Where to Spend New Year’s Eve in IV/CB

I remember being a little kid thinking that the year 2024 was so far away. It was unconscionable to me that anyone would ever live that long…especially if we all somehow survived Y2K. I imagined us all driving around in hovercrafts like The Jetsons (what a traffic nightmare that would be) and heck, California might not be around anymore since it was predicted it would some day drop off into the ocean.

But here we all are, approaching 2024. All the computers didn’t blow up when the clock struck midnight in the year 2000, most of California’s landmass is still attached to the rest of America, and we all have fostered a special attachment to this place we call Lake Tahoe. How lucky we are. 

Here’s where to spend New Year’s Eve in Incline Village/Crystal Bay…and Happy New Year!

Catch an Early Torchlight Parade and Fireworks Show at Mt. Rose

Get an early start on 2024 by ending 2023 with a day of skiing or snowboarding at Mt. Rose followed by a snowcat parade, torchlight ski parade, and fireworks show on the main side of the mountain. The snowcats start heading up to the top at 4:45pm after skiers have cleared the hill, followed by a torchlight ski parade at 5pm and fireworks show at 5:45pm. This is an event not to miss, and you can get home early enough to catch the next New Year’s Party. www.skirose.com 

The Bowl Incline New Year’s Eve Party

Bowl Incline is closing to the public on the evening of December 31st at 6pm to give a one-of-a-kind NYE experience, providing ticketholders will an all-access pass to go crazy with activities and upscale buffet. The buffet open from 6pm-8pm will be complete with soup, salads, carving station, seafood, dessert bar, and a snack buffet from 9pm-11pm with nachos and pretzels. Along with that, New Year’s Eve partygoers can enjoy unlimited bowling; unlimited arcade games and billiards; a DJ and dancing in the upstairs lounge, axe throwing for prizes, party favors, and a champagne toast at midnight. Tickets cost $250/adults and $100/kids ages 2-13; buy online at www.bowlincline.com. 

BoomBox at the Crystal Bay Casino

Brothers Zion Rock Godchaux and Kinsman MacKay are back for New Year’s Eve, bringing in a bit of house, blues, rock, and soulful beats that make it pretty much impossible not to move with the music. Since 2004, BoomBox has built quite a following in Lake Tahoe thanks to its seamless integration of pulling together a variety of genres (so this show is sure to be packed). 

“The sound is about pulling from anything that you’d hear coming out of a boombox, and distilling into a distinctive style,” explains Godchaux, which is a musical formula that can connect with any crowd. Join BoomBox with N2N at the Crystal Bay Casino on New Year’s Eve…tickets are $50 in advance and doors open at 8pm. Purchase online HERE.

Have Some Bubbly at the Stroke of Midnight at Glasses Wine Bar

Not only is Glasses celebrating its seventh year of being in business this month, but they are having parties all month long up until 2024. Join Kathleen and Rob Martens for their 7^th Annual East Coast Party. Doors open at 6:30pm and the party starts at 7pm with live music, hats, noisemakers, appetizers, and sparkling wine on East Coast midnight. Tickets cost $40 per person ($34 for wine club members), and you buy them ahead of time- no walk-in’s allowed. https://glasseswinebar.com/ 

The Hyatt Regency Rings in the New Year With a Party

The Hyatt is planning a special dinner; live music with a DJ and band; dancing; cocktails; and more. It will welcome in 2024 with a Polar Bear Plunge the following morning for its overnight guests as a way to quickly snap out of their hangover. Hyattregencylaketahoe.com 

Don’t Forget…It’s Still the Season of Giving

RE/MAX Gold of Incline Village is holding an annual sock drive through January 31, 2024, to benefit Northern Nevada HOPES. New, unused socks can really go a long way in helping the community stay warm this winter and can be dropped off at the RE/MAX Gold Incline office, Inside Incline, the Incline Village Board of Realtors, or Ticor Title. www.northernnevadahopes.com 

Save the Date:

There’s a lot coming up in January 2024, too! Be sure to block January 26th off in your calendar to celebrate a weekend of UllrFest at Diamond Peak featuring a torchlight parade, bonfire, live music, raffles, and other special events to help bring on the snow and support the Diamond Peak Ski Team. Admission and parking are free to this event, and food, drinks, and Ullr hats will be available for purchase while supplies last. Dress warm because you’ll be outdoors in the snow. www.diamondpeak.com