookfield Zoo's “Zoo Year's Eve” at 6 p.m., with noisemakers handed out for the 8 p.m. countdown.
Adults-only parties
The new Nagel Family Emporium at Abbey Farms in Aurora will have a premium open bar, live band, plentiful appetizers and carving stations, a champagne toast and balloon drop, and prizes.
Music from the 1960s, a balloon drop and even meatballs made by theater owner Ron Onesti will be served at the Arcada in St. Charles.
Just about every bar and restaurant in the suburbs is having some type of party or special menu. Call up your favorite to see if reservations are still available or if dropping in might do the trick.