Las Vegas New Year's Events: 2018 Guide

LAS VEGAS, NV – Love it or hate it, New Year’s Eve is happening again this year. Whether you plan to ring in 2018 at your favorite restaurant, a buzzing party with your friends, or all cozied up in front of the TV, we’ve got you covered.

So pop the bubbly, come up with some resolutions you can actually stick to and get ready to celebrate the New Year. Check out town-by-town listings below of New Year’s celebrations and events for 2017 in and near Las Vegas if you’re one to want to go out, plus a look at what television programming may make you want to stay in.

If you want to go out..

• Don't drink and drive: The Regional Transportation Committee of Southern Nevada is offering free rides on all fixed bus routes from 6 p.m. on New Year's Eve until 9 a.m. on New Year's Day. Let RTC get you around town and leave the keys at home if you plan on having anything to drink.
• Fireworks on The Strip: As midnight approaches on Dec. 31st, the Las Vegas Strip will begin to shutdown for traffic and open up for one of the world's biggest parties. Fireworks and partying will ensue. This year's crowd on the Strip is expected to exceed the 330,000 attendees of last year's New Year's party. Traffic will begin to be shutdown around 6 p.m. on New Year's Eve.
• Downtown/Fremont Street: If you're planning to have a good time in Las Vegas, Fremont Street is always a safe bet. This New Year's Eve will be no exception. Just make sure you're at least 21 years old to enjoy the fun. Gates open at 5 p.m. and live music will play long until 3:30 in the morning, long after the ball is dropped.
• Las Vegas New Year's Eve Bash Package: There aren't a whole lot of cities that do New Year's better than Las Vegas, and there might not be a better way to do New Year's in Las Vegas than package offered by ihostlasvegas.com. Prices range from $799.99 per person, to $1,499.99 per person, depending on how many tickets are purchased. It may seem pricey, but the package includes hotel stay, airport transportation, a bottle of champagne, nightclub access for the entirety of your stay, tickets to the High Roller Ferris wheel, and your personal on-call agent to arrange dinner reservations, transportation, club access and more.
• New Year's Eve Club Crawl: You'll want to break out your nicest threads for this event that grants you VIP access to three nightclubs on the Las Vegas Strip. There's a mandatory dress code--so take a shower and tuck your shirt in if your stay in Sin City up to this point has got the best of you. You must be at least 21 years old to attend. Call 702-957-8385 with any questions.
• Stratosphere Tower New Year's Eve party: From the highest point in Las Vegas you can ring in 2018 with the best view in Sin City at the Stratosphere Hotel's New Year's party. The hotel and casino offers a number of events, including at the observation deck and at 107 SkyLounge.
• The High Roller: You can enjoy New Year's Eve at The High Roller. Packages range from $150 to $500 and offer VIP access, open bar, fireworks, and more.
• Shows!: Lots of them. New Year's Eve will be jam packed with Las Vegas staples such as Cirque Du Soleil, David Copperfield, Celine Dion, Britney Spears, The Blue Man Group, and many more.
• Vegas Golden Knights: If you're looking for the perfect pregame event before hitting the town, check out the Golden Knights game. They host the Toronto Maple Leafs on New Years afternoon. The puck drops at 12:30 p.m., so the game will be over in plenty of time to get ready for the night's festivities.
• Ron Decar's Swingin' New Year's Eve: Enjoy New Year's Eve at the Ron Decar Event Center for live music, dancing, and great food. Tickets to this events are $125 per person or $240 per couple. Couples tickets for $380 come with VIP seats and bottle service.

We’ll be adding new events to this post as they pop up, so be sure to check back as the big day nears!

If you want to stay in...

If your idea of the perfect New Year’s Eve is curling up on the couch with a hot toddy and watching the countdown in your pajamas, you’re in luck. These are the top two live TV specials people are already talking about. Here’s a peek so you can you can plan accordingly:

“New Year’s Eve Live” With Anderson Cooper And Andy Cohen
Where to catch it: CNN
Why you should watch: For the first time ever, Anderson Cooper will host CNN’s annual New Year’s Eve Live special with none other than “Watch What Happens Live” host Andy Cohen. As these two are best friends in real life, you can expect tons witty banter and hilarious moments from the pair. The Bravo mogul will replace Cooper’s former co-host Kathy Griffin, whom CNN fired after her controversial Donald Trump photoshoot.

“Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve 2018” Hosted by Ryan Seacrest
Where to catch it: ABC
Why you should watch: Remember last year’s infamous Mariah Carey mic incident? Yes, it happened on Seacrest’s watch. So if that’s any indication, this could be a good one to tune-in to. And even if there aren’t any crazy celebrity snafus, you can count on crazy views of Time Square packed with people, as well as awesome musical performances.

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