Bars & Parties
New Year’s Eve party options abound in D.C. and beyond
Major events planned at the Yards, Town, Lucky Strike and more
(Washington Blade file photo by Damien Salas)
The Yards (355 Water St., S.E.) presents a family-friendly countdown from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Kids can enjoy a trackless train ride through the Yards, face painting, balloon artistry, music and more. Admission is free.
Xavier Entertainment hosts New Years Eve Time Square, a gay men’s New Year’s Eve party, at Karma DC (2221 Adams Pl., N.E.) from 10 p.m.-4 a.m. There will be two DJs, live entertainment and a complimentary champagne toast. General admission tickets are $20. VIP tickets are $40 and include VIP cutline entry all night, entry to the VIP section, a light buffet and coat check.
Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) hosts a New Year’s Eve party at 9 p.m. Trixie Mattel, Tatianna, Banaka and Riley Knoxx will perform in the drag show at 9:30 p.m. Lena Lotts hosts the show. Tickets are $35. Guests not attending the party will be allowed into the club at 11 p.m. DJ Ed Bailey and DJ Joe Gauthreaux will play music upstairs. Admission for the after the show is $25.
The Qrew and Tagg Magazine host Cosmic Q Year’s Eve, a ladies New Year’s Eve party, at Lucky Strike (701 7th St., N.W.) from 10 p.m.-2 a.m. DJ Jai Syncere and DJ Tezrah will spin tracks all night. There will be gift bags for the first 150 people, a complimentary champagne toast, free food, happy hour specials, free D.C. Brau Beer and games. General admission tickets are $25 and include a free buffet from 10-11 p.m. and champagne toast. VIP tables are $385 and include four tickets, buffet, one bottle or beer tower, bottomless spinach/salsa dip and tortilla chips and champagne toast. The Ultimate VIP Package includes the tickets, two reserved bowling lanes, an exclusive VIP lounge, complimentary bottle of red wine and everything else in the VIP table package.
BKE hosts three New Year’s Eve parties this year. First is the New Year’s Eve Fashion Gala at the St. Gregory Hotel (2033 M St., N.W.) from 9 p.m.-3 a.m. Festivities begin at 9 p.m. with a live band performing in the lobby. Guests will be greeted with a complimentary glass of Prosecco and the opportunity to take red carpet photos with fashion models wearing outfits featuring local designer brands. The ballroom opens at 10 p.m. for the party with music from DJ Vito Lee. Individual tickets are $54 and includes two complimentary glasses of Prosecco, one on the red carpet and one at midnight. The dinner package is $159 and includes a three-course dinner, a complimentary glass of Prosecco and a complimentary midnight toast. Couples dinner and VIP hotel suite package is $150 and offers a three-course dinner, luxury hotel suite, complimentary bottle of Prosecco in room, two glasses of complimentary sparkling wine with dinner and New Year’s Day brunch for two.
Black Tie New Year’s Eve Gala will be at the Washington Marriott Wardman Park (2660 Woodley Rd., N.W.) from 7:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. Each ballroom will represent an international DJ with music entertainment including DJs, a jazz orchestra, Latin salsa band, Caribbean island band and an Irish band. There will be an open bar, two midnight balloon drops, karaoke and party favors. Presidential tickets are $249 and offer 7:30 p.m. admission, a cocktail reception and appetizers and a three-course sit-down dinner with dessert buffet. Ambassador Level tickets are $205 and offer the dinner and dessert buffet with 9 p.m. admission. Post-dinner admission is $110 and gives access to the party. Dinner not included.
New Year’s Eve at the Pandora Seafood House and Bar (36 Maryland Ave., Rockville, Md.) is from 6 p.m.-2 a.m. Tickets are $128.74 for the three-course dinner and four-hour open bar. Tickets are $70.68 for just the open bar. Admission is $33.72 for entry with cash bar and a midnight toast.
Black Cat (1811 14th St., N.W.) hosts its New Year’s Eve Ball at 7 p.m. Peaches O’Dell & Her Orchestra and Tony Anthony & His Malvivants will perform on the main stage. DJ Dredd will spin tracks on the backstage. Tickets are $30.
Rock and Roll Hotel (1353 H St., N.E.) presents New Year’s Eve Blowout at 8 p.m. with an all night open bar, limited appetizers and hors d’oeuvres. DJs will play on the first and second floor. Tickets are $85 in advance and $100 day of show.
Lindy Promotions hosts its New Year’s Eve party at the Washington Hilton (1919 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) at 9 p.m. EDM DJ Vice will perform. There will be a five-hour premium open bar, dinner buffet from 9-11 p.m., complimentary party favors, champagne toast and a balloon drop. General admission tickets are $99. Premiere VIP Access tickets are $119 and include an additional 30-minute open bar. VIP ticket packages range from $139-159 and offer reserved tables, early admission and an extra 30-minute open bar.
Ziegfeld’s/Secrets (1824 Half Street, S.W.) has a New Year’s Eve party from 9 p.m.-4 a.m. featuring naked dancers, party favors, champagne and a cash balloon drop at midnight.
Flash (645 Florida Ave., N.W.) hosts a New Year’s Eve party at 10 p.m. featuring performances from Archie Hamilton, Chez Damier, Eddie C, M.A.N.D.Y., Matthew Dear, Punisher and more. Tickets range from $50-60.
Decades (1219 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) presents “Back II the Future,” a retro gala, at 8 p.m. The party will feature ‘80s music and a complimentary bar from 8-9 p.m. Tickets are $40.
Lighthouse D.C. hosts Gatsby Gala, a New Year’s Eve charity benefit, at Josephine Butler Parks Center (2437 15th St., N.W.) from 8 p.m.-1 a.m. All proceeds benefit homeless and low-income families transitioning to affordable housing. There will be an open bar, food, a live jazz band, swing lessons, dance and costume competitions and more. Tickets start at $121.
El Techo will host, in partnership with Cherry Fund, a special edition of “Cherry Sundays” on Sunday, April 7 at 11 a.m.
This event is a one-day fundraising bottomless brunch. There will be performances by Evry Pleasure, Tara Hoot and TrevHER, with DJ Lemz. All tequila shot purchases will be donated to the Cherry Fund.
The Cherry Fund raises money for LGBTQ non-profits whose primary goal is to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS with prevention, treatment and education, and mental health services.
The event costs $45, inclusive of bottomless brunch on margaritas, mimosas, Bloody Marys and Tecates.
Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend arrives next week with a kickoff event Thursday, Jan. 11 from 10 p.m.-3 a.m. at Bunker. Organizers at Kinetic promise a surprise drill sergeant who will whip you into shape. Joshua Ruiz DJs the event. This event is for VIP pass holders only; visit kineticpresents.com for details.
Xavier Entertainment LLC will host the seventh annual Times Square NYE Celebration at 10 p.m. at Ivy City Smokehouse. Tickets start at $20 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
New Year’s Eve 2024 at Lost Society will be at 7 p.m. at Lost Society. There will be unique entertainment all night along with a journey of the senses through captivating light shows and LED displays, music, and bottle service presentations throughout the evening. Tickets start at $25 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
Busboys and Poets will host New Year’s Eve Open Mic and Party at 10 p.m. at 2021 14th St., N.W. This will be an evening of poetry, live DJ, dancing, food, and good company in a vibrant atmosphere where local artists take the stage, showcasing their talents in various genres. The night will be hosted by the talented Charity Blackwell and will feature award-winning poet Black Chakra. Dyanna Monet will deejay. Tickets start at $15 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
QueerTalk DC will host Sapphic New Year’s Celebration at 8 p.m. at FigLeaf Bar & Lounge. The event will celebrate Sapphic, trans, and non-binary communities and feature complimentary hors D’oeuvres, a Champagne toast and DJ sets by DJ Clamazon and DJ Q. For more details, visit Eventbrite.
The Queers Upstairs will host Heels & Ties: A Queer New Years Eve Surprise at 9 p.m. at Aliceanna Social Club. This evening will be an unforgettable LGBTQ New Year’s Eve party where you can sip your favorite cocktails and enjoy small bites while dancing the night away with music from DJ Rosie & DJ Missy. Tickets start at $30 and can purchased on Eventbrite.
BuffBoyzz Gay-Friendly Male Strip Clubs will host a male revue that caters to men and women at 8 p.m. at Buffboyzz Male Strippers. The event will be an exciting, entertaining and sexy show of exotic male dancers in that will entertain your pants off. Tickets start at $10 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
International Events Washington DC will host the 2024 Black Tie New Year’s Eve Gala at 7:30 p.m. at the Willard InterContinental Washington, D.C. There will be free-flowing Champagne, an open bar, a spectacular balloon drop in the Euro Discotheque Ballroom and live bands and DJs. For dinner, guests can choose from an elegant sit-down, three-course dinner with Champagne or a dinner buffet of international cuisine. Tickets start at $189 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
Social Architects will host the 12th Annual New Year’s Eve Casino Night at 8 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Arlington, Va. There will be six rooms of entertainment spread across three floors. The DJs will spin hip hop, R&B, salsa, Afrobeats and old school music. Tickets start at $60 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
Pitchers and A League of Her Own will host a NYE party with complimentary Champagne toast at midnight, party favors, and a DJ all night long.
Shaker’s plans a drag extravaganza with Tatianna and Crystal Edge among others starting at 10:30 p.m.; the $10 cover includes a glass of Champagne.
Bunker hosts a 12-hour masquerade ball with several DJs, including Joe Gauthreaux. The party starts at 9 p.m. and goes until 9 a.m. on Jan. 1. Tickets start at $45 and are available at bunkerdc.com.
DJ Alex Love spins NYE at Dirty Goose with drink specials at midnight.
After Biden signs TikTok ban its CEO vows federal court battle
Malcolm Kenyatta could become the first LGBTQ statewide elected official in Pa.
Bowser budget proposal calls for $5.25 million for 2025 World Pride
White House debuts action plan targeting pollutants in drinking water
Health care for Marylanders with HIV is facing huge cuts this summer
Daniel Zamudio murderer’s parole request denied
State Department releases annual human rights report
‘Amm(i)gone’ explores family, queerness, and faith
Joe Vogel campaign holds ‘Big Gay Canvass Kickoff’
