Where To Celebrate New Year’s Eve 2024 In Highland Park, Highwood

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — With the final days of 2024 here, it's time to reflect on the last 12 months while also planning for what's ahead.

Whether you’re staying local or looking for something special, it's time to decide how and where to ring in the new year.

If you're looking to head out to celebrate the start of 2025, here are some ideas and happenings in and around Highland Park and Highwood on Dec. 31:

• Dance Through The Decades NYE Countdown at 28 Mile Distilling, 454 Sheridan Road, Highwood

A lively party at the Highwood distillery is set to feature music by DJ Mobbin with hits from the 70s to today. The event promises a vibrant suburban atmosphere and convenient access to the Highwood Metra station for a night of music, dance and a midnight toast.

• Lightscape at Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe

Experience a dazzling winter wonderland through Jan. 5 at an illuminated trail of lights, music and art at the Chicago Botanic Garden's Lightscape. The reimagined holiday event includes U.S. debut installations, themed dress-up nights and a 21+ evening with handcrafted cocktails under the lights.

• First Night Evanston at Music Institute, 1490 Chicago Ave., Evanston

This event features performances by Chris Carter (The Mentalist), The Sons of the Never Wrong and Corky Siegel joined by Ernie Watts. Evanston restaurants are offering New Year’s Eve specials, and there are free and paid parking lots available nearby.

• Low Key NYE 2024 at Ignite Gaming Lounge, 8125 Skokie Blvd., Skokie

Celebrate New Year’s Eve with an all-access pass to games, arcade play, and entertainment, plus an open bar from 8 p.m. to midnight. Guests 21 and older can enjoy console booths, Rock Band studios, board games and a midnight champagne toast, with food available for purchase.

• New Year's Eve Party at Michael's Grill & Salad Bar, 1879 2nd St., Highland Park
• New Year's Eve Vegan Feast at Spirit Elephant, 924 Green Bay Road, Winnetka
• New Year's Eve Dinner at Aboyer, 64 Green Bay Road, Winnetka
• New Year's Eve Specials, Holiday Market at Convito Cafe, 1515 Sheridan Road, Wilmette
• New Year's Eve Dinner at LeTour, 625 Davis St., Evanston
• New Year's Eve Extravaganza at Peckish Pig, 623 Howard St., Evanston
• New Year's Eve Family Experience at Bar Siena, 4999 Old Orchard Center, Skokie
• Ringing In 2025 at Pete's Dueling Piano Bar, 5510 Park Place, Rosemont
• Sixteen Candles at Joe's Live, 5441 Park Pace, Rosemont

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.

In Chicago, catch the fireworks along the Chicago River or the Navy Pier with simultaneous shows occurring at midnight. Block Club Chicago reports that for the Chicago River show, fireworks will be launched from six bridges spanning the river from Franklin Street to Columbus Drive.

At the Navy Pier, additional activities will precede the fireworks starting at 9 p.m.

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.

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

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.

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.