Last chance New Year's events
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Still deciding how to send off the year? The Twin Cities have you covered, whether your idea of celebration involves a giant fishing bobber, a mirrored hockey puck, a communal brush with 1980s nostalgia or a blindfolded leap of romantic faith.
From drops to late-night dance floors, here’s a last-chance roundup of New Year’s Eve events for people who waited just long enough.
Bobber Drop at the Midway Saloon — St. Paul
If you spot a giant fishing bobber hovering over the Midway neighborhood tonight, no need to question your grip on reality. It’s just New Year’s Eve at the Midway Saloon.
The bar will hold its fourth annual “Bobber Drop” at midnight, a tradition that’s quickly become its biggest event of the year. Owner David Tolchiner says the idea was simple: make it unmistakably Minnesotan. The result is what the bar bills as the world’s largest fishing bobber.
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Painted red and white, the bobber measures about seven feet in diameter, roughly 50 times the size of the real thing. Despite its scale, it weighs only about 40 pounds. The drop caps off a night of celebration at the St. Paul bar, turning a familiar outdoor ritual into a very local way to ring in the new year.
Mirrored Disco Puck at Rice Park — St. Paul
A mirrored disco puck will drop about 100 feet in downtown St. Paul around 8 p.m., part of the city’s World Juniors Hockey Championship festivities.
Measuring 10 feet wide and three feet tall, the puck was designed by Rob Clapp in collaboration with Wonder Studios. The drop will be paired with fireworks and is scheduled to follow the USA vs. Sweden game, with Rice Park serving as the central gathering spot.
Organizers note that the disco puck is a separate attraction from the World’s Largest Hockey Puck, which will also be on display in Rice Park throughout the tournament.
‘Stranger Things’ finale NYE screening at The Main — Minneapolis
“Stranger Things” first premiered on Netflix nearly a decade ago. Five seasons later, the sci-fi series built on swashbuckling teens, monsters and 1980s nostalgia has grown into an international phenomenon.
To mark the show’s finale, The Main Cinema will screen the final episode on the big screen. According to the theater’s media manager Ethan Vander Broek, about 300 cinemas nationwide are doing the same, turning the finale into a shared, event-style viewing.
The screening begins at 7 p.m., the same time Netflix releases the episode, offering fans a chance to experience the end of the series in a packed theater rather than alone on the couch.
Davina and the Vagabonds at the Dakota Jazz Club — Minneapolis
Davina and the Vagabonds will perform New Year’s Eve at Dakota Jazz Club, bringing their long-running blend of jazz, blues, and Americana to New Year’s Eve.
Formed in Minnesota more than 20 years ago, the band is known for high-energy shows rooted in classic styles. Tickets for the in-person performance are limited, but the Dakota is also offering a livestream option for those watching from home. Additional tickets are available for the band’s show on Thursday, Jan. 1.
‘Singles Only Dating Show' at the Green Room — Minneapolis
Green Room will host a “Singles Only Dating Show” on New Year’s Eve, leaning into audience participation and a bit of theatrical chaos.
The event, which begins at 7 p.m., features blindfolded contestants, crowd involvement, and a singles mixer built into the evening. Later that night, the Green Room will transition into a New Year’s Eve party. Both events are 21-plus.
