Community Corner
What to Do in O.C. on New Year's Eve
There's a lot going on, so we're certain we've missed some events. Please help your neighbors out and add to our list.
It’s almost 2012 – the year when, according to the ancient Mayans, the world will end.
Well, if it's going to end, might as well have fun on New Year's Eve.
Here are some of the events going on around Orange County.
Find out what's happening in Lake Forestwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The 9th Annual Newport Beach New Year's Eve Yacht Party
What: A big shindig on a big luxury yacht.
Find out what's happening in Lake Forestwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Location: Newport Harbor, 2901 W. Coast Highway, Newport Beach
Time: 8:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.
What: Enjoy music and food in a classy atmosphere for the last night of 2011.
Location: , 26772 Avery Pkwy, Mission Viejo
Time: 6:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m.
What: A no-alcohol family get-together. One of the city’s signature events.
Location: 22232 El Paseo, Rancho Santa Margarita
Time: 4:00 pm– 9:00 pm
What: No black ties here. Meet at the OC Fairgrounds for a wild party.
Location: OC Fair & Event Center, 88 Fair Drive Costa Mesa
Time: 7:30 pm – 1:30 am
Great Park Family New Year's Eve
What: Live music, dancing, great food, carousel rides, games and activities for the kids – all in a safe, alcohol-free environment.
Location: Balloon Park in Irvine. The directions are sometimes complicated, so click here for best way to get there.
Time: 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm
What: A nighttime year-ending celebration complete with Spanish music, dancing and food.
Location: , 140 W Avenida Pico, San Clemente
Time: 7:00 pm–12:30 am
What: It’s party time in Laguna Beach
Location: , 696 S Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach
Time: 9:00 pm– 2:00 am
What: Mmmm. Mexican food and New Year’s Eve.
Event: Fred's Mexican Cafe 32431 Golden Lantern, Laguna Niguel
Time: 4:00 pm– 2:00 am
What: A New Year’s Eve Concert with rock band dada.
Location: Coach House 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano
Time: 8:00 pm
Disneylands Ring in the New Year Fireworks Show
What: Ooooh. ahhhhh.
Location: Disneyland, West Ball Road and South Disneyland Drive, Anaheim
Time: Midnight
Here’s some more local goings on.
10 a.m. BUENA PARK - Knott's Berry Farm's New Year's Eve celebration will kick off with a competition featuring 45 of the best BBQ pitmasters in the country for $15,000 in prize money. The competition will be held in the Knott's Soak City parking lot. The celebration will continue through the day and into the evening with live music, dancing, comedy and fireworks. Bands performing will include Abbey Road, a Beatles tribute band, Caravan's Steel Drum Band and The Clueless Remix featuring DJ Reeso. Salsa dancing lessons will be given at Fiesta Plaza and line dancing lessons will be offered at the Wilderness Dance Hall. Family-friendly comedian Dick Hardwick will perform standup comedy. A fireworks show will be given at Calico Square at midnight. Knott's Berry Farm, 8039 Beach Blvd.
Noon LA HABRA - The New Year's "Noon" Party, a New Year's Eve celebration for families who do not wish to keep their children up until midnight, will feature crafts, a balloon drop and "dancing until noon." Children's Museum at La Habra, 301 S. Euclid St.
4 p.m. ANAHEIM - An early New Year's Eve party for families at 300 Anaheim will feature bowling, a sparkling cider toast and a balloon drop. 321 W. Katella Ave.
7 p.m. ANAHEIM - The "Drop New Year's Eve Party" at the City National Grove of Anaheim will feature performances by B Bart More, R3hab, Nickey Romero, PeaceTreaty, DirtyRock and other artists. 2200 E. Katella Ave.
7 p.m. FULLERTON - First Night Fullerton, an alcohol-free New Year's Eve celebration, will feature live music, roving street entertainers, a synthetic surface ice skating rink and games for children. Bands performing will include Help! A Beatles Tribute Band, The 44s with Kid Ramos, Spare Change and The Taiko Project. A fireworks finale that will last 10 minutes begins at midnight. More than 10,000 people are expected to attend the celebration. Downtown Fullerton Plaza, 121 E. Wilshire Ave.
7 p.m. IRVINE - "Stuffed and Unstrung," a puppet show for adults produced by Henson Alternative, will include a countdown to the new year by the puppets in coordination with a telecast of the ball drop from Times Square at 9 p.m. Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive.
7:30 p.m. IRVINE - OC New Year's Eve 2012, a holiday party at the Hilton Irvine, will feature a red carpet arrival for guests, dinner, dancing, entertainment, casino tables and a balloon drop and confetti shower at midnight. 18800 MacArthur Blvd.
8 p.m. SANTA ANA - Benny Benassi, a Grammy Award-winning DJ, will headline the Yost Theater's NYE 2012 dance party. Slander, Dangerhouse, Tempo, Boris MD, Scott Stanley, Mercat, Varun and Positive Pat will perform. 307 N. Spurgeon St.
9 p.m. ANAHEIM - Iration, Seedless and Micah Brown will perform at the House of Blues at Downtown Disney. 1530 S. Disneyland Drive.
9 p.m. COSTA MESA - AnQi's New Year's Eve celebration will feature a performance by 1980s synth-pop hitmakers Berlin. AnQi's Avant-Garde Food Bazaar will feature an edible food wall, a noodle and dumpling rickshaw, champagne rain, the "Library of Sushi" and other unique culinary creations. A "breakfast bar," featuring performances by DJ Angeline and Cuban drummer Joakin Eskasan, will open after midnight. AnQi is next to Bloomingdale's at South Coast Plaza, 3333 S. Bristol St.
--City News Service contributed to this story.
