Mix, mingle and bid a memorable farewell to 2023 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 (December 31) 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 (December 29-January 1) 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 2024 at a fully glam New Year’s Eve Celebration at the Chatham Bars Inn, where you can stay and play! Dance the night away with your special someone, while also enjoying a fantastic dinner, casino tables, champagne toast and late-night snacks and desserts. Cap the night off with a stunning fireworks display to welcome the New Year.

After enjoying a winter sunset on their private ocean beach, ring in the New Year at the Sea Crest Beach Hotel in North Falmouth. Enjoy a decadent buffet, grand dessert display, and dancing to live music before a midnight champagne toast. The hotel’s New Year’s Eve Celebration package includes two tickets to the New Year’s Eve dinner and overnight accommodations

Embrace 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. The New Year's Eve festivities over at the Cape Codder Resort in Hyannis include a buffet dinner, dancing, comedy show and champagne toast. 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 family-friendly beach firepits with marshmallow roasting and ice cream socials. 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 annual Polar Plunge at noon on New Year’s Day, and welcome 2024 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.

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!

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 First Day Hikes Cape Cod on January 1, 2024. 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 12 different Cape Cod communities, including sunrise salutes, history talks, family activities and more. See the full schedule of events here!