Where to Party in Portland For New Years 2025
New Year’s Eve functions as something like everyone’s collective half-birthday. It’s the most literal marker of time we have. If all goes according to plan, a friend of a friend of a friend throws a big fancy party at their big fancy house. There you drink Champagne, perhaps fall in love, and debut the new and improved version of yourself that will navigate the next year. However, like those life-altering resolutions, the festivities rarely go according to plan. In reality, the holiday can be an anxious nightmare. What if there is no friend of a friend of a friend, and you’re quite literally all dressed up with nowhere to go? Well, you buy tickets to something. Portland turns out for New Year’s, with parties far past the invite-only crowd. There are big band and cover band concerts, all-night DJ sets, and even a cruise. Vibes range black tie to tie-dye, indie basement show to white table cloth gala. If you’re still waiting on an invite to a shmancy private shindig, it’s probably time to secure some tickets. Here’s a list of our favorites around town.
All in the Family at the Alberta Rose
9:30pm | Alberta Rose Theatre, $50–60
Pink Lady and the Tramps’ burlesque show the Cat’s Meow! kicks off the Alberta Rose Theatre’s end-of-year bash, teeing up the Nowhere Band for a set of ’70s album oriented rock—that is, classics from the Boston, Kansas, and STYX milieu.
Champagne Ball
6:30pm | The Hyatt Regency, $125–250
The closest thing we have to the Times Square ball drop—except it’s black tie-ish, with dance floors, karaoke, and the option to don “singles beads.” Also, Ken Boddie hosts instead of Andy Cohen.
The Crystal with the Polish Ambassador
8pm | McMenamins Crystal Ballroom, $40–90
San Francisco’s the Polish Ambassador headlines a bill of five DJs at the Crystal Ballroom’s annual party.
Edgefield
9pm | McMenamins Edgefield, $25–34
2025 is coming on like 1985 inside the McMenamins Edgefield Hotel, with a nostalgic night of covers from Portland cover band My Siamese Twin, who plumb discographies ranging from the Smiths to the Cure to Echo & the Bunnymen. Plus: the obligatory balloons and bubbles at midnight.
Nonbinary New Year’s Eve
9pm | Show Bar, $20
Artist and art-party-throwing mastermind Kye Alive is hosting the Portland band Nonbinary Girlfriend at Rev Hall’s ground-level bar for a night of intention setting and dreamy, new wave–inspired indie rock.
Micheal Feinstein, A Tony Bennett Tribute
7:30pm | Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, $25+
If you’re manifesting a tuxedo-clad, big band, Tony Bennett, “Body and Soul” 2025, head to the Schnitz for the official ambassador of the Great American Songbook Michael Feinstein’s tribute to the late jazz superstar.
The Portland Spirit
9pm | Salmon Street Springs Dock, $130.50–169
Zoot suits and flapper dresses are recommended for this Gatsby-inspired takeover of the city’s river-faring mascot. Anchor’s up at 9:55.
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