Mix, mingle and bid a memorable farewell to 2021 with these Cape Cod countdowns that invite you to toast friends, family and new beginnings close to home. From fireworks displays and dance parties to New Year’s Day first light hikes and polar plunges, the Cape is an ultimate New Year’s destination.

First Night Chatham
Start a new tradition at the family-friendly, alcohol-free First Night Chatham and join a town-wide, outdoor winter celebration to remember, featuring a day of ice sculptures, giant Legos, a bubble wrap stomp, a noise parade, and early fireworks. Food trucks, entertainment and First Night merch round out the fun!

First Light Provincetown  
Light up your day or night (and bicycle) at Provincetown’s First Light, a multi- day New Year's celebration packed with local vendors, a two-day holiday market, live entertainment, the community-loved Light Bright Bike Ride and fireworks at MacMillan Pier. Take the New Year’s Day Polar Bear Plunge with a pack of fellow courageous, costumed plungers, then warm up with chili and cocktails at Harbor Lounge. See the  calendar for full event details.

Night Out
Step out in style at the Pelham House NYE Rooftop Bash where you can enjoy a sumptuous four-course plated dinner followed by a rooftop cocktail hour or dessert buffet overlooking the ocean. Just want to party? Join the DJ at the Rooftop Cocktail Party for passed desserts and a champagne toast from 10 pm to 1am.

Staying local has never been more fun than at Mashpee Commons, where you can stroll around the festively decorated shops before toasting the holiday at the Cape’s crown jewel European restaurants: Siena, Bleu and Estia Taverna. Or enjoy a casual night with friends at Lanes Bowl & Bistro or Bobby Byrne's.

Overnight Getaway   
Kick off 2022 family-style or at the adults-only New Year's Eve celebration at the Cape Codder Resort in Hyannis, where you can stay and play! Dance the night away with your special someone to the Bart Weisman Jazz Group or treat the kids to a family beach party—the Cape Codder’s newest event featuring an all-star lineup of crafts and entertainment, a beach ball drop, and sparkling punch toast! While you're there, don't miss the Cape Codder's festive Enchanted Village.

Ring in the new at one of the Cape’s most historic landmarks and celebrate new beginnings at the Dan'l Webster Inn in Sandwich, where you can savor the Chef’s Special New Year’s offerings, then relax and enjoy champagne and chocolates in your room. Or celebrate in style with a two-night New Year’s Eve package at the Bayside Resort in Yarmouth; watch the ball drop at a local favorite restaurant, sleep late, and enjoy a winter walk on Seagull Beach. Champagne and party favors at check in!

Polar Plunges
What’s a little arctic water when you’re with friends and neighbors? Join the Friends of Yarmouth Council on Aging for the 12th Annual Polar Plunge scheduled for noon on New Year’s Day and welcome 2022 from the Nantucket Sound at Bass River (Smugglers) Beach in Yarmouth. Hot cocoa and baked goods available for the brave at this free, community give back event!
 
You can also register for the Monument Beach Polar Plunge in Bourne and get freezin for a reason at the annual New Year’s Day Polar Swim at noon that benefits the Bourne Food Pantry. Can’t bear the cold or make it person? Participate remotely and register at mbpcpolarplunge.org in celebration of this year’s 25th anniversary!   

The Giants in Sandwich
Looking for a fun and memorable family outing to celebrate the season? Let your community spirit shine as you take a time-honored drive through the Cape’s oldest town to spot the colossal, twinkling figures known as the “Giants”, created by local Cape artist, Michael Magyar. What started out as one lit-up Giant in 1996 to represent his East Sandwich Glass Studio has become a growing holiday tradition with dozens of sculptures displayed along Route 6A in Sandwich. Local businesses have carried on the tradition and expanded to backroads and other towns down Cape bringing the total to 60 Giants. Fill a thermos with hot chocolate, pile into the car and see how many you can spot!

Cape Symphony New Year’s Day Concert
What better way to ring in 2022 than with the inspiring sounds of joyful music? Start your new year off on the right note at Barnstable Performing Arts Center with a fun-filled performance orchestrated to showcase the spirit of a New Year’s celebration in Vienna with an exciting mix of old and new. From Viennese waltzes and marches to pop hits and opera classics and the captivating three sopranos of the award-winning ViVA Trio, this is a mixer not to miss!

First Day Hikes Cape Cod
If wellness and a more active lifestyle have made your list of New Year’s resolutions this year, mark your calendar for the Cape’s inaugural #FirstDayHikesCapeCod launching January 1st. This collaborative, regional celebration inspired by state parks across the nation and spearheaded by the Barnstable Land Trust features 11 free outdoor events and hikes throughout eight different Cape Cod communities, including a First Day, First Light Hike and Nature Scavenger Hunt and Hike perfect for all ages. See the full schedule of events here!