New Year’s Eve Weekend things to do: Get Weir-ed in Fort Lauderdale, Feimster-ed in West Palm Beach, masked in Boca Raton
New Year’s Eve Weekend in South Florida is, uh, Weir-ed. Grateful Dead icon Bob Weir and band are playing a three-night set that includes a NYE show in downtown Fort Lauderdale, of all places. Songwriter-guitarist Duane Betts, a member of a rock ’n’ roll royal family, concludes four nights of performances on NYE in Boca Raton. Comedian Nate Bargatze and DJ Afrojack, wildly popular in their respective fields, also have local NYE shows on Sunday night.
To add more weird, two actors from the under-rated holiday film “Office Christmas Party” have dueling NYE comedy shows in West Palm Beach and Dania Beach, and there’s a party in Flagler Village themed to the Will Ferrell spoof “Step Brothers.”
Here are some ways to get out and celebrate the New Year on Sunday with music, comedy and cocktails — a “cup of kindness” for auld lang syne.
MUSIC
One of the more surprising bookings in Fort Lauderdale on (this or any) New Year’s Eve is a performance by Grateful Dead icon Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros featuring The Wolfpack at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts beginning at 8 p.m. Of course it’s a sellout, and if you can get a resale seat for under $200, consider yourself lucky. Weir and band also perform at the Broward Center on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Those shows also are essentially sold out, but check for updates at BrowardCenter.org.
It’s hard to overstate the rewards to be found in the album “Wild & Precious Life,” a beautiful solo debut by Duane Betts, Sarasota-born son of legendary Allman Brothers guitarist Dickey Betts. You’ll hear some of it this weekend when Duane Betts & Palmetto Motelplay a four-night run at The Funky Biscuit in Boca Raton, concluding on Sunday with a New Year’s Eve show. Tickets start at $50+ for standing room at 8 p.m. Sunday, $35+ for standing room at shows beginning at 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Visit FunkyBiscuit.com.
Global DJ-producer Afrojackwill curate the NYE vibe at DAER Nightclub at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood beginning at 9 p.m. Sunday. Tickets, which include an open bar from 9 p.m. to midnight and access to a poolside party, cost $150+. A long list of VIP access, reserved tables and other options also are available at HardRockNightlife.com.
Nationally touring Miami indie-funk groovers Magic City Hippies will play their second annual New Year’s Eve party at the canopied Miami Beach Bandshell, a beautiful, tropical spot to welcome 2024. Doors open at 7 p.m. for the all-ages show. Tickets cost $37.50 at MiamiBeachBandshell.com.
COMEDY
Arena-touring comedian Nate Bargatze is on the road with his dad, award-winning magician Stephen Bargatze, which feels all kinds of warm and fuzzy. The “Nateland” podcaster and his old man will perform at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise at 8 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, joined by a comedy gang that includes host Julian McCullough, Joe Zimmerman, Mike Vecchione and Greg Warren. Tickets start at $31+ each at AmerantBankArena.com.
Comic actor Fortune Feimster (perhaps you just saw her kooky cameo opposite Jennifer Aniston in “Office Christmas Party”) will perform a 7 p.m. NYE show at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach. Tickets start at $29.50+ at Kravis.org.
Actor-comedian T.J. Miller (perhaps you just saw his defining star turn in “Office Christmas Party”) concludes a Friday-Sunday run at the Dania Improv in Dania Beach with NYE shows at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. Tickets for each performance cost $37+, or $47+ for VIP reserved seating. You also can catch Miller on the same stage at 7:30 p.m. Friday and 7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, when tickets cost $30+. Visit DaniaImprov.com.
PARTY
Mask up for the stylish NYE party “Speak No More: A Midnight Masquerade” at Kapow Noodle Bar, the cocktail-forward restaurant in Boca Raton’s Mizner Park and on Clematis Street in downtown West Palm Beach. Tickets ($125+) are not required, but get one if you want access to the open bar from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m., late-night buffet and champagne toast. The Boca Raton gathering will include a five-piece jazz band. Visit KapowNoodleBar.com.
Expect a similarly fashionable crowd to gather for “Meet Me at Midnight” at Living Room in the W Fort Lauderdaleat 9 p.m. Sunday. General-admission tickets cost $125+ and include DJs, passed Stephen Starr bites from 9 p.m. to midnight, party favors and Mo?t & Chandon Champagne toast. VIP admission ($275+) includes an open bar from 9 p.m. to midnight. Visit Instagram.com/wfortlauderdale.
If you like to kick it, Flagler Village hot spot Rhythm + Vine will channel the goofy vibe of Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly with the New Year’s Eve party titled “It’s the F—ing Catalina Wine Mixer!” with DJ Konflikt and a $120 open bar (tips included) from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. Doors open at 8 p.m. Visit Rhythm-Vine.com.
Respectable Street in West Palm Beach takes its eclecticism to the extreme on Sunday night with Personality Crisis NYE. Doors open at 10 p.m., with an emo soundtrack at 11 p.m., disco at midnight, ’80s Prom at 1 a.m., Flaunt (indie dance) at 2 a.m. and classics at 3 a.m. Heavy sounds (metal, punk, goth) will be out on the patio. The night will include party favors, go-go dancers, a balloon drop and Jameson toast at midnight. Tickets cost $10+ in advance, $15 day of event. Visit Facebook.com/subculturegroup.
If you’re feeling a little frisky and competitive, Gulf Stream Brewing in Fort Lauderdale will host its second annual Naughty Trivia(with themed prizes) from 9 p.m. to midnight on New Year’s Eve. Tickets cost $50+ and include a free pint of GSB beer and an unlimited pizza buffet from in-house Pizzeria Magaddino (excellent), plus a midnight Champagne toast. Visit GulfStreamBeer.com.
TAKE THE KIDS
Museum of Discovery and Science in downtown Fort Lauderdale will host its annual Noon Year’s Eve celebration on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with immersive kids’ activities, music, dancing and science, highlighted by a noon ball drop. Events are included with museum admission: $27 for adults, $22 for age 2 to 12, and free for kids younger than 2. Visit MODS.org.
The Cox Science Center and Aquarium in West Palm Beach will celebrate Noon Year’s Eve from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on its new 5-acre Science Trail. Events include science demonstrations, music and dancing, DIY confetti poppers and a noon toast to the New Year with dry-ice apple cider. Museum admission: $24 for adults, $20 for age 3 to 12, and free for kids younger than 3. Visit CoxScienceCenter.org.
Staff writer Ben Crandell can be reached at [email protected]. Follow on Instagram @BenCrandell and Twitter @BenCrandell.