Celebrate New Year's Eve in Connecticut

All year round, Connecticut invites visitors to come as they are.

A national leader on critical issues facing the LGBTQ+ community, Connecticut has attracted a growing and diverse LGBTQ+ community and a population that values and celebrates inclusivity. With that comes a vibrant tourism scene, and New Year’s Eve 2023 is no exception.

Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Connecticut with drag performances, clubbing, immersive experiences, outdoor fun, and much more. Choose from several variety drag shows with comedic sets, celebrity impersonations and dancing, including Lipstick Lashes: NYE at Mohegan Sun, Diva Royale in New Haven and New Years’ Eve: Night of Bond at Chez Est in Hartford. Dress to impress at elaborate immersive experiences at The Branford House (Roaring 20s) and 314 Beer Garden in South Norwalk (Masquerade), or strap on your skis/snowboard at Ski Sundown in New Hartford for a late-night run and light parade. Hit the dance floor at Mohegan Sun, Foxwoods or other clubs and lounges, or keep it low-key and alcohol-free at the multicultural and artistically unique First Night Hartford. Have a little one that can’t make it until midnight? Consider a Noon Year’s Eve event like the one at Stepping Stones Museum for Children in Norwalk.

Sampling of Connecticut NYE events listed below:

Drag Performances:

• Lipstick Lashes: NYE Edition, 10:00 p.m. 12/31, Comix Comedy Club at Mohegan Sun: A variety drag show with a rotating cast of performers. Expect to see comedic sets, live singers, celebrity impersonations, dancing & more; the show will also include audience participation games.

• Diva Royale Drag Queen Show, 1:30 p.m. or 7 p.m., 12/31, Diva Royale, New Haven: Get up close and personal with your host Diva Drag Queen and her guest Drag Queen Divas such as Madonna, Dolly Parton, Celine Dion, Liza Minnelli, Adele, Nicki Minaj, Whitney Houston, Sia, Britney Spears, Beyonce and many other celebrity impersonators.

• New Year’s Eve- Night of Bond, 8:00 p.m. 12/31, Chez Est, Hartford: Drag performances with full menu and bar.

Comedy:

• New Year’s Comedy Night, 7:00 or 10:00 p.m. 12/31, City Steam Brewery, Hartford: The Comedy Craft Beer Tour brings the best of Northeast comedy to local breweries, wineries, and any other venue that serves alcohol throughout New England and beyond for an evening that keeps the drinks flowing, and the laughs coming.

• New Year’s Eve Comedy Showcase, 7:00 or 10:00 p.m. 12/31, The Elbow Room, West Hartford: A showcase of CT's finest comedians hosted by Santa Claus and headlined by Matt Heath.

Immersive Experiences:

• New Year’s Eve at the Branford, 8:30 p.m., The Branford House, Branford: Marked as an evening to remember, waltz back in time to the roaring twenties and enjoy a collective immersive experience with elaborate ambience featuring live performers, decadent hors d'oeuvres and an open bar with premium selections.

• A New Year’s Eve Speakeasy Murder Mystery, 7:00 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. 12/31-1/1, Harrie’s Jailhouse, Middletown: The jailhouse will be completely transformed into the ultimate prohibition-era party space, and guests can expect to be surrounded by plenty of jazz, gin, murder, and mystery as they are immersed into the world of Jay Gatsby.

• 314’a NYE Masquerade, 6:00 p.m. – 12:30 a.m., 12/31 -1 2/1, 314 Beer Garden, Norwalk: Wear your Masquerade Masks for an all-night party with live music and watching the ball drop.

Brewery/Winery Fun:

• 80’s New Year’s Eve with The Pop Rocks at the Woodbury Brewing Company, 9:00 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. 12/31-1/1, Woodbury Brewing Company, Woodbury: It's an 80s rocking eve with The Pop Rocks; dancing to your favorite old tunes.

• New Year’s Eve Dinner and Live Music Party, 6:00 p.m. 12/31, Aquila’s Nest Vineyards, Newtown: Great wine, menu by Loree's Fine Food, Live Music by Frank Louis Pisani & Pat Matto, dancing, and an epic good time.

Live Music/Dancing:

• Chizzle, 9:00 p.m. 12/31, Avalon Nightclub at Mohegan Sun: Special Guest DJ all night party

• Party into The New Year, 10:30 p.m. 12/31, Uncas Ballroom at Mohegan Sun: Extravagant New Year celebration gets underway with dancing and music by DJ Tom Macari with an open bar, a champagne toast at Midnight and breakfast buffe.

• Blurred Vision, 8:00 p.m. 12/31, Wolf Den at Mohegan Sun: Blurred Vision will be playing high energy music with an open dancefloor.

• New Year’s Eve at Shrine, 9:00 p.m. 12/31, Shrine at Foxwoods: Concert by 50 Cent

Food, Drink & Live Entertainment:

• Happy New Years with Soul, 8:30 p.m.- 12:00 a.m. 12/31-1/1, Black-Eyed Sally’s, Hartford: Ring in the New Year with The Mighty Soul Drivers! The Drivers bring the classic Soul sounds of Memphis, Muscle Shoals, and points South to the hills of New England.

• Four Season By The Lake 2022 NYE Party featuring Back in Black & Aquanett, 7:00 p.m. -1:00 a.m. 12/31-1/1, Four Seasons by the Lake, Stafford: A night of rock music; come dance the night away with Back In Black & Aquanett. Enjoy Hors D'oeuvre's and a Champagne Toast.

• New Year’s Eve with Whiskey Boulevard, 9:15 p.m. 12/31, Comix Roadhouse at Mohegan Sun: High energy live music with food, drinks, and craft beers.

• Red Light, 10:00 p.m. 12/31, The Lansdowne Pub at Mohegan Sun: Party music rock cover band with food and drinks.

• New Year’s Eve Dinner Dance, 8:00 p.m. – 3:00 a.m. 12/31-1/1, Vibz Uptown Flava Banquet Hall, Hartford: Appetizers, Full Dinner Buffer, Desserts and 2-hour OPEN BAR, featuring PERSONAL TOUCH BAND. Music by Jimmy Jam and hosted by SONJA DENYSE

• New Year’s at Hope Lodge Venue, 7:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m. 12/31-1/1, Hope Lodge, Moosup: A live DJ, hors d’oeuvres, Caribbean food, and a complimentary champagne toast at midnight.

• NYE Art Show Extravaganza, 7:00 p.m. 12/31, Madeline’s Empanaderia in New Haven: Two floors of an artistic and unique New Years’ experience featuring a top DJ, complimentary cocktails, party favors, appetizers, multiple courses and an exciting countdown to the New Year.

• New Year’s Eve Bash with Wicked Peach, 9:00 p.m., 12/31, Hilton Mystic: Intimate concert, prosecco toast and breakfast buffet at Midnight.

First Night/Noon Year’s Eve:

• First Night 2023, 8:00 a.m. – 11:30 p.m. 12/31, Ski Sundown: All night lift tickets, torchlit ski parade, kid friendly family fun event.

• Countdown to Noon, 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., 12/31, East Lyme Community Center, East Lyme: 250+ balloon drop at Noon! Join the Museum and East Lyme Parks & Recreation for southeastern Connecticut’s premier New Year’s event for children and families.

• Noon Year’s Eve Party, 11:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m., 12/31, Fired Up, Branford: Perfect for anyone who can't quite make it to midnight but still wants to join in the celebration! Each child will make their very own noisemaker as we wait for the Noon-Year’s eve ball to drop.

• Countdown to Noon, 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., 12/31, Stepping Stones Museum for Children, Norwalk: Multimedia Gallery to dance, sing and have a blast to watch New Year’s Eve celebrations from around the world on a huge, immersive screen. Be there before Noon for a Countdown to Noon with great fanfare just like the grownups get to do 12 hours later.

Hotel Packages:

• New Year’s Eve Celebration, 6:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m. 12/31-1/1, Water’s Edge Resort and Spa, Westbrook: Multiple packages to celebrate the New Year are available: Early Four-Course Gourmet Dinner, Dinner and Dance Party and Overnight Package.

• New Year’s Eve Gala, 7:00 p.m., 12/31, Saybrook Point Resort and Marina, Old Saybrook: Gala tickets include stationary and passed appetizers, a sit-down dinner, desserts, a premium open bar & a champagne toast at midnight! Overnight packages available.

City/Town-Wide Celebrations:

• First Night Hartford, 2:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m., 12/31-1/1, Downtown Hartford: First Night is a family-friendly celebration that offers two chances to see fireworks alongside a wide array of outdoor and indoor programming. Now in its 33rd year, First Night is a multicultural, artistically unique, alcohol-free New Years’ experience with countless professional musicians, artists, performance groups and exhibits that inspire thousands of people of all ages to attend each year.

“Some of the hottest New Years’ Eve events are happening here in Connecticut,” said Noelle Stevenson, director, Connecticut Office of Tourism. “From the glitter and glam of Lipstick Lashes: NYE at Mohegan Sun to the Diva Royale in New Haven and New Years’ Eve: Night of Bond at Chez Est in Hartford, Connecticut rings it in like nowhere else. If you’re coming to Connecticut to celebrate New Years’ 2023, you can get your winter adrenaline rush with ice climbing, night skiing, snow biking or UTV’ing in the snow. Bliss out in one of Connecticut’s world-class spas or salt caves, and enjoy award-winning dining in igloos, former firehouses, textile mills, engine rooms, libraries or banks and indulge in the culinary delights of our Michelin Star chefs. Connecticut has long been a state that celebrates the LGBTQ+ community year-round.”

To learn more about Connecticut, visit www.ctvisit.com/lgbtq and follow CTvisit on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.