Your Guide to Phoenix's Best New Year's Eve Parties in 2021

After another tumultuous 12 months, the year is finally drawing to a close. If you’d like to end 2021 on a high note (or at least put it in the rearview), there are plenty of parties and celebrations happening across metro Phoenix to mark the occasion.

What follows is our annual guide of the biggest New Year’s Eve wingdings happening in the Valley, most of which will take place on Friday, December 31 (unless specified otherwise). As per usual, the selection is quite varied: enormous outdoor affairs filled with fireworks and small gatherings at popular neighborhood joints. High-style hotel soirees and lowbrow parties. Some have blockbuster ticket prices while others are free. And pretty much everyone will have the requisite Champagne toast at midnight and party favors aplenty.

Read on for details about where to celebrate on the final nights of 2021, have fun, wear a mask, and get home safe. See you next year.

New Year's Eve Under the Stars at Lustre Rooftop Bar

You can partake in primo views of downtown Phoenix during this outdoor celebration at the open-air lounge at the Hotel Palomar, 2 East Jefferson Street. Local DJs will be in the mix and enjoy specialty cocktails featuring Belvedere, Nolet, Hennessy, and Moet. There will also be hand-rolled cigars for sale and a midnight toast. The celebration is from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. and admission is $25 to $500.

Futuristic Album Release Party at Crescent Ballroom

Homegrown hip-hop artist and onetime Valley resident Futuristic will celebrate the release of his album Don’t Want To Be Famous on New Year’s Eve in the main room of Crescent Ballroom, 308 North Second Avenue. Local rappers Khiry, Toure Masters, Samara Cyn, Oswin Benjamin, Sam Opoku, and Dela Preme will provide support. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. General admission is $15 to $20 and a VIP package (which includes an autographed copy of the album, a Q&A sesh with Futuristic, and the chance to perform during the concert) is $200.

Low-Dough New Year's Eve Show at Yucca Tap Room

Local acts Skull Drug, Squared, First or Last, Skeleton Army, and Ass Wipe Junkies share the bill on this punk rock free-for-all in the main room of Tempe's Yucca Tap Room, 29 West Southern Avenue. The three-chord thunder starts at 7 p.m. Admission is $10 in advance, $15 at the door.

New Year's Eve Block Party at Hance Park

This blockbuster block party put on by the artists of Walter Productions and the owners of Crescent Ballroom returns after a two-year hiatus, albeit with one or two changes. It’s moved to bigger digs at Walter Where?House, 702 North 21st Avenue, and will feature plenty of over-the-top elements (Fireworks! Art cars!) and multiple stages of DJs and live entertainment. The lineup will include spin sessions by Sean Watson, Alaska, Frank Terry, Avitas, Avitas, Fairy Dvst, and Cobra Shell. Food trucks and art cars will also be on the scene. The 21-and-over event starts at 8:30 p.m. General admission is $20.

New Year's Eve Celebration at The Rhythm Room

Local ensemble Cold Shott and the Hurricane Horns will send out 2021 with an evening of funk, blues, and R&B at the Rhythm Room, 1019 East Indian School Road. Party favors and a midnight champagne toast are included in the $25 ticket price. Doors are at 8 p.m.

Raven's New Year's Eve Gala at Talking Stick Resort

This high-style Roaring '20s affair will take place in the showroom of Talking Stick Resort, 9800 East Talking Stick Way in Scottsdale, and feature high-energy music sounds from local band Paradigm, R&B and pop music being spun by DJ Mr. P-Body, two full bars, $12 craft cocktails, and more. There will also be a midnight countdown, balloon drop, and toast. Complimentary valet and self-parking will be available. Semi-formal to black-tie attire is requested, so be sure to dress to impress. The gala starts at 8 p.m. General admission tickets are $60 per person. 

Decadence Arizona 2021 at Rawhide Event Center

If you’re an electronic dance music fiend, regular clubgoer, or raver kid, there’s a good chance you’ll flock to Rawhide, 5700 West North Loop Road in Chandler, for this two-night festival and New Year’s Eve party on Thursday, December 30, and Friday, December 31. This year’s lineup will be headlined by EDM stars like DJ Snake, Marshmello, Excision, Marshmello, Seven Lions, and Dillon Francis. Others scheduled to perform include Alesso, Nora En Pure, Purple Disco Machine, Chris Lake, Destructo, Fisher, Madeon, and DJ Diesel (a.k.a. NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal). The beats will blast from 5 p.m. to 3 a.m. each night. Tickets for the 18-and-over event are $109 to $199 for general admission, $249 to $469 for VIP.

Mirrorball New Year's Eve at Talking Stick Resort

Experience the glitzy vibe at this glammed-out celebration inside the Salt River Grand Ballroom at Talking Stick Resort, 9800 East Talking Stick Way in Scottsdale. Expect multiple bars, specialty cocktails, party favors, music from Bruno Mars tribute act 24K Magic and Prince tribute Purple Reign, and a champagne toast and balloon drop at the stroke of midnight. It’s scheduled to start at 9:30 p.m. and general admission is $135.

A Happy New Earth Year at Endgame

The geeks of Mesa geek bar Endgame, 1233 South Alma School Road, are getting a little tongue-in-cheek with the theme of their New Year's Eve party, which riffs on Omicron Persei 8 episode of Futurama (which was trending recently because of you-know-what). A mix of intergalactic cocktails, “spaceport munchies,” human DJs, and a complimentary Champagne toast are promised. The fun starts at 9 p.m. Admission is $20.

New Year’s Eve Live at Westgate Entertainment District

Fountain Park at Westgate, 6751 North Sunset Boulevard in Glendale, will host this outdoor celebration with live entertainment, DJs, access to six different bars, a midnight countdown, and fireworks. Start time is 8 p.m. Early-bird admission is $25 and admission with express entry is $40.

Sublime With Rome at Marquee Theatre

Rome Ramirez and the other members of this spin-off of the original Sublime will perform a New Year’s Eve show at the Tempe’s Marquee Theatre, 730 North Mill Avenue, with support from local acts Katastro, Action Hammer, Spray Allen, and Herb N Life. Tickets for the 8:30 p.m. gig are $50 to $98.

Gracie’s Space Bar NYE Bash at Gracie's Tax Bar

Take your protein pills, put your helmet on, and set course for Gracie’s Tax Bar, 711 North Seventh Avenue, on New Year’s Eve for “a space odyssey like you’ve never seen.” There will be drag performances, live music, art installations, DJs, interstellar visuals, and more. A planetary ball drop and Miller High Life toast happen at midnight. The party blasts off at 7 p.m. and admission is $5.

Valley Bar New Year’s Eve

The Phoenix Afrobeat Orchestra will fill the music hall at Valley Bar, 130 North Central Avenue, with its high-energy and percussion-filled sounds of the jazzy and funky variety on New Year’s Eve. DJ Lady Staliet will also mix up dancehall, hip-hop, reggaeton, and worldbeat. Games, arty visuals, and cocktails are promised and dancing is inevitable. Doors are at 8 p.m. and admission is $15.

New Year's Eve Masquerade at Boycott Bar

The proprietors of Boycott Bar, 4301 North Seventh Avenue, are asking patrons to dress to impress for this LGBTQIA-friendly soiree. A complimentary Champagne toast and balloon drop will happen at midnight. Masks are encouraged but aren’t required. The ball starts at 8 p.m. Call 602-825-6240 for cover info.