Happy New Year, Anchorage! As 2025 draws to a close, I’ve compiled a list of every celebration happening in and around Anchorage on December 31. Whether you’re looking for a family‑friendly afternoon, a classy dinner or a place to dance your way to the new year, there’s something on this list for you. Use the sections below to plan your perfect send‑off for 2025.
Family‑Friendly Celebrations
Downtown New Year’s Eve Celebration – Chinook Parking Lot (corner of 3rd Avenue & E Street), 7 p.m. – 9 p.m., fireworks at 8 p.m.. Anchorage’s downtown block party features live music, sledding, food trucks and a beer/hot‑toddy garden. Bundle up and get there early to catch the fireworks [Link].
Noon Year’s Eve Dance Party – Z.J. Loussac Library, 3600 Denali St., 11 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.. DJ Spencer Lee spins dance tunes while kids craft and count down to a balloon drop at noon [Link]. Admission is free, but expect a crowd and lots of balloons!
Kiddos Noon Year’s Eve Balloon Drop – The Play Spot, 624 W International Airport Rd., 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.. Perfect for little ones (up to about 7), this ticketed party includes pizza, drinks, hats, noisemakers, goody bags and a kid‑friendly countdown [Link].
New Year’s Eve Glow Celebration – The Workshop Community Center, 1120 Huffman Rd Suite 11, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.. A “glow‑in‑the‑dark” bash with music, crafts, candy and door prizes. The evening ends with a community countdown at 8 p.m.; donations support community programming [Link].
New Year’s Eve Blacklight Paint Pour Party – The Art Lounge AK, 300 E Dimond Blvd Suite 3, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.. Experiment with neon paint under black lights; each ticket includes three canvases and supplies [Link].
Dave & Buster’s New Year’s Eve Celebration – 800 E Dimond Blvd, starts 9 p.m.. Family‑friendly early in the evening, this party offers appetizer buffets, game cards and a toast at midnight [Link].
New Year’s Eve Dinner at Hilton’s Top of the World – Hilton Anchorage, 500 W 3rd Ave, 5 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.. Enjoy a buffet dinner with panoramic views of the fireworks; pricing varies for adults and kids [Link].
Adult Nightlife & Parties
Williwaw Social NYE 2025 – Williwaw Social, 609 F Street, doors open at 8 p.m.. This 21+ space‑age dance party packs a DJ lineup, immersive visuals and a midnight countdown [Link].
Turn Down for 10 – Williwaw Social, 609 F Street, 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.. An early‑evening dance party for millennials and Gen Xers who don’t want to stay up late: throwback hits from the ’90s and 2000s, rooftop fireworks viewing at 8 p.m., and a drink included with your ticket [Link].
New Year’s Eve Dance Party at the Whale’s Tail – The Whale’s Tail (Hotel Captain Cook, 939 W 5th Ave), 9 p.m. – 2 a.m.. Dance into 2026 with DJ 3rd George; there’s no cover charge [Link].
Maui at Midnight – Hawaiian‑Style NYE – Hotel Captain Cook – Discovery Ballroom, 939 W 5th Ave, 7 p.m. – 1 a.m.. A Hawaiian‑themed party featuring live music from H3, a dinner buffet at 8 p.m. and a midnight champagne toast [Link].
Humpy’s New Year’s Eve Party – Humpy’s Great Alaskan Alehouse, 610 W 6th Ave, starting 9 p.m.. Anchorage’s classic alehouse hosts Choice Bit of Calico for a live‑music countdown [Link].
It’s the Biggest New Year’s Eve Party in Town – Carousel Lounge, 3206 Spenard Rd, 9 p.m.. Expect prizes, giveaways and a champagne toast at midnight [Link].
ElectricAK 6th Annual NYE – Club Nyt Lyt, 221 E 5th Ave, 8:30 p.m. – 5 a.m.. Anchorage’s longest‑running EDM show features local DJs across two stages, a full bar and a midnight countdown [Link].
A Pretty Sweet New Year’s Eve Party – The Broken Blender, 535 W 3rd Ave, 7 p.m. – 2 a.m.. Huycke Entertainment brings EDM duo Pretty Sweet for a night of dancing; general admission and VIP options are available [Link].
New Year’s Eve at Pearl – Pearl, 417 D Street, 4 p.m. – 12:30 a.m.. Start with dinner service (4 p.m. – 11 p.m.), then dance under the disco ball with DJ Kizmet and sip complimentary champagne at midnight [Link].
Winter Wonderland / Kingsmen New Year’s Party – Wildbirch Hotel, 239 W 4th Ave, doors at 8 p.m.. Kingsmen Entertainment asks attendees to dress in all white for this upscale party with fireworks, live performances and door prizes [Link][Link].
Mad Myrna’s New Year’s Eve Party – Golden 2026 – Mad Myrna’s, 530 E 5th Ave, 9 p.m. – midnight. Drag show at 9 p.m. followed by DJ Covy and a champagne toast at midnight [Link].
Crimson New Year’s Eve Dinner Celebration – Crimson, 239 W 4th Ave, seatings at 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 7 p.m.. Multi‑course dinners with optional window seating for fireworks, party hats, terrace access and coat check [Link]. (A separate, family‑style dinner at Crimson runs from 5 p.m. – 10 p.m. earlier in the evening [Link].)
Sound Meditation – Studio 505, 505 W Northern Lights Blvd, 1 p.m. – 2 p.m.. Take a quiet hour to reset with Gail Jackson’s guided sound bath; tickets start at $37.50 [Link].
Pop the Balloon Speed Dating – Anchorage (venue TBA), 4 p.m.. An unconventional speed‑dating event where participants pop balloons if uninterested [Link].
Greater Anchorage Area: Fireworks & Festivals
If you’re willing to travel a bit outside the city, these communities put on spectacular displays:
Eagle River Fireworks – Lions Park, 18344 Eagle River Rd, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m., fireworks at 8 p.m.. This free celebration includes fire pits, activities and food trucks [Link][Link].
Torchlight Ski Parade & Fireworks (Girdwood) – Alyeska Resort Daylodge, 1000 Arlberg Ave, 9 p.m.. Watch skiers carrying torches snake down the mountain, then stay for the fireworks [Link][Link].
Wasilla New Year’s Fireworks – Iditapark – Wonderland Playground Area, 594 W Nelson Ave, activities start 6:30 p.m., fireworks at 8 p.m.. Free coffee, cocoa and giveaways precede the fireworks [Link].
Seward Waterfront Fireworks – Waterfront Park, Seward, 8 p.m.. Seward rings in the new year with a show over Resurrection Bay [Link].
Wherever you spend your New Year’s Eve, stay safe, support local businesses and enjoy the magic of Alaska’s winter. Happy 2026!