2023 TOP Michigan New Year’s Eve Events, Things to DO(Updated!)

Michigan New Year’s Eve 2023 Things to Do: Fireworks, Ball Drops, Skating Parties, Balloon Drops and More

Looking for the perfect way to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Michigan? We’ve got them for you and then some!

From swanky balls and Great Gatsby-inspired parties to family fun runs and skating parties and hockey games — there are tons of memorable ways to ring in the New Year in Michigan.

All around the state, New Year’s Eve parties are planned, and tickets are being sold to ring in 2023 the Pure Michigan way, with plenty of food, drinks, music, dancing, and of course, classic New Year’s Eve ball drops!

Whether it’s family-friendly fun or 21+ exclusive parties, there’s a way for everyone to get the most out of their New Year’s Eve experience. Check out our list of fun New Year’s Eve celebrations (separated by Michigan regions) across the state and find fun events happening on the final night of the year.

Celebrate Michigan New Year’s Eve

We’ve scoured the state from Grand Rapids to Port Huron; from Mackinaw City to find some amazing ways to ring in New Year!

From annual events like the Torch Light Parade in Marquette and the Traverse City Cherry Drop to Family New Year’s Eve events like New Year’s Eve Bash at Splash Village in Frankenmuth, we’re prepared an NYE Michigan travel guide to keep you celebrating all year long!

Read on for a list of 35 of the best ways to spend New Year’s Eve in Michigan.

Upper Peninsula New Year’s Eve Events

New Years Eve Anchor Drop – Sault. Ste. Marie

Now this is a pure Michigan New Year’s Eve celebration; ring in the New Year in Downtown Sault Ste. Marie and celebrate in the Soo until the anchor drops at midnight! Join the celebration near the corner of Ashmun Street and Portage Ave to countdown to 2023.

Stick around after 12:01 a.m. for the great celebrations at downtown bars.

New Year’s Eve Celebration at Ski Brule – Iron River

Spend New Year’s Eve on the ski slopes as the holiday events wind down. One of the top New Year’s Eve parties in Michigan is held at this Upper Peninsula ski resort and features a full dinner with turkey prime, rib, sliced ham, and more, as well as music and dancing.

You’ll also find fun outdoors activities to ring in 2023 like skiing, Whitewater Snow Tubing, and a torchlight parade and fireworks, too. Iron River is about an hour northwest of Iron Mountain.

Marquette NYE Ball Drop – Marquette

Every time the year turns new, folk from all around the Upper Peninsula gather in Marquette MI to celebrate together and watch the ball drop on December 31, 2023.

During this time the intersection of Washington and Front Street becomes a hub of holiday cheer, community engagement, and unbridled excitement for what the future holds. Watch with the crowd as the illuminated ball drops from the historic Savings Bank Building at the stroke of midnight. One of the top NYE annual events in UP.

Great Turtle Drop on Mackinac Island

Gather on Mackinac Island’s Main Street as the Great Turtle – a 70-pound green, light-covered, fiberglass turtle – is dropped to the ground to help ring in 2023. This is one of my favorite a NYE annual events in northern Michigan.

If you’ve never been to Mackinac Island in the winter, it’s a true winter wonderland. Surrounded by the beautiful blue Lake Huron, the snow-covered island is a perfect spot for a Michigan winter getaway. Take the ferry from St. Ignace, the ferry in Mackinaw City does not operate in the winter.

New Year’s Eve Events in Northern Michigan

Black Star Farms New Year’s Eve Wine Dinner – Suttons Bay

Black Star Farms in Suttons Bay is one of Michigan’s premier wineries and they know how to celebrate New Year’s Eve with class and style. This wine and dine event will provide you with some of the best wine in the state alongside a special multi-course meal designed to satisfy.

If you love wine, food, and the sophisticated spirit of a New Year’s Eve in northern Michigan, you’ll love this one-of-a-kind experience.

Family Fun Prime Rib Dinner Show at Shanty Creek – Bellaire

This family New Year’s Eve event features an amazing dinner buffet as well as a comedian, magician and DJ with dancing in the Lakeview Hotel’s Grand Ballroom. Shanty Creek’s Dinner Show is a perfect New Year’s Eve family activity at one of my favorite ski resorts in Michigan.

Spend New Year’s Eve on Drummond Island

Celebrate New Year’s Eve at Drummond Island Resort with the NYE Celebration Package. Each reserved adult staying with this package will enjoy a Dinner and champagne toast on NYE at Pins Bar & Grill. Pins Bar & Grill will be offering a special NYE Dinner menu.

Guests must stay the night of 12/31/22 to enjoy included Dinner and champagne toast. It’s one of the more secluded and quiet New Year’s Eve events, and offers the chance to ring in 2023 surrounded by the pristine beauty of Michigan in winter on Drummond Island.

CherryT Ball Drop- Traverse City

If you can’t make it to Times Square, there’s no better place to be than the Traverse City Cherry Drop. As the Cherry Capital of the world should, the ball that is dropped is not so much a ball as much as it is a massive, illuminated cherry, which itself is quite the sight to behold.

After midnight, enjoy a spectacle of fireworks as you wrap up a party – and a year – to remember.

New Year’s Eve Family Party at Crystal Mountain- Thompsonville

What better way to celebrate NYE than on the snowy runs at Crystal? Celebrate surrounded by loved ones during our Family Party! The family party includes dinner buffet, non-alcoholic beverages (iced tea, lemonade, water, coffee), party favors, live entertainment, and kids party favors.

Skiing at Crystal is one of my favorite winter activities – get your lift tickets and give it a try!

Torch Light Parade – Harbor Springs

This family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebration starts at 6 p.m. at Nubs Nob. Head to the bottom of theGreen Lift and watch as the Nubs Nob Ski Patrol and the Winter Sports School skiers make two runs down Smokey with flares in hand, creating a beautiful light display.

Free of charge and no ticket or season passes are required.

Grand New Year’s Eve – Marion

Dance the night away at this black tie, plated dinner, complete with a champagne toast at Midnight. Spend New Year’s Eve in style at the Old Mill venue in downtown Marion. Marion is located between Cadillac and Houghton Lake.

Annual Ball Drop – Ludington

Packed with energy and plenty of food and drinks, it’s crazy to think that Ludington’s New Year’s Eve ball drop event is free – but it is!

This is more than just a New Year’s Eve ball drop, it’s an end-of-the-year experience complete with a firework show over downtown Ludington just after midnight. Enjoy music, beer, food, fireworks, and more at West Michigan’s largest ball drop event. This Mason County event on the shores of Lake Michigan is one of the best ball drops in Michigan!

Best Mid-Michigan New Year’s Eve Events

Michigan Princess New Year’s Eve – Lansing Michigan

Welcome the new year from the water aboard the Michigan Princess as ir cruises down the Grand River in Lansing.

This riverboat party includes all of the favorite New Year’s Eve necessities, including a fabulous buffet, cash bar, a champagne toast, and a midnight balloon drop. Enjoy music from the 50’s to the 70’s courtesy of the Sea Cruisers band and dance the night away with a unique NYE experience.

New Year’s Eve Masquerade Ball /Fashion Show – Lansing

One of the more intriguing New Year’s Eve events is this New Year’s Eve gala fundraiser. A one-of-a-kind Masquerade Ball on New Year’s Eve. There will be live music and entertainment, food, drinks, and more for a good cause.

New Year’s Eve Splash Bash at Splash Village – Frankenmuth MI

Michigan winters don’t really allow for anyone to enjoy a swim on New Year’s Eve – unless you’re at Zehnder’s Splash Village at the New Year’s Eve Splash Bash. Take a weekend trip to Frankenmuth at the end of December to celebrate the new year in a totally unique way.

Have a blast at the water park or explore any number of other accommodations available during this special time. If a water park, music and dancing, magic show, and fireworks aren’t exciting enough, the delicious food Zehnder’s will provide is the cherry on top of a fun-filled weekend getaway.

Downtown Owosso New Year’s Eve Block Party – Owosso

Mid-Michigan’s Owosso returns in 2022 for the block-party tradition that features a true New York-style ball drop. The party starts at 11 p.m. at the corner of Washington and Water Street, where you’ll find a live DJ and free ice skating on a synthetic ice-skating rink.

The downtown Owosso NYE ball (nicknamed Lucille) with over 10,000 lights, drops at midnight, but be sure and stick around for the amazing firework show after the ball drop.

Midland Midnight on Main – Midland

The Dow Diamond comes alive for this sixth annual New Year’s Eve celebration featuring a midnight ball drop and fireworks. You’ll need tickets for the ball drop, a 10-minute-long firework display, food and drinks, live music, and a D.J. The party starts at 7 p.m.

New Year’s Eve in West Michigan

Grand Haven Ball Drop – Grand Haven

The New Year’s Eve fun starts at 11 p.m. in downtown Grand Haven at Washington Avenue & 1st Street. The ball drops at midnight, but be sure to stick around for the fireworks afterward.

New Year’s Eve Ballroom Bashes in Grand Rapids – Grand Rapids

The New Year’s Eve Ballroom Bashes are the biggest and best 21+ parties in the city. The venue is split between two ballrooms across the Amway Grand Plaza and JW Marriott hotels, meaning the fun is doubled. Each location will offer unique entertainment options and plenty of fun all around.

New Year’s Eve Masquerade – Holland MI

Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Michigan at the premier event in Downtown Holland. Treat yourself to drinks, appetizers, champagne, dancing and more! You’ll also find a live band, DJ, and other entertainment.
Proceeds from this event will benefit Mackenzie’s House, a program of Grant Me Hope to prevent homelessness of aged-out foster girls.

New Year’s Hockey Eve – Grand Rapids

Holiday sporting events are always just better somehow, and New Year’s Eve is no exception. This year on New Year’s Eve the Grand Rapids Griffins play at 6 p.m., followed by Van Andel’s favorite NYE tradition – an indoor fireworks display to ring in the new year. This a favorite winter in Michigan tradition.

New Year’s Events in Southwest Michigan

Henderson Castle’s New Year’s Eve Masquerade – Kalamazoo

Where better to celebrate like a king or a queen than in a castle? Henderson Castle in Kalamazoo’s annual New Year’s Eve Masquerade is an extravagant party for anyone with royal tastes. Enjoy a seven-course dinner with party favors, fireworks viewing, and a champagne tower toast at midnight.

Kalamazoo New Year’s Fest – Kalamazoo

This fun-for-all-ages New Year’s Eve event in downtown Kalamazoo is a celebration of music, dance, and laughter. It all starts at 5:30 p.m. and features four indoor performance locations, two heated tents, and live music from Bronson Park Stage.

Performances include bands, performers (magic, storytelling, unique acts, and jugglers, theatre, and interactive performances)that get the audience moving. There are also outdoor street performers. The ball drops at midnight, followed by a spectacular fireworks show.

New Year’s Eve Celebration and Beach Ball Drop – South Haven

Okay, we’ll come clean: this is one of our favorite New Year’s Eve events in Michigan. It’s not just one giant New Year’s Eve ball dropping, it’s 1000 beach balls dropping from the city center, followed by a fabulous fireworks show.

The party starts at 7 p.m., when you can stroll the streets in South Haven, stop by warming stations hosted by local merchants, and enjoy music by a live D.J., food, entertainment, and ice skating, too.

Michigan’s Largest NYE Ball Drop – Allegan

Ring in 2023 with the fourth annual NYE celebration in Downtown Allegan on Friday, December 31st. The free, family-friendly New Year’s Eve party will culminate with Michigan’s largest lighted ball drop and brilliant fireworks display at the stroke of midnight.

The 8 pm-midnight event will feature large firepits, food trucks, adult beverages, a photo booth, Silent Disco, and more.

Casino Royale New Year’s Eve Party – St. Joseph MI

Wear your best 007 attire and head to the Saint Joseph – Benton Harbor area in southwest Michigan for a NYE party at the Inn at Harbor Shores. Enjoy a delicious dinner that includes Casino games, a DJ, a Champagne toast, fireworks, a selfie station, and late night popcorn

Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Detroit

Belle Isle New Year’s Eve Family Fun Run & Walk – Detroit MI

Get an early start at your Motor City New Year’s Eve celebrations with the Belle Isle Family Fun Run. Starting at 3:30 p.m., participants can run or walk a mile or a 5k.

Spend the day getting active with friends and family and enjoy the beauty of Belle Isle in winter. The event wraps up at 11 p.m., leaving you just enough time to get to your celebration of choice before the clock strikes 12.

Resolution Ball 2023 at Detroit’s Masonic Temple – Detroit, MI

The Resolution Ball is one of downtown Detroit’s biggest New Year’s Eve bashes. This 21+ event is hosted at Detroit’s historic Masonic temple and filled with plenty of food, drinks, and cirque-style entertainment, including stilt walkers, illusionists, and stunt performers. Be amazed and get excited for the new year with a unique party experience.

The Ultimate NYE Eve Family Skating Party- Detroit

Amidst all the 21+ parties in the city, Detroit’s Northland Roller Rink celebrates everyone planned on the night of December 30th. Skate, roll, and bounce into 2023 with a ticket that includes everything from admission to skate rental, and even pizza and drinks. This New Year’s party definitely has some fun for everyone.

Gatsby’s House 2023 Detroit New Year’s Eve Celebration – Detroit

Grab some friends and head to the Renaissance Center Downtown to welcome the new year in style with a 20’s “Gatsby’s House” themed party. With prepaid drinks, multiple staffed bars, Detroit’s top DJ’s and plenty of festive favors and fun, those looking for a uniquely exciting New Year’s Eve will find it here.

New Year’s Eve in South and Southeast Michigan

Webers NYE in the Grand Ballroom -Ann Arbor

Celebrate the New Year in the iconic Webers hotel and restaurant in Ann Arbor, where you’ll find a champagne reception, ballroom-style dinner service, late-night pizza and a private brunch buffet the folowing morning. You’ll also find festive noisemakers, balloons and more!

Michigan Mitten Drop at Canterbury Village – Lake Orion

Ring in the NEW YEAR with The Michigan Mitten Drop at Canterbury Village in Lake Orion, just up the road from Rochester Hills. Celebrate with a 6′ x 5′ illuminated Michigan Mitten dropping from 80′. Featuring two drops, one at 6:30 p.m. for a New Year’s Eve kids countdown and the 11:59 p.m. drop to ring in 2023. Bring your family to this outdoor recreation spot when the doors open at 4 p.m. and find live entertainment and kids’ activities.

More Ways to Celebrate the Holidays in Michigan

About the Author-
Bella DiMascio is a Content Editor at mymichiganbeach.com. She grew up in the Detroit suburb of Westland and later attended Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo where she majored in Communication Studies and minored in English: Writing. Creative writing has been a hobby and interest of Bella’s since she was in elementary school and she is thrilled to be using her talents to highlight the Great Lakes State. Outside of writing, Bella enjoys getting outside with her two Australian Shepherds, playing video games, and binging shows on Netflix.