Celebrate New Year's Eve in Seattle and Tacoma, Washington

New Years celebrations are great in the Northwest. We have great venues to celebrate New Years Eve. Seattle's very own Experience Music Project (EMP) will be having one of the hottest parties in town. A museum tour is included in the ticket price and with 3 dance floors and a comedy room there should be enough venues to entertain everybody. The Revolution Bar and Grill will be open for good eats and a photo booth is included for fun, as well as some groovy party favors.

This bash is to be held at EMP, 325 5^th Ave North in downtown Seattle. The party starts at 8PM and goes until 2AM. Tickets are $59 per person and if your blood is rich you can go for the VIP package that is $350 per ticket. The VIP package allows you to party in Paul Allen's "Blue Lounge". This includes a private balcony and an Open Bar with endless Appetizers. The VIP package is available to only 40 people but I think you would have just as much fun with the regular tickets. This is definitely one of the hottest parties in town.

If you want see the lights on the water as you celebrate the New Year, Argosy tours has several party boats happening in a variety of areas on the water. For your convenience there are 2 types of boats that you can take. The first is a celebration that lasts from 10PM until 12:30 AM and the cost for this is $60 per person, plus tax. The second type of party boat leaves at 8:30PM and returns 12:30 AM. This party also includes a 4-course dinner. Check out the details online for Argosy Tours.

Another option for your list of possibilities would be the New Year's bash being held at the Mountaineers Club, 300 3^rd Ave. W., 2^nd Floor. This will be the last time a New Year's Eve party will be held at the Mountaineers. The Seattle Swing Club will be hosting the "West Coast Swing New Year's Eve Party".

Listen to swing music and cut a rug if you can, if you can't dance, watch and enjoy some classic tunes. The price of admission includes soft drinks and snacks but no dinner is served. The party starts early at 5PM and there is a free dance lesson offered at 7PM. Check out the Mountaineers Club online to get the details. The price is definitely right with tickets being $30. There will be no alcohol served, you can bring your own drinks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic, as you wish.

If you are looking for another club to celebrate at, Rock Salt has a great New Year's party. My final offering for the Seattle scene is the ever-present Space Needle. For years people have been making this their New Year's destination of choice. While the ride up the Needle and the view once you get to the top are great fun, this could end up over-priced and get you not as much bang for your buck, so check out the price before you go.

So much for Seattle, now let me tell you how they roll in Tacoma. For about 10 years Tacoma and Pierce County held an event on New Year's Eve called "First Night". The attendee would purchase a button that they wore and it let them into free events all over downtown Tacoma for an alcohol free, family friendly New Year's event.

In 2006 they were forced to cancel the "First Night" party due to budgetary constraints. The great news is that "First Night" is back on in 2008. At this early writing they are already signing up vendors and entertainers and they haven't set a price on this year's button but check out Pierce County's First Night celebration on the web. There will be no shortage of buttons and the kids from the youngest to the oldest will have safe fun at this celebration. This year's theme is "The Year of the Pirate" so, see you there, arrrrgh!