Where To Celebrate New Year’s Eve 2024 In Aurora

AURORA, IL — The end of 2024 is just about here, and before everyone prepares for a new year of goals and adventures, it's time to celebrate with New Year's Eve festivities in Aurora.

From a music party to a masquerade soiree, there's a slew of memorable events happening in and around Aurora this New Year's Eve.

Here is a look at the events planned:

• New Year's Eve at Black Door Pub, 255 E. Indian Trail Road. Starting at 8 p.m., guests can enjoy music by DJ Hugo and Sam R., an open bar from 9-11 p.m., and a complimentary champagne toast at midnight. Admission costs $35.
• Family New Year's Eve Bash at Fox Valley Park District, 2121 W. Indian Trail Road. Attendees will be able to bounce in inflatables, play games, enjoy interactive entertainment and dance to music. There will be a countdown and balloon drop at noon. Registration costs $15 in advance or $19 day of.
• Masquerade party by Ballydoyle, 28 W. New York St. The party will last from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. and feature live music, a champagne toast and party favors, plus breakfast for an additional fee. The cost is $35, or $50 with a breakfast buffet at midnight.
• Live music at Hollywood Casino Aurora, 1 W. New York St. Sam Savage & Co. will open at 7 p.m. for Semple Band, playing at 10 p.m. into the new year.
• Music through the decades at The Piazza, 85 Executive Drive. A different decade will be featured each hour starting at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets, available at the door, will vary depending on what's included. General admission will feature an open bar from 7-9 p.m., and a champagne toast and pizza buffet, both at midnight.
• New Year's Eve at Two Brothers Roundhouse, 205 N. Broadway, will be split between two parties, one featuring DJ Jayrock in the tavern and the other with Superfly Symphony in the ballroom. The former costs $75 per person and features a midnight champagne toast, party favors, light night food offerings and an open bar. The latter costs $150 per person and includes passed hors d'oeuvres, a buffet dinner and a late-night breakfast.
• New Year's Eve featuring blues musician Toronzo Cannon at The Venue, 21 S. Broadway. A champagne toast and light hors d'oeuvres are included in the ticket price, which is $45 for general admission or $50 for premium reserved seating. The cost will increase by $5 at the door.

In the United States, one of the most popular New Year's Eve traditions is the dropping of the giant ball in New York City's Times Square. Other U.S. cities have their own versions of this celebration, such as the Peeps Chick Drop in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and the giant Potato Drop in Boise, Idaho.

The transition from one year to the next is often marked by the singing of “Auld Lang Syne,” a Scottish folk song whose title roughly translates to “days gone by,” according to Encyclopedia Britannica and History.com.

The tradition of New Year’s resolutions dates back 8,000 years to ancient Babylonians, who made promises to return borrowed items and repay debts at the beginning of the new year, which was in mid-March when they planted their crops.

• Related: What New Year’s Resolution Did You Keep? How Did You Do It? [Patch Survey]

According to legend, if people kept their word, the pagan gods would grant them favor in the coming year. However, if they broke their promises, they would lose favor with the gods.

Many secular New Year’s resolutions focus on imagining new, improved versions of ourselves.

The failure rate of New Year’s resolutions is about 80 percent, according to U.S. News & World Report. There are many reasons, but a big one is they’re made out of remorse — for gaining weight, for example — and aren’t accompanied by a shift in attitude or a plan for coping with the stress and discomfort that comes with changing a habit or condition.