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Guide To Spending New Year's Eve 2016 In Los Angeles

December 20, 2015 / 8:10 PM PST / KCAL News

New Year's Eve is a big to-do all around the globe. While there will be multiple galas and parties taking place throughout Los Angeles, knowing the ins and outs of the NYE landscape is highly valuable this time of year. Things like where to find the best countdown, best spot to view fireworks, where to celebrate with the kids as well as who to call to catch a ride home are worth knowing before setting out to celebrate 2016.

Free Countdown In DTLA

The festivities in Grand Park in Downtown Los Angeles mark the official NYE countdown in L.A. The free and public party goes from 8pm to 1am for Angelenos as well as visitors to the city are invited to come together for an evening of good eats by local food vendors, lots of photo booths courtesy of LA2050, and music and dancing. There will be live music stages so guests can choose the musical experience that suits them best. Guests can expect cool art installations and then what is ultimately worth the wait until the countdown show. Projected on City Hall, which happens to be 22 stories tall, the 3D digital video mapping will be as spectacular as ever with digital fireworks set to original electronic music. Known as the Downtown gathering spot for picnics, work lunch breaks and food trucks and yoga in the park, Grand Park is dog friendly but not alcohol friendly.

Fireworks

Downtown Long Beach hosts a three-block festival and family friendly celebration featuring live music and dancing ($40 for the full concert), food vendors, a midnight countdown to 2016 and a 9 p.m. fireworks show (the fireworks show is free off the waterfront). Head to the heart of Downtown at Pine Ave. between 1^st and 4^th Streets, where you will find three stages featuring Xia Xia Technique (Ok Go DJ set), DJ Paul V, DJ Sovern-T and musicians including Saint Motel, ZZ Ward, Houndmouth and Vintage Trouble. Tickets will be available for $40 per person to enter at the box office on Broadway on the day of the event. The event is 8pm to 2am.

Family Style

Many families enjoy being together on New Year's Eve, and the Los Angeles Zoo is one of the more special places to celebrate. The Zoo hosts L.A. Zoo Lights – a Family New Year's Eve from 6pm to 9pm. The early evening ($40/2-12 yr. old and $65/13+) welcomes guests to stroll through a glowing and lit up park under the winter stars. The reindeer in their Alpine Village will still be around for guests to visit. Each person will get a dinner buffet with dessert, soft drinks (cash bar will be offered), hot cocoa, a carousel ride, a DJ, dancing and a live broadcast of the Times Square ball drop at 9 p.m. (PST) with a Champagne toast (adults only).

Catch A Ride

The worst thing you could do is get behind the wheel of a car if you have been drinking, or get in a car with someone who is driving and who has been drinking. Avoid accidents and more this year and check out your options before heading out this New Year's Eve. To get to and fro from Grand Park's New Year Eve party, consider a $5 Metro day pass to catch the Red or Purple Lines - just exit Civic Center/Grand Park Station - or the Gold Line to Union Station or Little Tokyo/Arts District Station. AAA helps by offering a safe and complimentary ride to drivers who have been drinking, just call 800-400-4222. Uber and Lyft will have plenty of cars around the city that night, too.

Bubbly

Getting your bubbly on at NYE is essential. Saucey is an on-demand alcohol delivery service (20-40 mins) in L.A. that works as an app on your smartphone device or desktop. Users who are age 21 and over simply drop a pin, choose items off the menu, and voila a driver is dispatched to deliver your order on New Year's Eve (or any one of the 364 days of the year). No minimum order nor delivery fee. What you see in the app is what you pay (tax is included). Saucey delivers everything from beer to spirits to wine, at all price points too. If you are looking for cocktails, Saucey will deliver those too — like martinis, mimosas, the Chesterfield (a Bullet Rye Manhattan), and the Scottish Robin Hood (Dewar's Rob Roy). You can also send a gift to someone through this app. Saucey plans on carrying a heavier selection of Champagne and sparkling wines for New Year's Eve. And delivery will be available all the way up until last call.

Sheryl Craig is a writer with a passion for interesting finds and treasures in Los Angeles. She has a background in journalism and public relations. A mother of two daughters, Sheryl integrates her healthy lifestyle into raising her children. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.

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