Canyon Raceway
9777 West Carefree Highway, Peoria
Droppin' the Ball rave and massive DJ event with five stages hosting more than 25 different turntablists spinning such genres as breakbeats, drum 'n' bass, trance, and more. The lineup includes Harmonius, Atomic Mage, Spy vs. Spy, Defcon 4, Sinabyte, N3M3S1S, and Mayhem. 9 p.m. $25. See www.azinfoline.com.
Casino Arizona at Salt River
101 and McKellips Road, Scottsdale
www.casinoaz.com
Score big time at this New Year's Eve bash featuring music from Tommy Holloway & Trio 380 in the Pima Room, and Los Guys and Harry Luge & Haywire in the Showroom, as well as a midnight champagne toast and balloon drop. 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Free. Call 480-850-7734.
Celebrity Theatre
440 North 32nd Street
www.celebritytheatre.com
Popular New Year's Eve mainstay Jerry Riopelle returns to the Celebrity Theatre with his showcase of bluesy rock 'n' roll. 9 p.m. $33-$93. Call 602-267-1600.
Chandler Center for the Arts
250 North Arizona Avenue, Chandler
www.chandlercenter.org
Cal Stewart Kellogg conducts the Mesa Symphony Orchestra as they present "The Magic of Gershwin," which highlights the hits of the noted composer, including "American in Paris." 7:30 p.m. $15-$30. Call 480-827-2143 or see http://www.mesasymphony.org.
Dodge Theatre
400 West Washington Street
www.dodgetheatre.com
Laugh away 2005 along with comedian George Lopez, who brings his live act to the Valley. 7:30 p.m. $44.50-$97. Call 602-379-2800.
Doubletree Paradise Valley Resort
5401 North Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale
The Calculated Couples New Year's Eve Party will be a "no pressure" dating event for singles to mix and mingle in "casual but neat" clothing (jeans and sneakers are verboten). Attendees fill out questionnaires and are matched up with other partygoers while browsing a wall covered with the "personal ads" of others. Singles can chat each other up or hit the dance floor while local DJs spin the hits. 8 p.m. $13 (or $15 with canned pet food donation). Call 602-765-0200 or see www.cupidhelp.com .
Fort McDowell Casino
10424 North Fort McDowell Road, Fountain Hills
www.fortmcdowellcasino.com
Neil Sedaka croons out his hits during a special performance in The Fort's Hotel Ballroom. Party favors, hors d'oeuvres, and a midnight champagne toast are also included. 10:45 p.m. $75-$100. (A special package is also available for $399 and includes a two-night hotel stay, complimentary bottle of champagne, breakfast, and more). There's also an outdoors New Year's Eve celebration with party favors, dancing, and music from D'Groove. 9 p.m. Free. Call 800-843-3678.
Gammage Auditorium
1200 South Forest Avenue, Tempe
www.asugammage.com
Spend New Year's Eve reliving some "Memories" as the legendary Broadway musical Cats features Old Deuteronomy, Grizabella, Rum Tum Tugger, and the rest of the Jellicle tribe at Gammage. 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. $23-$58. Call 480-784-4444 or see www.ticketmaster.com.
Harrah's Ak-Chin Casino
15406 Maricopa Road, Maricopa
www.harrahs.com
New Year's Eve celebration in the Oasis Lounge with Turn the Page: A Tribute to Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band. 8 p.m., 10 p.m., and midnight. Free. Call 480-802-5000.
La Mission de San Miguel
335 McKeown Avenue, Patagonia
www.lamisionpatagonia.com
New Year's Eve Gala Celebration with dinner, cash bars, dancing, party favors, midnight champagne toast, and live music by Blues Cubed. Evening attire required. 7 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. $55 per person. Call 520-394-0123.
Mardi Gras Bar & Grill
8040 East McDowell Road, Scottsdale
The Killers of Comedy, featuring regulars from Howard Stern's radio show, offer up a special New Year's Eve performance. The lineup includes Craig Gass, KC Armstrong, Gary the Retard, Yucko the Clown, Jim Florentine, and Reverend Bob Levy. 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. $40-$45. Call 480-970-5707.
Metal Devastation 2
2942 North 16th Street
www.metaldevastation.com
Get 2006 off to a rockin' start with New Year's Evil featuring performances by ETTS, Motive, Sired From Beneath, HeadtRIP, and Avenger of Blood. 7 p.m. $6. Call 602-277-5650.
Phoenix Greyhound Park
3801 East Washington Street
www.phoenixgreyhoundpark.com
Saturday Night Fever New Year's Eve party with a huge disco dance floor, party favors, door prizes, greyhound racing, midnight champagne toast, and more. 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. Free, with $3 admission to the clubhouse, and a buffet dinner is $20.05. Call 602-273-7181.
Rockin' R Ranch
6136 East Baseline Road, Mesa
www.rockinr.net
All-you-can-eat barbeque dinner and western stage show with free hats and party favors, gold panning, gunfights, and wagon rides. 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. $27. 480-832-1539.
Rose Mofford Sports Complex
9833 North 25th Avenue
"Midnight Madness" three-mile run and walk open to all ages. The top 50 finishers win awards, and all participants receive free tee shirts, chili and cornbread, and entries into a prize drawing. 9 p.m. registration, 10:30 p.m. start. $18-$25. Call 480-345-5752 or see www.runningmasters.net.
Scottsdale's New Year's Eve Block Party
Craftsman Court between Third and Fifth avenues, Third and Fifth avenues from Scottsdale Road to Marshall Way, and Stetson Drive to Sixth Avenue, Scottsdale
www.scottsdalenewyearseveparty.com
This annual Scottsdale fete mixes champagne, chefs, and bands aplenty, as well as the usual New Year's Eve staples, like a fireworks show at midnight. Such renowned chefs as The Food Network's Cat Cora, chocolatier Julia Baker, and the BBC's Johnny Ciao conduct cooking demonstrations on one stage, while various bands -- including The Chadwicks, Metalhead, Dread Zeppelin, T.A.T.E., Crown Kings, and the Colin John Band -- rip it up on two music stages. Various food, beverage, and street vendors will also be on hand. 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Tickets are $35 for general admission (which allows access to NEXT, Upper Deck Sports Cafe, ACME Bar & Grill, and Dos Gringos), and $100 for a VIP package (which includes a private stage, a champagne toast, food and beverages, and more). Call 866-443-8849.
Symphony Hall
225 East Adams Street
The Phoenix Symphony performs various traditional Strauss waltzes, popular love songs, and New Year's Eve favorite "Auld Lang Syne." A complimentary glass of champagne is included in the ticket price. 7:30 p.m. $24-$69. Call 602-262-7272.
Tempe Improv Comedy Theater
930 East University Drive, Tempe
www.tempeimprov.com
Frank Caliendo stages a laugh riot at The Improv with a special New Year's Eve show. 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. $40-$45. Call 480-921-9877.
Tempe Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Block Party
Mill Avenue, Tempe
www.tostitosfiestabowl.com
More than 150,000 people are expected to jam into the Valley's quintessential New Year's Eve event. This year's edition will serve up six beer gardens, street karaoke, motocross stunt displays, numerous food and drink booths, outdoor dance areas, a pep rally for Notre Dame and Ohio State University, and 10 stages of live entertainment hosting more than 40 bands, including Blues Traveler and Roger Clyne and The Peacemakers. 4 p.m. to 12:15 a.m. $20 ($15 at Fry's Food Stores). Call 480-350-0911.
Westin Kierland Resort and Spa
6902 East Greenway Parkway, Scottsdale
www.kierlandresort.com
The Phoenix Symphony presents its annual Black & White Gala, with Robert Moody conducting and jazz all-stars The Manhattan Transfer serving as special guest. Cocktails are available at 8 p.m. with a four-course dinner following at 8:45 p.m. Black-tie wear is required. $500. Call 602-495-1117 or see www.phoenixsymphony.org.
