Ring in the New Year in Las Vegas

One of your friends is going to be on a rooftop in Brooklyn, sharing a kiss with a special someone as the clock strikes midnight. Another friend has decided to brave the elements and will stand amid the massive crowds in Times Square to watch the ball drop. Maybe a friend of yours splurged on a prix fixe meal for the first time at the fanciest restaurant she could find. Oh, and you know they’ll be Instagramming everything.

You’re probably in your dreary apartment, covered in Chinese take-out containers, watching Netflix alone. That’s a problem. How do we remedy this? We’re prescribing that you wrangle together your group of friends and spend New Year’s Eve in Las Vegas!

Need some convincing? Give us a moment.

On December 31, 2015 at the Las Vegas Boulevard will close and become one fabulous block party, with tens of thousands of visitors walking down the Strip.

Or you can spend the final hours of 2015 with some of Broadway’s biggest stars! Head over to The Smith Center for the Performing Arts and celebrate with a Broadway musical extravaganza, including performances from Tony Award-winning singer and actress Patina Miller, Tony nominee Norm Lewis, Drama Desk nominee Capathia Jenkins, and Las Vegas entertainer Clint Holmes.

At some point you absolutely must put on your nicest outfit and run (unless you’re in heels...then briskly walk) to The Stratosphere’s Level 107 Lounge for a two-hour premium-brand open bar with a champagne toast at midnight, or the Tower Bash on level 108 for a club-style party with an unlimited three-hour premium-brand bar, models, Go-Go dancers, performance artists, specialty drinks, and a champagne toast at midnight. Do you want the best of both worlds? Check out the Tower VIP Party, which features an unlimited four-hour premium-brand bar, models, specialty drinks, and a champagne toast at midnight.

There’s no way you can spend New Year’s Eve in Las Vegas without checking out Evolve Vegas NYE, the premiere gay New Year’s Eve celebration held on the Strip. VIP tickets include a two-hour private reception featuring an open bar, special performances, meet and greets with the performers and celebrity guests, plus VIP seating and bar access. When you're through there, you can visit Charlie’s, the hi-energy danceteria SHARE Nightclub and—opening November 20—Rendezvous.

Okay, okay, you’re right, sometimes we need to hear music that isn’t Top 40. If that’s the case, then you absolutely must see The Spazmatics take over South Point Hotel’s Exhibit Hall B for the best '80s dance party in Las Vegas. Tickets include an open bar, party favors, hors d’oeuvres and a champagne toast at midnight. Or maybe you’re just itching to hear some cover bands. If so, you need to experience TributePalooza, a line-up of the world’s best live tribute bands, including Duran Duran, Billy Idol, Bruce Springsteen, and Red Hot Chili Peppers tribute bands, all performing downtown.

It seems while describing all of the hot clubs and parties, we’ve almost forgotten one of the biggest reasons why you must spend NYE in Vegas: The performances!

Various venues up and down The Strip are having smash hit artists perform, including Carly Rae Jepsen (Dec. 30, 31, and Jan. 2), R5 (Dec. 29, 31, and Jan. 1), Tiësto (Dec. 31), Calvin Harris with special guest Burns (Dec. 31), J Cole (Dec. 31), Alesso (Dec. 31), Diplo (Dec. 31), Bruno Mars (Dec. 31), and the Plain White T’s (Dec. 31).

Being in a massive crowd can be overwhelming, so why don’t you leave all that behind and take to the sky? Countdown the remaining minutes of the year from 550 feet above Las Vegas on the world’s tallest observation wheel, The High Roller. Comprised of enclosed cabins, the wheel offers views of the city along with a full bar and a champagne toast. There’s also a private cabin overlooking The Strip that includes priority boarding, a full premium open bar and a special champagne toast at midnight.

And finally, when the clock strikes midnight, more than 80,000 fireworks will be launched from the rooftops of The Strip’s resort properties. No matter where you are in Vegas, you’ll be able to see this visual splendor, and you’ll know that spending New Year’s Eve in Las Vegas was truly worth it.