13 New Year's Eve things you can do in the suburbs

Want to go out on New Year's Eve but haven't made plans yet?

Not to worry. There are lots of last-minute options for ringing in 2016.

While all of the hype might be over the new Chi-Town Rising party and concerts along upper Wacker Drive in downtown Chicago, there's no need to go to the city to celebrate.

Here are some suggestions of fun things going on in the suburbs Thursday. For others, check out dailyherald.com/calendar.

<h3 class="leadin">If you want to laugh:

Second City's touring ensemble performs skits about holiday madness during “Holidazed” at 7 and 10 p.m. at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre in Arlington Heights. Tickets are $50-$60. metropolisarts.com.

<h3 class="leadin">If you want to laugh and eat:

Actor and comedian Adam Ferrara will perform two dinner shows (7:30 and 10 p.m.) at The Improv Comedy Showcase in Schaumburg. Tickets are $22-$60. chicago.improv.com.

<h3 class="leadin">If you want to laugh but be home by 11 p.m.:

WGN Radio host Steve Cochran and guests will do a stand-up comedy show that ends by 10 p.m. Guests include Italian-American comedian Rocky LaPorte. Shows are at 3 and 7 p.m. Tickets are $52. rauecenter.ticketforce.com.

<h3 class="leadin">If you want to laugh and hear alt-country music:

FitzGerald's in Berwyn will have Robbie Fulks Raps Up 2015 plus The Famous Brothers. Fulks will take a biting, humorous look at 2015, including his famous “Rap of the Dead” song looking at those who were lost. The $30 admission includes a champagne toast at midnight. fitzgeraldsnightclub.com.

<h3 class="leadin">If you like EDM and rap:

Grammy Award-winning electronic dance music DJ Skrillex and Chicago's own Chance the Rapper headline the REACTION NYE dance party at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont. Tickets start at $109. reactionnye.com.

<h3 class="leadin">If you enjoy jazz and blues:

Actress and singer E. Faye Butler is bringing back her popular New Year's Eve concert at the Northlight Theatre in Skokie, performing jazz, pop, show tunes and blues, including songs made famous by Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington and more. Tickets are $70 at northlight.org.

<h3 class="leadin">If you want to dance:

The Bronx Wanderers will play a wide mix of music during a dance party at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles. The $125 tickets include an open bar, champagne toast at midnight and appetizers such as the slow-roasted prime rib sliders and Ron's meatballs. For more, visit oshows.com.

<h3 class="leadin">If you crave arias:

New Philharmonic New Year's Eve with an International Twist, featuring soprano Emily Birsan, offers a festive show at the McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn. Tickets are $65 at atthemac.org.

<h3 class="leadin">If you've got teenagers:

Skate on the Chicago Wolves ice rink at Frozemont in MB Financial Park in Rosemont. Skating is free, and skate rentals are $8. If the weather gets cold enough, they'll open the five-lane, two-story, man-made tubing hill. The park also has indoor sky diving at IFLY, bowling at Kings Bowl, movies at Muvico and decadent desserts at Sugar Factory For more information, visit www.rosemont.com/mbfinancialpark/frozemont.

Jokesters will like the “Whose Line?” family improv (similar to the TV show “Whose Line is it Anyway?”) at The Comedy Shrine in Aurora. The show includes a New Year's Eve “countdown” at 4 and 6 p.m. Tickets are $20 at comedyshrine.com/new-years-eve-improv.

<h3 class="leadin">If you've got little kids:

The DuPage Children's Museum in Naperville will hold its annual Bubble Bash, a morning New Year's Eve party featuring moon sand, slime rockets, jet packs, live music, a countdown to noon and more. Admission is $25 for nonmembers and $20 for members. Visit dupagechildrens.org for details.

The Kohl Children's Museum in Glenview will have morning and afternoon celebrations with a live music dance party, a countdown with a confetti drop, horns, hat-making, free family photos and more. Tickets are $32 for nonmembers and $22 for members. Visit kohlchildrensmuseum.org for more. Also, Legoland Discovery Center in Schaumburg will have balloon drops at noon, 3 and 6 p.m. For more, visit legolanddiscoverycenter.com.

<h3 class="leadin">If you want to stay home:

Who can blame you? With all those crazy drivers on the road? Tune in to ABC 7 Chicago's annual “Countdown Chicago 2016” hosted by Mark Giangreco and Janet Davies. Or, new this year, NBC's coverage of the downtown Chi-Town Rising party.

And of course, at 11 p.m. you can watch the ball drop in New York's Times Square on ABC's “Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest.”