Where To Celebrate New Year’s Eve 2024 In Oswego

OSWEGO, 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 Oswego.

From a paint party to midnight bowling and live music parties, there's a slew of memorable events happening in and around Oswego this New Year's Eve.

Here is a look at the events planned:

• New Year's Eve for kids at Tap House Grill, 123 W. Washington St. Starting at 4 p.m., the event will feature a balloon drop, noisemakers, a buffet and a sparkling grape juice toast for $17.99. Reservations can be made by calling 630-383-2020.
• Nash Vegas-style New Year's Eve party by Nash Vegas Saloon, 61 Main St., featuring live music by the Wildfire Band, a mightnight toast and giveaways.
• Paint party at Mixed Market Thrift from 6-8:30 p.m. at 27 Stone Hill Road. The cost is $39, which includes a board to paint, a champagne toast, a charcuterie tray and 50 percent off shopping. Guests are also encouraged to bring their own beverages and snacks.
• Noon Year's Eve by the Oswegoland Park District. From 10 a.m. to noon at Boulder Point, 0 Boulder Hill Pass in Montgomery, kids of all ages will be able to play in the gym, make a party favor, enjoy a snack, and complete the countdown and balloon drop at noon. Registration is required.
• New Year's Eve Party at Pinz, 1211 N. Bridge St. in Yorkville. From 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., guests will enjoy drinks, a buffet, a champagne toast, party favors, a balloon drop, and open bowling and pool.
• Craft'd Kids' New Year's Eve Party, with seatings at 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. For $25, children can enjoy a buffet, DJ dance party, a balloon drop and non-alcoholic champagne.

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.