New Year's Eve Guide to Bay Area Celebrations

There no reason to stay home on New Year's Eve. Activities abound for both adults and kids throughout the Tampa Bay area.

Uncle Mike's New Year's Eve Party

Uncle Mike’s Smokehouse Grill, 9837 E. Adamo Dr., Tampa, will host a New Year’s Eve party Monday, Dec. 31 featuring three dinner packages, a midnight balloon drop, DJ Wiggles and three blazing bonfires. Call 813-644-6888.

New Year’s Eve Bash

The Dallas Bull, 3322 U.S. 301, Tampa, will host a New Year’s Eve Bash Monday, Dec. 31, starting t 7 p.m. Admission is $5. There will be country music downstairs and top 40 music upstairs, drink specials all night and a champagne toast at midnight. Call 813-987-2855.

Make it a safe New Year’s. Call Fairfield Inn & Suites across the road for 15 percent off a room. The Dallas Bull will provide a shuttle to the hotel. Call 813-626-3000 for reservations.

Fireworks Cruise

The Yacht StarShip, 603 Channelside Dr., Tampa, will offer a New Year’s Eve Fireworks Celebration Cruise Monday, Dec. 31, from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. to Tuesday, Jan 1, 2013 1:00a

This sell-out event includes an open bar, gourmet food stations, a DJ, party favors and a champagne toast at midnight. Those attending will have a great view of the fireworks show at Channelside at midnight. You must be 21 years or older with a valid ID to cruise. Call 813-223-7999.

New Year's Eve with Bobcat Goldthwait

Visit the Centrol Ybor Tampa Improv, 1600 E. 8th Ave., Tampa, Monday, Dec. 31 at 7:30 p.m. and ring in the New Year with comedian Bobcat Goldthwait. Call 813-864-4000

New Year’s Eve at The Amp

For electronic dance music fanatics, the Amphitheatre Event Facility, 1609 E. 7th Ave., Tampa, in Ybor City will host a New Year’s Eve party Monday, Dec. 31 at 9 p.m. with Gabriel and Dresden and special guests Doco and Suzy Solar.

After three years of work apart, the critically acclaimed and multiple award-winning duo are back together with a new energy and spirit. Tickets are available at Event Brite.

West Coast Toast

The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, 5223 Orient Rd., Tampa, will host a New Year’s Eve West Coast Toast Tuesday, Jan. 1 from 2 to 6 a.m. Party-goers will be able to celebrate New Year’s twice in one night as the Hard Rock observes the 3 a.m. Wet Coast countdown and watches the ball drop live from Los Angeles. There will be top 40 dance music with disc jockey Baby Anne. VIP table packages are available by call 813-421-CLUB.

New Year's Eve at Channelside

Channelside Bay Plaza, 615 Channelside Dr., Tampa, will host its famous New Year's Eve celebration featuring a fun and family-friendly assortment of fireworks, live entertainment and more, Monday, Dec. 31 at 9 p.m. Call 813-223-4250.

Rooftop Eve 2013

Rooftop Eve will take place Monday, Dec. 31 at Hyde Park Village, 1509 Swann Ave., Tampa. It will feature an inclusive open bar, live entertainment, VIP service and more. Call 813-251-3500.

New Year’s Eve at The Green Iguana

Ring in the New Year at The Green Iguana, 6264 Winthrop Town Center Ave.,
Riverview, Monday, Dec. 31 at 9 p.m. with drink specials, food and live music. Call 813-643-7800.

New Year’s Eve at Busch Gardens

Ring in the New Year at Busch Gardens in Tampa with a one-of-a-kind experience. Enjoy live music, rides, entertainment and fireworks at midnight. Call 888-800-5447.

Noon Year’s Eve at Lowry Park Zoo
The Lowry Park Zoo, 1101 W. Sligh Ave., Tampa, will host a Noon Year’s Eve celebration Monday, Dec. 31 at noon, featuring fun and kid-friendly activities. Call 813-935-8552.

Noon Year's Eve 2013 at the Glazer Children's Museum

The Glazer Children’s Museum, 1107 E. Jackson St., Tampa, will host a Noon Year’s Eve celebration Monday, Dec. 31 , starting at noon, featuring special kid-friendly activities. Call 813-277-3199.

Outback Bowl New Year's Eve Parade

Celebrate New Year’s Eve on the streets of Ybor City Monday, Dec. 31 at 5:30 p.m. with the Outback Bowl New Year’s Eve Parade. The parade will include a pep rally, college marching bands and cheerleaders from South Carolina and Michigan floats, walking units and more. The fun, free, family-friendly parade steps off at 5:30 p.m. and runs along Seventh Avenue in Ybor City. Call 813-874-2695.

New Year’s Eve 2013 Toast

Legacy Production Group will host Tampa Bay’s largest New Year’s Eve party Monday, Dec. 31 starting at 9 p.m. at the Tampa Convention Center, 333 S. Franklin St., Tampa. More than 3,500 guests are expected at this celebration, which will feature a $2,500 balloon drop, fireworks, live music, bottle specials and a live broadcast the Times Square Ball Drop on massive projectors. This even sells out so buy your tickets now.

First Night St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg will ring in the New Year with this annual alcohol-free event Monday, Dec. 31. at Straub Park at Beach Drive and Fifth Avenue N.E., St. Petersburg. There will be music, lights, dancing, bubbles, stories, creative fun and two fireworks displays. The first will be at 9 p.m. and the second at midnight. It’s free to wander around, but you need a $10 button to participate in activities and enter venues. Organizers also point out that the buttons help fund the annual event, which relies heavily on volunteers. Visit http://www.firstnightstpete.com/ or call 727-823-8906.

Aqua-Eve

The Florida Aquarium, 701 Channelside Dr., Tampa, will splash in the New Year Monday, Dec. 31 at 9 p.m. The party for those 21 and older will include food, beer and wine, a champagne toast and fireworks viewing. Cocktail attire is required. Tickets are $100 and $110. Call 813-273-4000

Kid's New Year's Eve

LEGOland Florida, One Legoland Way, Winter Haven, will host a Kid’s New Year’s Eve Monday, Dec. 31 at 7 p.m.  Watch the giant LEGO brick drop at this very kid-friendly event including fireworks and a DJ dance party. The event is geared to kids age 3 to 12 and costs $75 for adults and $65 for kids. Call 877-350-5346.

Irish New Years Eve Celebration
Celebrate New Year’s Eve with your entire family. Ring in the New Year Monday, Dec. 31 at 7 p.m. at O’Brien’s Irish Pub, 701 W. Lumsden Rd., Brandon, when it’s midnight in Ireland.  O’Brien’s is now taking reservations. Seating starts at 5:30 p.m. and features a special New Year’s Eve menu, live entertainment, free champagne toast, party favors for children and children under 12 eat for free. Call 813-661-9688.

American New Year’s Eve Party
O’Brien’s Irish Pub, 701 W. Lumsden Rd., Brandon, will host a New Year’s Eve Dance Party Monday, Dec. 31 with music from the ‘70s, ’80, ‘90s and beyond. Dance until the wee hours of morning and enjoy a midnight buffet, party favors and free champagne.

All-Night Skate

Skateland of Brandon, 750 Robertson St., Brandon, continues a 35-year tradition with an all-night skate from 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 31 to 7 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 1. Admission is $20. Skate rental is extra. Milk and doughnuts will be available at 3 a.m. for a nominal fee. Call 813-681-3635 or email SK8LAND@aol.com.

If you want to stay closer to home, there are events planned right here in Westchase, too. Check out this article on Westchase New Year's Eve happening for details.