Guide to New Year's Eve in Seattle: Events, Parties, and Shows

New Year’s Eve Celebration at Seattle Center

All in-person festivities at the Space Needle are canceled for New Year's 2020–2021, but a special holiday event at the Space Needle with music performances and a virtual light show will be broadcast via television and live stream for free.

The largest New Year's Eve celebration in the Seattle-area fills the spaces of the Seattle Center with two big parties that converge at midnight for a spectacular set of fireworks. There is live music to enjoy and fireworks that light up the sky at midnight, making Seattle Center pretty much one big party on this night. Plan ahead for where to park or how to get there with public transportation, since this New Year's Eve event often draws the biggest crowd in Seattle. And be sure to dress for the elements, since January in Seattle is likely to be cold and rainy.

New Year's Eve With Ivar's Salmon House

New Year's Eve dinner at Ivar's is canceled for 2020–2021, but you can pre-order a holiday meal to pick up and enjoy at home.

If the crowds at Seattle Center aren't your thing, but you'd like to watch the fireworks, head to Ivar's on Northlake where you can enjoy live music, tasty food, and a view of the fireworks far away from the crowd. Advanced reservations are required to attend and range in price depending on your selections. Check Ivar's website for more information about the entertainment lineup and holiday dinner menu.

New Year’s Eve pARTy at Chihuly Gardens and Glass

The New Year's Eve event at the Chihuly Gardens is canceled for 2020–2021.

For one of the ritzier ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve, look to Chihuly Gardens and Glass (also within Seattle Center) where attendees get to enjoy a night of appetizers and desserts, live music, and a toast as they watch the Seattle Center fireworks from one of the best vantage points in town. Bonus, admire Chihuly's handblown glass art installations throughout the facility before, during, and after the party.

SPECTRA: New Year’s Eve Under the Arches

As of December 2020, the Pacific Science Center is closed until further notice.

Seattle Center is crawling with parties. Usually, the Pacific Science Center is a place where families go to learn more about science and the world around them. For New Year's Eve, you’ll find everything from exotic animals to building your own glam robot, drinks (plus a midnight champagne toast), and live music for New Year's Eve this year.

During SPECTRA, there's plenty of special entertainment, and you can also check out the Science Center exhibits. At midnight, the view of the fireworks at the Space Needle is the closest private outdoor view you’ll find. Tickets must be purchased in advance as this event just about always sells out.

INDULGENCE New Year’s Eve Bash at MoPOP

The Seattle New Year's Eve Bash at the MoPOP is canceled for 2020–2021.

Yet another option at the Seattle Center is INDULGENCE New Year's Eve Bash at MoPOP (Museum of Popular Culture), one of the largest parties of the year. Offering several areas of live entertainment and performance stages, VIP areas, and more than 20 bars, the MoPOP party takes place right under the Space Needle. Museum access is also included in the price of the party, and most exhibits will be open for the duration of the event.

Resolution New Year's Eve Party

The Resolution New Year's Eve Party is canceled for 2020–2021.

This 18-and-over party has been a Seattle tradition since 2010, bringing a mixed crowd of revelers together for hours and hours of dancing to a solid selection of DJs. Resolution is one of the biggest electronic dance music parties of the year.

Resolution takes place at WAMU Theater. Although the party allows guests who are 18 and over to attend, liquor and beer will be available for purchase at several bars throughout the venue and you must have a proper ID to purchase alcohol of any type.

Slammin' Jammin' New Year's Eve Party

The Slammin' Jammin' New Year's Eve party is canceled for 2020–2021.

Sometimes parties are best when a hotel is attached to the party venue. This party rings in the new year with rhythm and blues, old school hip-hop, and jazz music, and has hotel packages available with your ticket purchase if you don't want to worry about sobering up to drive home.

The Slammin' Jammin' New Year's Eve Party takes place at the Doubletree Hotel Suites in Southcenter, so there's no drive home involved if you stay the night. Ticket prices range in price depending on your event package (and accommodation cost), but keep in mind that rooms book up fast for this popular event.

New Year’s Events at Local Children's Museums

As of December 2020, the Seattle Children's Museum, KidsQuest in Bellevue, the Hands On Children's Museum, and the Imagine Children's Museum are all closed until further notice.

If you've got young children, chances are the party scene is not for you, but maybe you want to start a tradition of celebrating the New Year as a family. From the Seattle Children's Museum to KidsQuest in Bellevue and even the Hands on Children's Museum in Olympia, there are generally New Year's Eve events happening at children's museums across the region, with special exhibits and parades. Since these are geared toward younger kids, most events take place in the afternoon or early evening. If your little ones aren't so little, the Nighttime Pajama Party at the Imagine Children's Museum in Everett is a kid-friendly nighttime event.