Looking to go out for New Year’s Eve in Columbus for 2025/2026? We’ve compiled a list options to party the night away until the ball drop (and beyond).

In the spirit of “cheap”, there are free, under $15, and under $30 per person options.

We also include a few splurge events, because many of the higher ticket prices typically include food, drinks, and party favors.

The cheapest option for a New Year’s Eve celebration would be a gathering with friends and family at a home, with guests bringing food and drink to share. This will save you a lot of money, and may be the most enjoyable and personal option to start the New Year off right.

If you’d rather go out, every bar in town will offer some sort of New Year’s Eve fun, as it’s one of the busiest nights in the industry.  Check for cover charges before you head out; some may be steeper than you’d expect!

Want us to highlight your event or give it a prime spot at the top of this list and on our calendar page? Email me about sponsoring this popular post: ads@columbusonthecheap.com.

Noon Years Eve in Columbus

Noon Day Ball at Bexley Public Library

Monday, December 29, 2025 from 11:30am – 12:30pm
Celebrate the New Year early and way before bedtime! We will count down to noon with our very own ball drop and tons of other activities! Dressing up is encouraged. Details here. 

Noon-Lite Madness at Westerville Community Center

Tuesday, December 30, 2025 from 11am-12:15 pm. Celebrate New Year’s Eve preschool style with crafts, finger food, and entertainment, and a countdown at Noon to celebrate the New Year. $10 per child; registration required. Sign up online. Activity #608604

Noon Year’s Eve at Hilliard Station Park

December 31, 2025 from 11am-12:30pm

Ring in 2026 a little early with a family-friendly celebration in the heart of Hilliard! Dance party, photo ops, Balloon fun, noise makers, and countdown to noon when the Norwich Township Fire Department lowers the giant ball in Hilliard’s Station Park!

This free event is the perfect way for kids (and kids at heart) to celebrate the new year before bedtime. Details here!

Noon Years Eve with Upper Arlington Library

December 31, 2025 from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Say goodbye to 2025 with a special Noon Year’s Eve party at the library! Join us for crafts and other activities.
Upper Arlington Public Library – Main, 2800 Tremont Road. Free; Ages 0-8. Register online.

Best of 2025 Noon Years Eve Party with Paulettes Palace & Productions

December 31, 2025 from 10:30 am – 12:30 pm.

Featuring Moana, Stitch, Rumi (K-Pop) & More! Co-Hosted by KSM Sports and Fitness, Paulette Princess Parties & The Crafty Club!

Ring in the New Year with sparkle, music, and memories! Enjoy an energetic, joy-filled Golden Noon Year’s Eve Party, perfect for families who love to celebrate early with their little superstars! Best of 2025 Showcase — Moana sing-along, Stitch dance fun, K-Pop Rumi moments, Spidey Moves , Wickedly Popular Concert & more

Registration: $57 per family (2 adults + up to 3 kids); additional guests can be added. Purchase tickets here. 

KSM Sports and Fitness 10336 Sawmill Rd, Powell, OH 43065

Noon Years Eve at Franklin Park Conservatory

December 31, 2025 from 11 am – 1 pm
Goodbye 2025, hello 2026! Make a party hat, play some games and get ready to dance as we do a celebratory countdown with a one-of-a-kind bubble stomp. So everyone can celebrate, we’ll do it all again with a countdown to 1pm. Details here.

Franklin Park Conservatory Aglow, Holiday Blooms, Breakfast with Santa

Columbus Zoo New Year’s Eve Noon Celebration

December 31, 2025 from 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Enjoy a family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebration at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium! This celebration is specially designed for families to welcome 2026 well-before the clock strikes midnight.

Gather at Lakeside Pavilion and Theatre to meet your favorite Zoo Character Ambassadors. Enjoy music and activities and create your 2026 New Year’s Re-Zoo-lution. The highlight of this gathering is the unique New Year’s Eve noon countdown! The rest of the zoo opens at noon for you to enjoy the rest of your day!

Regular Zoo admission or membership applies; details on website.

Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

Noon Years Eve at Delaware County Library

December 31, 2025 from 11:30 am – noon

Ring in 2026 without having to stay up late! Enjoy a New Year’s celebration for the whole family that includes crafts, hands-on activities, and a countdown to NOON! Details on website. 

Go Skating at Skate Zone 71

New Years Eve, December 31, 2025

• 10:30am-1:00pm: Noon Years Eve. $15 admission includes 20 Credit Game Card, Noise Makers & Pretend NYE Countdown at 12:30pm! Skate rental $6.
• 1:30pm-4:00pm: Family NYE Party. Bring your friends & family for an afternoon filled with music, lights, and nonstop skating excitement. Admission: $15.00 includes 20 Credit Game Card, Noise Makers & Pretend NYE Countdown at 3:30pm!
• 4:30pm-7:00 pm: Family NYE Party. Bring your friends & family for an afternoon filled with music, lights, and nonstop skating excitement. Admission: $15.00 includes 20 Credit Game Card, Noise Makers & Pretend NYE Countdown at 3:30pm!
• 8pm-12:30am: New Year’s Even Glow Skate at Skate Zone 71! $20.00 includes 20 Credit Game Card, Noise Makers & NYE Countdown.

Skate Zone 71 Holiday and Winter Break Parties

New Year’s Eve at United Skates of America

December 31, 2025

• 12:00 pm – 3 pm: Noon Years Eve Skate Party $8
• 3:00 pm – 6 pm: New Years Eve Happy Hour SK8 $8
• 6:00 pm – 9:30 pm: New Years Eve Family Skate Party $11

Get tickets here. United Skates of America, 3362 Refugee Road Columbus, OH 43232

Noon Years Eve at Get Air Trampoline Parks

December 31, 2025 from 11 am – 1 pm

Celebrate 2026 with a countdown and balloon drop at noon! Don’t miss out on the games, giveaways and prizes! Tickets will be sold at the door. Pricing will be the same as regular ticket pricing; details here. Located in Pickerington and Hilliard.

Family-friendly Noon Years Eve in Columbus

Merry on Main Iceless Ice Skating

Partners Park, 125 E. Sixth St., Marysville, OH 43040
December 12, 2025 –January 4, 2026 (closed Christmas Day). Skates provided. Outdoor heaters. 72′ x 40′ rink. CPR/First Aid staffed. FREE! Details here.

Things to Do in Marysville, Ohio – Holiday fun edition

New Year’s Eve Parties in Columbus

Columbus on the Cheap does not sponsor, is not affiliated, and is not responsible for any ticket purchases/cancellations/changes for the below parties. Please purchase/attend at your own risk.

New Year’s Eve: $15 and under per person

Brush Crazy Paint and Karaoke Event

December 31, 2025 from 5 pm – 12:30 am. Paint and Karaoke on New Year’s Eve at Brush Crazy. Have fun painting and singing or listening to others sing! Come in when it is convenient for you to paint what you want and karaoke.

Make a reservation for $10, which will be credited toward your in-studio purchase. Walk-ins are welcome! There are a large variety of projects between $20-$50.

Bring your favorite beverage and snacks. Details here.

NYE Party – OSU Football Watch Party & New Year’s Eve at The Historic Trolley District

December 31, 2025 from 5pm – 2am. Join us for a historic Ohio State Football Watch Party + New Year’s Eve celebration!

Doors open at 11AM, giving you plenty of time to pregame and visit the market vendors before the Buckeyes kick off at 7:30PM in the Cotton Bowl. We’ll have bowl games on every screen and Railhouse will be featuring Game Day Specials all evening. Free arcade game play all night, DJ after the game, and toast at midnight. Some vendors staying open late as well

Line Dancing Night NYE at Flannagan’s Dublin

December 31, 2025 at 6:00 PM

Line dance into 2026 at Flannagan’s Dublin NYE Party. There’s a champagne toast at midnight. General admission tickets are $15; purchase here. Ages 21 and up

Flannagans Dublin Indoor, 6835 Caine Rd Columbus, OH 43235

2025 Glass Town Countdown

December 31, 2025 from 7 pm – 1 am

Join your friends, family, and neighbors for an unforgettable New Year’s Eve celebration! Visit historic downtown Lancaster for a family-friendly street party where you will taste fantastic food and spirits at local restaurants and pubs, watch the ascent of the giant glass globe, and light up the sky with a spectacular fireworks show!

The Glass Town Countdown celebrates the importance of glass in Lancaster’s history as the community creates a beautiful piece of glass art for this fun party. The globe is a traveling piece of art until New Year’s Eve, when it rises high above Zane’s Square and rings in the new year.

Skully’s NYE Party

New Years Eve, December 31, 2025

Join us to dance and party our way through the 80’s, 90’s and now! Doors open at 8:00PM.

No cover until 9:00PM, so get here early! $15 cash at the door after 9PM. $15 for under 21. Presale tickets $12.

Complimentary champagne toast at midnight with party favors! 18+ only event. Must have a valid ID. Details here.

Go Skating at Skate Zone 71

New Years Eve, December 31, 2025

• 10:30am-1:00pm: Noon Years Eve. $15 admission includes 20 Credit Game Card, Noise Makers & Pretend NYE Countdown at 12:30pm! Skate rental $6.
• 1:30pm-4:00pm: Family NYE Party. Bring your friends & family for an afternoon filled with music, lights, and nonstop skating excitement. Admission: $15.00 includes 20 Credit Game Card, Noise Makers & Pretend NYE Countdown at 3:30pm!
• 4:30pm-7:00 pm: Family NYE Party. Bring your friends & family for an afternoon filled with music, lights, and nonstop skating excitement. Admission: $15.00 includes 20 Credit Game Card, Noise Makers & Pretend NYE Countdown at 3:30pm!
• 8pm-12:30am: New Year’s Even Glow Skate at Skate Zone 71! $20.00 includes 20 Credit Game Card, Noise Makers & NYE Countdown.

New Years Day, January 1

• 12pm – 3pm: New Years Day Skate. Bring your friends, shake off 2025, and roll into a fun fresh start. Perfect for families, kids, and anyone ready to start the year with FUN. Lace up and let’s roll into the New Year! Admission: $13.00, Skate Rental: $6.00
• 5:00pm-7:30pm: NYD Skate. Start the year moving and grooving on wheels! Bring your friends, shake off 2025, and roll into a fun fresh start. Perfect for families, kids, and anyone ready to start the year with FUN. Lace up and let’s roll into the New Year! Admission: $13.00 includes Free Laser Tag Game with each Paid Child Admission! Skate Rental: $6.00
• 9:00pm-1:00pm: NYD Adult Skate. We’ve got an extra hour just for our Adult Skaters! Lace up and let’s roll into the New Year with great vibes! Admission: $1, Skate Rental: $6, Non-Skating Admission: $19, Adult Skates 18+ ONLY with Valid Photo ID

Read more about the Skate Zone holiday parties.

Events $30 and under per person

New Year’s Eve Celebration Parties at Sequoia Pro Bowl

Two sessions – spots fill FAST! Early Family Party: 5:00PM-8:00PM – $150 for up to 6 people
 Late Countdown Party: 9:00PM-12:30AM – $230 for up to 6 people. The Late Shift Party includes a champagne toast at midnight for the adults 21+, or a sparkling juice toast for the younger guests.

Both sessions include:

• Unlimited bowling
• Shoes for everyone
• Party music, glow lights & countdown moments
• Pizza, soft drinks, sweet treats
  Party favors
• Prize drawings

Columbus Blue Jackets NYE game

Celebrate the end of 2025 with the 5th Line on Wednesday, December 31 at 7 p.m. when they host the New Jersey Devils. 
 
The festivities will include entertainment for all ages throughout the concourse including a DJ, face painting, and balloon artists. For fans ages 21 and over, champagne will be available for purchase at select bars near the McConnell entrance. 

Families can take advantage of the Columbus Dispatch Family Value Pack which includes a ticket to the game, an OhioHealth Chiller Skate Pass and the choice of a value meal. The value meal features items like a hot dog, hamburger, or chicken fingers with rotating sides of chips, popcorn or fries, and Pepsi products. The Columbus Dispatch Family Value Packs start at $35 per person. For more information or to purchase Family Value Packs, visit www.bluejackets.com/family.

NYE at Land-Grant

Ring in the new year at Land-Grant! Whether you’re looking to cozy up in a heated igloo, glide into 2026 with ice bumper cars, or curl with your crew, we’ve got a package to match your vibe. Booking is less than $200 for groups of 8 for several options, so it’s less than $25 per person.

Choose your vibe with igloos, heated cabanas, curling lanes, or ice bumper cars—each package comes with a bottle of bubbly for your midnight toast. Head’s up: our NYE Party is ages 21+. Spots are filling up!

Midnight Masquerade at Budd Dairy Food Hall NYE

December 31, 2025 from 7 pm – 1 am.

Start the evening off with The Big Bad Music Trivia Show with Mark Dantzer from 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm. Ring in the New Year on the Rooftop with special experience tickets. Details coming soon.

Budd Dairy Food Hall is open seating – no reservations offered for main part. Details here.

1086 N Fourth St., Columbus, OH 43201, in Italian Village. 614.505.2630

Events $50 and under per person

Star Lanes Polaris

8655 Lyra Drive, Columbus
December 31: Open from 11 am – 2 am. Book a dart bay or bowling lane for $425 for up to 8 people for bowling ($53/person), or up to 12 people for darts ($35/person). Includes (2) Hours of Bowling/HyperBowling or Darts, Shoe Rentals, $250 food and drink credit, sparking cider or champagne toast, and Fun NYE Party Favors.

VIP Lanes and add-ons are available. Book on the Star Lanes website. 

New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day Bowling Parties

AMF/Bowlero Centers offer three options for celebrating at the lanes with special packages. Choose the daytime bash, sunset bash or ball drop bash. 

AMF Sawmill, 4825 Sawmill Rd. Columbus, OH 43235, 614-889-0880
AMF Stardust, 2434 Old Stringtown Rd. Grove City, OH 43123
Ten Pin Alley, 5499 Ten Pin Alley, Hilliard, OH 43026

Read more about the available packages here.

Roll in 2026 at Bowlero and AMF New Year’s Eve Bowling Parties 

Grandview Theater & Drafthouse New Year’s Eve BEER Tasting

December 31, 2025 from 10 pm – 1 am.

Tickets are $45.00 and include: 9 samples from some of America’s best breweries, a custom pint glass, funny stuff, a ton of raffles, and the ball drop on the BIG SCREEN. The 10th sample will be bubbly.

Hosted by Andy Wuelfing, the tasting will begin at 10pm SHARP. 21 and over only and no refunds unless event is cancelled. Purchase tickets here.

2025 Grown Folks New Year’s Eve 2 Day Celebration

December 30-31, 2025

Join the 2 day New Year’s Eve Celebration in Columbus for professionals and entrepreneurs. There are three events; all have different ticket prices and require registration. Event prices range from $15-$90.

DAY 1: TUESDAY DECEMBER 30TH

• 1ST EVENT: REP YOUR NFL TEAM DAY PARTY. ADMISSION $15 | 2:00PM-6:00PM
• 2ND EVENT: ALL BLACK ATTIRE LINE DANCERS PARTY. ADMISSION $25 | 8:00PM-12:00AM
  DJ TODD P | DJ ANDY G

DAY 2: MAIN EVENT: WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 31ST

• GROWN FOLKS NYE BLACK & WHITE CELEBRATION. ADMISSION $95 | 6:00PM-1:00AM
  DOMMY STYLES | DJ STEVE NICE
  DJ JOHN Q | DJ DEWAYNE CUPE

See Eventbrite for all details, requirements, faqs, and tickets

Renaissance Columbus Westerville-Polaris Hotel, 409 Altair Parkway Westerville, OH 43082

VASO New Years Eve Experiences

Rooftop of AC Dublin, 6540 Riverside Drive, Dublin, OH 43017 (614) 698-2525

December 31 2025, 5:00 PM – 1:00 AM. Guests can ring in the new year in style with live music and party favors at VASO. Cap off the year with panoramic views, a delicious dinner and Instagrammable cocktails.

General admission tickets are standing room only and start at $50. Includes a complimentary Cava toast for once the clock strikes midnight, plus two menu/well drinks.

Revelers with champagne taste can upgrade by booking a private dining or igloo experience or make a night of it and crash at the AC Hotel Columbus Dublin with a room package which includes a table for two. Visit www.vasodublin.com to reserve your ticket.

New Year’s Eve in Columbus: Splurge Events

While these events seem pricey, most include some drinks and food, which may make them less expensive than a free or cheap event at which you have to pay for everything separately. 

The Forge Tavern: Fantasy Masquerade Ball Featuring Labyrinth & ACOTAR’s City of Starlight

December 31, 2025 at 7:00 pm – 1:00 am

Feel free to dress as your favorite fantasy roleplaying character. Elf, fairy, gnome, giant, orc or perhaps you are a human ranger, cleric, fighter or other fun class.

21+ only. Tickets are $60-$75 and include:

• Themed food and drink selections
• Midnight champagne toast
• Board games

Purchase tickets here.
1375 Bethel Rd, Columbus

New Year’s Eve Cowboy Disco Party

December 31, 2025 from 8:00 PM – 1:00 AM

Dust off your boots and leisure suit, Cowboy Disco is coming to Understory. Ring in the New Year with a “yee-haw” while doing the hustle surrounded by your favorite people, food and drinks. Your presence at our party is most wanted: dead or stayin’ alive.

 Our NYE Party will be a building-wide, ticketed event that features a dance party with a live DJ in our second floor events space, heavy hors d’oeuvres and bubbly toast at midnight! 

Each space at Understory will have a distinct vibe and the whole building will be accessible for general admission tickets, $65/person! VIP tables for groups available for booking. Please note this event is 21+ only.

Stories on High: A Night of Hollywood Glamour

December 31, 2025, starting at 8 pm

Join Stories on High for a Hollywood Glam–inspired New Year’s Eve celebration featuring passed hors d’oeuvres, dazzling cocktails, live music and star-studded energy as we ring in 2026 with all the glitz and glamour of the silver screen.

For details and to make a reservation, click here. 

FYR Short North

December 31, 2025

 Join FYR Short North for a Hollywood Glam–inspired New Year’s Eve celebration featuring elegant dining from our new menu and big band music as we ring in 2026 with all the glitz and glamour of the silver screen.

​Dress to impress — Old Hollywood style encouraged.

Details and reservations here. 

I’ll add more events when I come across them, but if you want to go to any of these, buy your tickets now (prices could increase as demand increases).

Please comment below, or email info@columbusonthecheap.com if you know of other events that should be included.

Reminder: Check the Links!

We love finding and sharing a great deal or event, but sometimes things can change without our knowledge. Events get cancelled or moved, bargains sell out, and deals change. Please verify all deals and events with the venue or organizer before you go.

Looking to dine out on New Years Eve or New Years Day? Check out our big list of restaurants open on NYE and New Years Day!

New Years Eve and New Years Restaurant options

Find other things to do on New Years Eve and New Year Day!