Bring on 2022 and plan to be at these New Year’s Eve events
As the tree is taken down and ornaments put back in their boxes, it is time to reflect on the past year and plan for a smashing New Year’s Eve to kiss 2022 hello.
Luckily, there are events throughout Greater Tampa Bay with enough champagne, fireworks and family fun to help with just that. Here are some cannot-miss NYE festivities happening in the area that are perfect for ringing in the new year.
Clearwater: Light It Up Clearwater
Sponsored by Amplify Clearwater, this annual fireworks celebration was named as one of the top five kid-friendly places to ring in the New Year by U.S. News Travel. Begin the night watching the sunset, eat a bite and have a drink at a beachside restaurant, then grab a spot on the north end of Sand Key Park just in time for the midnight firework show.
No kids for the night? There are also several 21+ events happening along the beach. Dance the night away at Shepherd’s Beach Resort New Year’s Eve party, see what Clearwater’s largest rooftop bar is all about at the Edge Hotel’s Jimmy’s on the Edge NYE Bash or take the party out to sea on the Tropics Boat Tours New Year’s Eve Fireworks Cruise.
These 21+ festivities are ticketed events. However, they all include stellar entertainment, champagne toasts and a prime vantage point for the Light It Up Clearwater firework show.
St. Pete: First Night St. Petersburg
Considered the largest family friendly New Year’s Eve celebration of the arts in Florida, this free event has fun for both the young and old.
First Night St. Petersburg celebrates the coming new year by showcasing its vibrant art community. Join in the merriment in South Straub Park, where there will be interactive art exhibits, live bands, street performers, a silent disco and much more.
There will also be two firework shows to christen the evening. One begins at 8 p.m., and the other when the clock strikes midnight.
Tampa: Noon Year’s Eve for Kids/Riverfront Concert & Fireworks at Armature Works
Armature Works, a stylish mixed-use building comprised of eateries, event spaces and a market, is doubling up on fun with two NYE events.
The first, Noon Year’s Eve for Kids, kicks off at 10 a.m. Families can enjoy live entertainment, inflatable slides and sweet treat vendors. When the clock strikes 12, well, afternoon, there will be a daytime firework display. This is a free event, but a VIP option includes prime viewing for the fireworks show, unlimited inflatable pass, face painting and a private bar for the parents.
Since Noon Year’s Eve ends at 3 p.m., parents have plenty of time to drop the kids off with a sitter and head to the Riverfront Concert and Fireworks at 8 p.m. Sit back with a cocktail, listen to live music by Ed John, Oaklee and DJ Deacon, enjoy the riverfront views, and at midnight, watch the downtown skyline come to life beneath a spectacular firework display.
By Shelley Akins
