Where To Celebrate New Year’s Eve 2024 In Plainfield

PLAINFIELD, 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 Plainfield.

From "Noon Year's Eve" parties for the kids and a fancy dinner with a comedy hour for the adults, there's a slew of memorable events happening in Plainfield this New Year's Eve.

Here is a look at the events planned:

• Noon Year's Eve party hosted from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 31 by the Plainfield Park District at the Prairie Activity and Recreation Center, 24550 W. Renwick Road. Kids between the ages of 3-12 can ring in the New Year with music, games, crafts, inflatables, snacks and a giant balloon drop.
• Noon Year's Eve pool party from 10 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Dec. 31, hosted by the C.W. Avery Family YMCA at 15120 Wallin Drive. The event will feature open swimming, music, crafts, games, refreshments and a countdown at noon. The cost is $20, and the event is only open to facility members.
• New Year's Eve party at The Farmhouse, 12729 Naperville Road. From 6 p.m. to 1 a.m., guests will enjoy an open bar, dinner featuring six stations, comedy hour, live music, dancing, and a midnight toast with a festive balloon drop. Tickets cost $225, and semi-formal attire is requested.
• Four-course prix fixe dinner at HopScotch & Vine, 24047 W. Lockport St. The first seating, at $49, is from 4-4:45 p.m., and the second seating, for $55, begins at 7 p.m. Reserve a table by calling 815-230-5609.
• New Year's Eve Kids' Party at Khaos Brewcade and Chop'd, 12337 S. Route 59. Two seating times are available (3-4:30 p.m. and 6-7:30 p.m.), both featuring balloon drops, free gaming, a dance party, a non-alcoholic champagne toast and a buffet. The cost is $25 per child. Reservations are required by calling 815-782-6640.
• New Year's Eve at Freedom Brothers Pizza and Alehouse, 11914 S. Route 59. Two times are available from 4-6 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Each features dinner, a confetti drop, noisemakers and funny hats, plus a champagne toast for adults and a non-alcoholic option for kids. Reservations are required for tables, and seating will be open at the bar.
• Bowling on New Year's Eve at Twisted Pin, 15610 Joliet Road. Guests can choose various time slots, all including food and beverages and party favors. The last party time slot comes with a complimentary champagne or cider toast and midnight.

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.