Best New Year’s Eve Activities Around the Upper West Side

New Year’s Eve on the Upper West Side is packed with options, from kid-friendly daytime parties to midnight fireworks and live jazz.

Fireworks over Central Park

Central Park’s New Year’s Eve fireworks typically launch at midnight from near Bethesda Terrace/Bow Bridge, and are visible from much of the park’s west side between the 60s and 80s. For the best UWS experience, head into the park from West 72nd Street or West 81st/85th and claim a spot on a wide path or open area by 11:30 pm, dressed for cold and with a thermos in hand.​

Watch from Riverside Park

If you prefer a quieter neighborhood vibe, walk into Riverside Park between about West 72nd and West 96th and look east just before midnight for long‑range views of the Central Park fireworks and scattered bursts over the city. Riverside tends to feel calmer than Central Park at midnight, so remind readers to bring flashlights, stick to lit paths, and avoid icy or isolated sections near the water.​

NYRR Midnight Run in Central Park

The NYRR Midnight Run is a four‑mile race that counts down with a pre‑race party at 11:59 pm and starts right as the clock hits midnight, looping through Central Park with music and fireworks overhead. Registration for 2025–26 is listed around 70 USD for non‑members and 55 USD for New York Road Runners members, and the event is open to ages 8 and up with advance sign‑up required.​

Central Park Evening Walk

For a no‑ticket option, suggest an early evening Central Park walk that wraps up before the big crowds and the late‑night chill. Enter from the UWS around 5–8 pm, stick to well‑lit, busier routes like the main drives, The Mall, and Bethesda Terrace, and advise readers to walk in pairs or groups and avoid wooded areas after dark. A loop from West 72nd Street (Strawberry Fields) down to Bethesda Fountain and back makes a scenic, manageable pre‑dinner stroll.​

St. John the Divine – Concert for Peace

The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine hosts its annual New Year’s Eve Concert for Peace, an Upper Manhattan tradition founded by Leonard Bernstein and now featuring large‑scale choral and orchestral works. This year’s concert is scheduled for Wednesday, December 31, 2025, from 7:00–8:30 pm at 1047 Amsterdam Avenue, with tickets sold through the cathedral and typically priced to remain broadly affordable compared with big Midtown galas.​

Noon “Ball Drop” at Children’s Museum of Manhattan

For families who want to celebrate early, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan on West 83rd Street runs New Year’s countdown programming on December 30 and 31, with themed art projects and kid‑friendly “ball drop” moments. On New Year’s Eve, the Ball Drop & Dance Party takes place at 12 pm and 2 pm for all ages on the first floor, and is included with regular museum admission (about 17 USD per person), though timed tickets and advance reservations are recommended.​

Dizzy’s New Year’s Eve at Columbus Circle

Dizzy’s Club at Jazz at Lincoln Center offers a more upscale NYE: live jazz with city views, a full dinner, and a timed countdown set. For 2025–26, the New Year’s Eve event with the Carlos Henriquez Nonet includes a 7:30 pm seating and an 11 pm “countdown” seating, with doors opening an hour early; packages include cover, food, non‑alcoholic beverages, and gratuity, and typically run into the low‑to‑mid hundreds of dollars per person depending on set and inclusions.