New Year’s Eve in Chicago offers all the glamor and excitement expected on the last day of the year but all that glitz comes at a price. New Year’s Eve events are notoriously expensive, whether you’re just toasting the holiday with champagne or dancing the night away.
If you don’t want to pay the typical $80-$150 to celebrate, here are a few things to do in Chicago on New Year’s Eve that won’t break the bank.
Fireworks at Navy Pier
At the stroke of midnight, fireworks will blast through the sky over Lake Michigan. Bundle up and watch the light show at Navy Pier, Belmont Harbor, North Avenue Beach, Grant Park or Maggie Daley Park. Bring your own champagne and toast the new year with Chicago’s iconic fireworks as the backdrop. Or make it a night of magical displays with tickets for Navy Piers Light Up The Lake.
Play WhirlyBall
Who says New Year’s celebrations have to involve late-night partying and drinking? Indulge your inner child and spend New Year’s Eve playing whirly ball, laser tag and bowling at the WhirlyBall Chicago Family Fun New Year’s Bash. New Year’s Eve tickets are $40 for adults and $35 for kids, including a lunch buffet, unlimited games and a cash bar for adults.
Sip a free Champagne Toast
Welcome the new year with a free champagne toast, snacks, hip-shaking music and $3 shots. “Switch” transforms the Meeting House Tavern into a festive New Year’s spot. This LGBTQIA+-friendly Andersonville bar offers free board games, pool, darts, Skee-ball and shuffleboard with no cover charge. Dance and sing with $3 shots and $7 Miller Lite drafts.
The event runs from 6 pm to 11:55 pm, with free champagne at midnight.
New Year’s Eve Bar Crawl
If you must drink libations on New Year’s Eve, head to Wrigleyville for the annual Chicago New Year’s Eve Bar Crawl. Roam through over a dozen bars on the Clark Street strip, dance, sing, sample the appetizer buffet and sip a midnight champagne toast for tickets that cost $35-$39.
