Key Takeaways
- New Year’s Eve in Long Beach focuses on finding your vibe rather than reinventing yourself.
- Family-friendly events like the Noon Year’s Eve Countdown Party offer a festive atmosphere without staying out late.
- Downtown bar hopping provides energy and excitement, with various events happening along Pine Avenue.
- For an alternative experience, venues like Alex’s Bar and The Hawk offer live music without upscale prices.
- Staying home and enjoying takeout is a valid way to celebrate New Year’s Eve, emphasizing relaxation over expectations.
I have a very specific memory of New Year’s Eve in Long Beach.
It’s cold — by Long Beach standards.
There’s a hoodie involved.
Someone’s holding a plastic champagne flute they absolutely did not pay for.
And nobody is pretending this night needs to change their entire life.
That’s the thing about New Year’s here.
It’s never been about reinvention.
It’s about finding your people, your pace, and a way to welcome the year that doesn’t feel forced.
So if you’re:
not 21 anymore (or very newly 21 and already tired),
not interested in paying $75 to stand in a crowded room,
new to Long Beach and still figuring out where you belong,
or very much a local who has seen enough New Year’s Eves to know what actually works…
You’re in the right place.
Here’s how to do New Year’s in Long Beach — by vibe, not by expectation.
If you’re celebrating with kids (or just don’t want to be out at midnight)
Long Beach does early nights really well.
Noon Year’s Eve Countdown Party at the Sports Basement
December 31 @ 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
2100 N Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90815
Even if bedtime comes long before midnight, families can still celebrate the new year in a fun and festive way. Sports Basement is hosting its 2nd Annual Noon Year’s Eve Countdown Party, a free, family-focused event for kids and parents of all ages (0–100).
Guests are encouraged to bring their favorite noise makers for the countdown, along with a blanket and a picnic lunch to enjoy during a relaxed post-countdown hangout. The event will feature snacks, music, games, and crafts — all designed to make the celebration fun, inclusive, and stress-free.
Join Sports Basement in ringing in 2026 — no late night required.
Naples Walk + Early Dinner
No ticket required. No itinerary needed.
A simple walk through Naples as the sun sets, followed by dinner nearby (perhaps a bougie dinner at Nico’s) is more than enough. The boats, the lights, the water — it feels festive without trying too hard. Wrap it up early, head home, and start the year rested. Revolutionary, honestly.
If you want energy — and maybe some chaos
You want music.
You want movement.
You want to scream over strangers all night.
Downtown Bar Hop (with intention)
Downtown Long Beach goes all in on New Year’s Eve, especially along Pine Avenue. Nearly every block has something happening — DJ sets, prix-fixe dinners, ticketed parties, champagne add-ons, and lines that move… eventually.
You’ll find NYE events at Agaves Kitchen & Tequila, the rooftop at Halo, Cafe Sevilla, Altar Society Brewing Co., and just about every bar in between. It’s lively, it’s crowded, and it’s exactly what some people want.
But here’s the move if you want to stay downtown without shouting over a DJ or fighting for elbow room at midnight:
New Year’s Eve at the Laugh Factory Long Beach
151 S. Pine Ave., Long Beach, CA 90802
Instead of bouncing between packed bars, grab tickets to an actual show.
The Laugh Factory is hosting two New Year’s Eve performances:
- 7:30 pm
- 10:00 pm
Doors open 30 minutes before showtime, and arriving 30–45 minutes early is recommended since seating is first come, first served. There’s a two-drink minimum per person during the show, no photos or video recording, and lineups are subject to change — but the payoff is huge: you’re seated, entertained, and laughing your way into the new year.
If you want an alternative New Year’s Eve (aka: no rooftops, no wristbands, no regrets)
This is the New Year’s Eve tier for people who still love music, still love going out — but have absolutely zero interest in bottle service, countdown theatrics, or yelling “HAPPY NEW YEAR” at strangers they’ll never see again.
Long Beach does this version very well.
Alex’s Bar
2913 E Anaheim St, Long Beach, CA 90804
Alex’s Bar is going full-send with a stacked, loud, unapologetic lineup — exactly as it should.
NYE lineup:
The Exploding Hearts
The Stitches
Before Dawn
Soft Jaw
Plus all-vinyl DJs from The Slop Stomp keeping things moving between sets.
Doors at 8 pm.
Tickets $39.14.
Sweaty room. Real music. No pretending this is anything other than a proper rock show to end the year.
The Hawk
468 W Anaheim St, Long Beach, CA 90813
If your ideal New Year’s Eve involves standing at a bar, nodding knowingly, and hearing songs you absolutely remember from the first time around:
DJ Blowup is spinning ’90s jams starting at 9 pm.
Doors at 8 pm.
No cover.
Dark. Familiar. Dependable. The Hawk understands that sometimes all you need is good music and a stiff drink — not a theme.
DiPiazza’s
5205 E Pacific Coast Hwy, Long Beach, CA 90804
DiPiazza’s is hosting its Annual New Year’s Eve Party, and it’s the grown-up, soul-forward option that quietly wins the night.
Live performances by:
Norman Carter (The Delfonics Experience)
The Neighbors
Acoustic Soul Express
Cilla Guerra
Moon Yecca
Doors at 8 pm.
21+ | Full bar and grill | Cheap drinks
$20 presale / $25 at the door
There are seats. There is food. The music is familiar in the best way. This is New Year’s Eve for people who appreciate a groove and a place to sit.
Que Sera
1923 E 7th St, Long Beach, CA 90813
And if your New Year’s Eve aesthetic is black-on-black with a side of synth:
Club Disintegration: NYE Edition
Hosted by DJ perksandkisses
9 pm – 2 am | 21+
Expect goth, darkwave, new wave, post-punk, synth, and dark alt — from the ’80s through today. It’s dramatic, dancey, expressive, and refreshingly free of mainstream nonsense.
Come as you are. Dance like you mean it. No irony required.
If you’re opting out entirely (and proud of it)
Some years, the best New Year’s plan is staying put.
Order takeout.
Open something bubbly you didn’t save for a “special enough” occasion.
Watch the fireworks on TV or ignore them completely.
There is no moral high ground in being out at midnight.
Final Thoughts from a Long Beach Local
New Year’s doesn’t need to be loud to be meaningful.
It doesn’t need a wristband, a countdown clock, or a “this year is different” speech.
Some of the best Long Beach nights are quiet ones — walking near the water, sitting at a bar you’ve loved for years, or heading home before midnight because you can.
If this year looks different than the last, that’s okay.
Long Beach has always made room for people doing things their own way.
And honestly?
That’s a pretty good way to start the year.
FAQs
Not always. While some parties and cruises are ticketed, many great New Year’s Eve plans — dinners, bar hopping, waterfront walks — don’t require tickets at all. Check out our Events calendar for which ones require money to participate.
Downtown on Pine Avenue has the most activity. Belmont Shore and neighborhood bars are better if you want something divier and more local.
Short answer: yes. Plan to arrive early, rideshare, or embrace a little patience — it’s part of the night. And this year, the weather might not play nice: it’s expected to rain throughout NYE.
Most restaurants are open, but many operate on reservations only and may offer special menus. If there’s somewhere you love, book ahead or have a backup plan. Walk-ins are possible, just not guaranteed.
Yes — the midnight fireworks over the waterfront, organized by the Queen Mary, can be seen from Shoreline Village, the Lighthouse, and much of the coastline, meaning you get the show without buying a ticket or committing to the party.
