Free Community Event Features Daytime Family Activities and Evening Entertainment

Celebrate Rochester! New Year’s Eve is a new event for the Rochester community to ring in the new year together. The celebration will take place at Mayo Civic Center on December 31, 2022, from 2:00 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. on January 1, 2023.

Admission is free. Financial donations are suggested and will support area non-profits. A limited number of reserved VIP tables will be available for purchase for the evening entertainment. Special hotel packages are also available.

Local food vendors and breweries will have food and beverages available for purchase throughout the daytime and evening programming. Alcohol purchases and consumption will require a wristband from ID check tables.

Here’s what to expect throughout the day at Celebrate! Rochester:

Family Friendly Activities from 2:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Indoor Roller Skating: Mayo Civic Center’s Exhibit Hall will be turned into an indoor roller-skating rink, complete with a DJ and spectacular lighting effects by Big Bang Productions!

Roller skating in Mayo Civic Center Exhibit Hall

Live Entertainment: Don’t miss live performances by local bands Clay Fulton and the Lost Forty, and Push & Turn.

Push and Turn and Clay Fulton and the Lost Forty band photos

Food and Beverages from Local Vendors: Snack on your favorite local foods from stores and restaurants including Forager Brewery, BB’s Pizzeria, Thai Garden, Taco Lab, Roasted Bliss, Carroll’s Corn, Thesis Beer Project, Maui Wowi, and Pooches and Palomas.

Outdoor S’mores bar and Interactive Ice Carving Displays: Heat up by the fire, roast your own smores or take a selfie with one of our impressive ice sculptures on the north patio of the Mayo Civic Center.

Inflatables, Arcade Games, Face Painting, and Balloons: Kids will have plenty of ways to stay active during the day, with bounce houses and interactive video games in the exhibit hall.

arcade

Toys, Arts and Crafts, and More: Play with toys from Nana Gogo Toybrary and make crafts with the Rochester Art Center. Face Painting by Karen and Balloons by Kevin will also be bringing the fun!

Kids with Inflatable

Kids Ball Drop and Bubble Celebration: This early celebration of the new year at 5:00 p.m. will allow Rochester’s youngest community members to ring in the new year before bedtime.

Evening Entertainment from 7:00 p.m. – 12:30 a.m.

Local and Regional Bands: Enjoy live music and dancing with a diverse lineup of local and regional bands, including Hair of the Dog, Amateur the Band, Soul Train and Coyote Wild. Entertainment begins at 7:00 p.m. and brings Rochester into the new year!

New Years Eve Evening Entertainment Lineup

Midnight Ball Drop Display: Count down to 2023 in a big way with the midnight ball drop!

VIP Reserved Tables: Admission to Celebrate Rochester! New Year’s Eve is free, but VIP reserved tables are available now with an advance for purchase with an online reservation. For just $75, your VIP ticket includes a reserved table with seating and VIP bar service, 2 drink tickets, light snacks, party favors, and a champagne toast at midnight! VIP tickets are limited to 200 people, so be sure to sign up before it’s too late!

Hotel Packages Are Available: Hilton Garden Inn Rochester Downtown is offering a special hotel rate for the evening of December 31. Find more information and book your room here.

Find more information and a complete schedule of events here.

A special thank you to Destination Medical Center and Mayo Clinic for their support of this event.