Concerts, comics and countdowns: Where to ring in 2019 in the suburbs
There are so many ways to bid adieu to 2018 in the suburbs and Chicago. Whether you're looking for early family-friendly fun or late-night grown-up gatherings, here are a few suggestions to ring in 2019:
Make it a night
Hey Nonny's New Year's Eve Bash with Lil' Ed & The Blues Imperials at 8 p.m. at Hey Nonny in Arlington Heights. $50 (includes party favors and midnight champagne toast; all other food and drink can be purchased a la carte). heynonny.com.
Joe's Live in Rosemont invites you spend New Year's Eve with Sixteen Candles, the 1980s cover band, at 9 p.m. General admission is $85. joesliverosemont.com.
Dance away the night with a Rock and Roll New Year's Eve Party with the R&B outfit Hip Pockit and The Joe Valentino Swingin' Jazz Band featuring Nicole Kestler at 8 p.m. at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles. Tickets are $125 (includes appetizers and open bar). arcadalive.com.
The Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles offers three kinds of New Year's Eve parties. A Gala Party includes a three-course meal, an open bar, a champagne toast and more starting at 7 p.m. for $219 per person. A Dance In The New Year Party begins at 9 p.m. and includes a 1980s costume contest, party favors and an open bar at $99 per person. A Children's New Year's Eve Party for ages 5 to 12 goes from 6:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. and includes a pizza party, movies, a midnight balloon drop and more for $25 per kid. Overnight hotel packages are also available. pheasantrun.com.
Chicago's Navy Pier plays host to two deluxe indoor parties. The Chicago Resolution Gala runs from 8:15 p.m. to 2 a.m. in the AON Grand Ballroom. Tickets are $129-$2,090. The Crystal Gardens New Year's Eve party runs from 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Tickets are $99-$1,592. navypier.org.
Outdoor fun
Count down twice at Naperville's Carillon. The first chance is at 5:30 p.m. for a 6 p.m. countdown, with free refreshments outside the visitor center (while supplies last). The second is at 11:30 p.m. for a music-filled midnight countdown. Free. napervilleparks.org.
Rosemont's Parkway Bank Park features fireworks at midnight, plus the skating rink's hours are extended to 1 a.m. rosemont.com/thepark.
A free midnight fireworks display runs along the Chicago River from Wolf Point to Lake Shore Drive. chifireworks.com.
Navy Pier features a free fireworks display at midnight. navypier.org.
Laugh the year away
Comic ventriloquist Jeff Dunham and his pack of peculiar puppets are all part of his “Passively Aggressive Tour” at 3 p.m. at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont. Tickets are $51-$66. allstatearena.com.
Comedian Christopher Titus' two New Year's Eve sets at the Improv Comedy Showcase in Schaumburg come with an early dining option at 5:30 before his 7:30 p.m. show, or with midnight sparkling wine, party favors and a balloon drop with the 10 p.m. show. Tickets are $33-$75 with a two-item purchase. chicago.improv.com.
Comedian Gilbert Gottfried replaces the previously announced Judy Tenuta for standup comedy sets at 8 and 10 p.m. at the Comedy Shrine in Aurora. Tickets are $40-$45. comedyshrine.com.
Comedians Pat McGann, Michael Palascak and Landry respectively perform standup sets at Zanies locations in Chicago, Rosemont and St. Charles. For exact times and prices, visit zanies.com.
Squeeze out the last bits of holiday sketch humor when “The Second City's Nut-Cracking Holiday Revue” finishes up its run at 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 30, and 7 and 10 p.m. Monday, Dec. 31, at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre in Arlington Heights. Tickets are $30-$35 and $50-$60 on New Year's Eve. metropolisarts.com.
The “DeRay Davis Annual Funny & Famous Chi Town Comedy Countdown” features such standups as Lil Duval, Michael Blackson and more at 8 p.m. Sunday and Monday, Dec. 30 and 31, at McCormick Place's Arie Crown Theater in Chicago. Tickets are $59-$275. ariecrown.com.
Brian Regan is famed for his usually family-friendly comedy, so expect the same at his 8 p.m. New Year's Eve gig at the Chicago Theatre. Tickets are $49.50-$76.50. thechicagotheatre.com.
Flashback concerts
Find out about influential girl groups when The Lovettes join with guest Lance Lipinsky in the musical revue “Leaders of the Pack” at 2 and 7 p.m. at the Raue Center for the Arts in Crystal Lake. Tickets are $40-$55. rauecenter.org.
The New Philharmonic is joined once again by opera singers Alisa Jordheim and Corey Crider for a “New Year's Eve Spectacular” at 2, 5:30 and 9 p.m. at College of DuPage's McAninch Arts Center in Glen Ellyn. Tickets are $67. atthemac.org.
TV ties
ABC 7 anchors Mark Giangreco and Janet Davies host “Countdown Chicago 2019” starting at 11:08 p.m. The broadcast hopscotches around to these Illinois parties:
TIMELESS at Hilton Chicago/Oak Brook Hills Resort & Conference Center with “The Rat Pack is Back” as entertainment from 8:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Tickets are $235-$397.50. Hilton.com/Oak_Brook.
NYE on the Lake at Theater on the Lake in Chicago with DJ Flipside, aerialists and more from 8:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Tickets are $85-$2,250. nyeonthelake.com.
NYE '19 Masquerade Ball at Lyric Opera of Chicago with a “Phantom of the Opera” theme, dancing and more from 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Tickets are $60-$1,500. nyechi.com.
Not a party person? Stay home and watch revelers and music stars in New York, Los Angeles and New Orleans by tuning into “Dick Clark's Rockin' New Year's Eve with Ryan Seacrest” with comedian and actress Jenny McCarthy of St. Charles as a returning correspondent starting at 7 p.m. on ABC. Or you could switch over to see Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen as part of “CNN New Year's Eve Live” starting at 7 p.m.
Early bedtimes
The DuPage Children's Museum's morning New Year's Eve party in Naperville goes from 9 a.m. to noon and lets you decide on bubbles, confetti or a quiet time countdown to celebrate. There's also face painting, crafts and more. Admission is $25 for nonmembers. dupagechildrens.org.
The Kohl Children's Museum in Glenview will have morning (8:30 to 11 a.m.) and afternoon (12:30 to 3 p.m.) celebrations with a dance party, a countdown with a confetti drop, horns, hat-making and more. Tickets are $35. kohlchildrensmuseum.org.
The Chicago Children's Museum at Navy Pier holds a Noon Year's Eve celebration beginning at 10:30 a.m. with crafts, a dance party and a noon confetti drop. Tickets are $14.95 and $13.95 for seniors. chicagochildrensmuseum.org.
Six Flags Great America's first Holiday in the Park officially ends on Monday from 2 to 8 p.m. Admission is $77.99 and $57.99 for patrons under 48-inches tall, though online discounts are available. sixflags.com/greatamerica.
Legoland Discovery Center in Schaumburg will have character dance parties at noon, 3 and 6 p.m. For details, visit legolanddiscoverycenter.com.
GameWorks in Schaumburg has a New Year's Eve Family Pre-Party aimed at kids ages 12 and under starting at 11 a.m. There are party favors and a balloon drop at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20 per kid and $15 per adult. gameworks.com/location/schaumburg.
Starting at 6 p.m., the Brookfield Zoo has a Zoo Year's Eve party with games, party favors, dancing and an 8 p.m. countdown. It's included with that day's admission of $21.95 and $15.95 for seniors and kids ages 3-11. czs.org.