Big New Year’s Parties in Washington, DC

If you’re a fan of the big, mega-New Year’s Eve parties, here’s a few that you might want to consider in and around Washington, DC, including a couple that let you dance the night away on the Potomac River.

And now is the time to get your tickets, before events sell out or prices go up.

• The Grand Hyatt Washington hosts it’s annual New Year’s Eve Downtown Countdown, this year featuring the live music of Third Eye Blind.  This annual shindig usually sells out and draws about 3,000 partiers.  Across the 4 party room, expect performances by stand-up comics, a club room for dancing with a DJ, open bar, buffet, karaoke, and more.
  Tickets – $149.00 (prices rise as New Year’s Eve gets closer)
  1000 H Street, NW, Washington, DC (map it)
• At the Gaylord National Hotel at National Harbor will have multiple bands including Mr. Greenjeans, and a mock casino to entertain New Year’s Eve revelers.
  Tickets – $110.00
  201 Waterfront St. Oxon Hills, Maryland (map it)
• Hilton Alexandria Mark Center is the perfect scene for secret agents, Bond girls and super-villains to celebrate New Year’s Eve at the annual James Bond-themed License to Thrill blowout. Complete with a live an 18-piece band playing party favorites along with DJs, and multiple party rooms, each representing a movie set from a James Bond movie including the Caribbean, London, Istanbul, and Iceland, to name a few.
  Tickets – $125 – $159 (prices rise as New Year’s Eve gets closer)
  5000 Seminary Road, Alexandria, Virginia  (map it)
  
• Washington Spirit takes partiers on a Potomac River New Year’s Eve dinner and dancing cruise for the New Year.
  Tickets – $149.90
  The Pier at 6th and Water Streets, SW, Washington, DC  (map it)
• Another New Year’s Eve dinner cruise is on the Washington Odyssey, complete with dinner, live music and dancing until the wee hours.
  Tickets – $199.90
  600 Water Street, SW, Washington, DC (map it)

Most of these New Year’s Eve parties offer open bars and appetizers, have multiple themed rooms of fun with live music and DJs spinning records for dancing, and optional VIP tickets.

Images – Flickr – champagne, Spirit of Washington – from personal collection – ©2009, Jon Rochetti