New Year's Eve 2024 Around Swampscott: Parties, Family-Friendly Events

SWAMPSCOTT, MA — Those looking to ring in 2025 with some festive fun will have plenty of options on the North Shore this New Year's Eve whether it be an afternoon activity for the family or a night out with friends.

Here is a look at some additional events happening on the North Shore:

• Barrence Whitfield's Rockin' New Year's Eve at Beverly's Cabot Theater: A full band with featured guests Jon Butcher, Sal Baglio (Stompers), and Henley Douglas (Heavy Metal Horns) will have The Cabot movin' and groovin' to Soul drenched, Rhythm & Blues styled, Funky rock n' roll. Dave Mattacks and Wolf Ginandes will round out our musical line-up.
• Doubletree Hilton Danvers Hoppin' New Years Eve Party: This will be, once again, a night filled with amazing food, comedy, live music, photo booth, glow sticks and bracelets, big screens with live video during the night, and a champagne toast at midnight on the biggest dance floor in the area.
• Magia of Danvers New Year's Eve Party with STR8 UP: Magia Italian Restaurant in Danvers will host an unforgettable New Year's Eve Party featuring live music from STR8 UP! This dynamic cover band will be playing all your favorite dance hits from the decades, so get ready to hit the floor and dance the night away.
• Marblehead Beacon Restaurant "New https://www.nschildrensmuseum....Year's Eve Diamonds and Furs Soiree" with Monte Carlo Casino Gaming: A night of glamour and excitement at The Beacon Restaurant and Bar. Get ready to dress to the nines in your finest diamonds and furs as you enjoy an evening of casino gaming inspired by the luxurious Monte Carlo. This in-person event promises to be a night to remember, with a special late closing at 1 a.m. Featuring The Johnny Ray Band from 9 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., and DJ Anthony from 10:30 to close. With a professional casino featuring Black Jack, roulette, craps and more, for great prizes. Each guest gets $1,000 in chips at the door. Champagne toast at midnight and late-night snacks.
• Noon Year's Eve Party With North Shore Children's Museum of Peabody: Children and a special stuffed animal friend are invited to celebrate from 10 a.m. to noon. Tickets include access to 14 different exhibits, a New Year's Magic Show with special guest Tom Foolery, New Year's crafts, and dancing. We will end the party with a countdown to noon and ball drop. Tickets to this special event are $15/person for non-members, and $7/person for NSCM members.
• New Year's Eve LAUNCH! Downtown Salem: Salem Main Streets and the city of Salem are teaming up to throw LAUNCH!, our family-friendly New Year’s Eve party, from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Artists' Row. There will be an early countdown just before 6 p.m. Programming will include art-making activities, magic shows, face painting and temporary tattoos, a silent disco, and more. Event activities are free to all and family-friendly, with a $5 suggested donation to help support Salem Main Streets' "Holiday Happenings" initiatives, including Santa's Arrival at the Hawthorne, the Tree Lighting, and the wreaths and ribbons around the downtown. Cocoa will be provided thanks to Wolf Next Door Coffee. LAUNCH! is made possible thanks to the city of Salem and Salem Main Streets volunteers.
• Swampscott Family First Night To Ring In 2025: Swampscott will once again ring in the new year a few hours early for families during a special First Night celebration at the high school on the afternoon of New Year's Eve. This year's event will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. with entertainment, crafts and a balloon drop. Performers include the Steve Kidding Comedy Show from 1:30 to 2:15, the Amazing Animals Ambassadors Show from 2:45 to 3:40, a photo booth with face painting and New Year's Eve crafts in the cafeteria from 1 to 3:45 p.m. and a countdown to 2025 with a balloon drop from the second floor at 3:45.

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?

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.