New Year's Eve

21 Cheap & Easy New Year's Eve Events in Portland

NYE with Eyelids, New Year's Eve Sobriety Powwow, and More Events Under $25
December 29, 2022
|
Like
(Cottonbro Studio/Pexels)
If you’re on a budget after holiday shopping but determined to ring in the new year with a bang, not to worry. There are plenty of opportunities for merrymaking on a dime with events under $25, from NYE with Eyelids, Desir, and DJ Couches to The Bridgetown Boogie with Polyrhythmics and from a New Year's Eve Sobriety Powwow to Threshold Brewing New Year's Eve Polska. For more ideas, browse our comprehensive New Year's Eve guide.


Venues may have health guidelines in place—we advise directly checking the specific protocols for an event before heading out.


All events take place Friday, December 31. Go out and about safely on New Year's Eve with TriMet—buses, MAX (with extended late-night service), and the Portland Streetcar are giving free rides after 8 pm.

DJ/DANCE PARTIES/LIVE MUSIC

A NYE Thrash with Stainless, Genogeist, Leathurbitch, Hellgrazer, DJ Glittery Ghoul, and DJ Lavender Menace Past Event List
Headbang straight into 2023 with live sets from hair metal outfit Stainless, hardcore punks Genogeist, glam thrashers Leathurbitch, and doom trio Hellgrazer downstairs while DJ Glittery Ghoul holds down the fort above.
(The Midnight PDX + The Sïx, Sunnyside, $13)

AFRU New Year's Eve Party Past Event List
Buzzy Buckman gallery AFRU will offer an offbeat start to the new year with eclectic performances by drag diva Svetlana Transtastic, eccentric accordionist Jet Black Pearl, Tuvan throat singer SORIAH, and burlesque metalhead Nik Sin.
(Afru Gallery, Buckman, $20 suggested donation)

DanaFest 2022 Past Event List
One-woman psych-rock band Madame Golong will headline this New Year's Eve celebration and fundraiser for the Dana Thompson Memorial Fund of Awesome, which provides scholarships for young people of color to participate in music and empowerment programs. Also on the bill is local rock band Queen Chief, post-punk outfit The Decliners, and trap-rock artist Shaad Cya Highness & the Royals.
(The World Famous Kenton Club, Kenton, Free/$10 suggested donation)

The EYE BALL! - NYE Surrealist's Dance Party
Past Event List Invoke the spirit of your favorite Dada/Surrealist artist at this freaky New Year's Eve dance party soundtracked by DJs Rescue and Gregarious, along with a live set from psychedelic sorcerer Sun Atoms. Costumes are a must! Think Dalí's iconic mustache, Schiaparelli's whimsical fashions, or a bowler hat in the style of René Magritte.
(Polaris Hall, Humboldt, $25)

New Year's Eve at McMenamins Kennedy School Past Event List
Pour plenty of fizzy wine down your gullet and groove the night away to tunes from Moorea Masa & the Mood, Swatkins, and Sonny Hess at McMenamins' converted elementary school. Special New Year's Eve packages including lodging and keepsake sparkling wine flutes are available in case you want to keep the party going past midnight.
(McMenamins Kennedy School, Concordia, $25)

New Years Eve Ball! - The Secret Light with Xibling
Past Event List Calling all goths! This NYE ball will offer all things dark, moody, and spooky with darkwave, post-punk, and experimental sounds from Portland-based artists The Secret Life, Xibling, DJ Shannon F., and DJ Crankenstein.
(Coffin Club, Buckman, $20-$25)

New Year's Eve Dance Party with Beaches, Wayward Girls Soul Club, The Impact Sound!, and Pressure Down
Past Event List Why not start the new year on the dance floor? A long list of local DJs from XRAY.FM, Nice Up! Radio, and Freeform Portland will bring an eclectic mix of tunes as you dance your heart out, countdown the clock to midnight, sip on festive cocktails, and gaze at the glamorous decor. 
(Doug Fir Lounge, Buckman, $10 at the door)

NYE with Eyelids, Desir, and DJ Couches
Past Event List We’re stoked about this NYE show featuring esteemed Portland indie rock band Eyelids at The Fixin’ To—the show will be the band’s last before their forthcoming LP, A Colossal Waste of Light, drops on March 10, and the band embarks on a 35-city tour, their largest tour to date. Gilly Ann Hanner’s new project Desír and DJ Couches (AKA Eyelids’ frontman Chris Slusarenko) are billed as special guests for the evening, but you never know what’s going to happen at an Eyelids show, whether it be Stephen Malkmus or a sweater crucifixion. PORTLAND MERCURY CONTRIBUTOR JENNI MOORE
(The Fixin' To, St. Johns, $20)

Roselit Bone with Yuvees
Past Event List A local nine-piece ensemble fronted by vocalist and guitarist Charlotte McCaslin, Roselit Bone pulls inspiration from Roy Orbison and the Gun Club to produce their unique brand of “psychotic, apocalyptic cowgirl music." Join them for this high-energy New Year's Eve show alongside experimental punk band Yuvees and DJ Queen Amygdala.
(Lollipop Shoppe, Buckman, $20-$25)

The Bridgetown Boogie with Polyrhythmics Past Event List
Back in 2019, Stranger contributor Dave Segal wrote: "Polyrhythmics' music is both tight and loose, mellow and boisterous, as the players intricately interlock with one another on groove workouts that sway toward the equatorial, mood-wise." Say goodbye to 2022 with the funk-ified ensemble at this lively dance party of choice cuts, deep tracks, and rare grooves.
(Aladdin Theater, Brooklyn, $25)

FOOD & DRINK

Bonne Chance New Year's Eve Past Event List
Whether you want to go lowbrow with a Canadian tuxedo or upscale with a bespoke one, this "formally informal" party is for you. You'll get a chance to chug beer, glug champagne, and down cocktails and shots. Plus, enjoy music and dancing in the wine lounge. Additional small plates will also be available for purchase if you're peckish.
(Bonne Chance, Concordia, $25)

Lustre Pearl New Year's Party Past Event List
The famed Austin bar Lustre Pearl recently opened a Portland location, featuring a "refreshing mix of late-night glam and rock and roll grit" and specializing in wood-fired pizza and ranch water (a popular Texas-born cocktail with seltzer, citrus, and tequila). Their glitzy New Year's Eve party has no cover and offers drink specials, a midnight toast, dancing, and tunes from DJ Slimguini.
(Lustre Pearl, Boise, free)

New Year's Eve(s)! Past Event List
If you find it a struggle to stay awake 'til midnight or simply can't be bothered to stay up, fast forward eight hours and observe the Irish countdown with singing and shouts of "sláinte"! This neighborhood pub will offer an afternoon toast that'll have you home before nightfall, but if you're ambitious, you can stick around and celebrate round two at midnight proper.
(T.C. O'Leary's, Concordia, free)

NYE Kick-Off Cocktail Party! Past Event List
Pre-game for all your big New Year's Eve plans with this glamorous cocktail party, which will feature beer, wine, cocktails, mocktails, and pizza by the slice from Pizza Thief.
(Freeland Spirits, Northwest District, free)

Threshold Brewing New Year's Eve Polska Past Event List
Greet 2023 the Polish way with Threshold Brewing's bash, which will feature live music from Zabavva Band, tunes from guest DJ Andrzej, singing, dancing, bigos (a traditional Polish hunter's stew) from Threshold owner Jarek Szymanski, Polish beer on tap, Grzaniec (hot mulled wine), and zapiezanka (Polish pizza). Cap off the evening with a midnight champagne toast, or stray from tradition and raise a glass of Grodziskie (a highly carbonated, smoked Polish beer style) instead.
(Threshold Brewing & Blending, Montavilla, $20)

COMMUNITY & FUN

The End is NYE
Past Event List To quote Bill Nye, "Science is the key to our future, and if you don’t believe in science, then you’re holding everybody back." We think he'd approve of this New Year's Eve ride, which will propel participants forward into 2023 with an evening of pedaling and "intentional coaction." (We're pretty sure that means you'll make new friends.) Bring your favorite climate change believer!
(Irving Park, King, free)

New Year's Eve Sobriety Powwow
Past Event List For those who choose not to imbibe, boozy New Year's Eve festivities can be tricky to navigate. The Native American Rehabilitation Association (NARA)'s all-day sobriety powwow offers an alcohol-free way to celebrate, complete with drumming, dance, youth activities, and a sober countdown.
(Oregon Convention Center, Lloyd District, free)

NYE Contra Dance: Susan Michaels and Fiddle Hellions Past Event List
Greet the new year with a spin at this all-ages, all-skill-levels contra dance session led by instructor Susan Michaels and traditional musicians Fiddle Hellions. Contra is a high-energy folk dancing style similar to English country dancing and square dancing, so wear your most twirl-friendly attire.
(Fulton Park Community Center, South Burlingame, Sliding scale $10-30)

Punch Bowl Social New Year's Eve Celebration
Past Event List Punch Bowl Social promises "immaculate vibes" this New Year's Eve, so stop by for craft cocktails and enjoy live DJ sets and an on-site photo booth. As always, they'll offer up bowling, billiards, darts, and other games in their cavernous space, so the night will likely appeal to everyone in your friend group.
(Punch Bowl Social, Downtown, $10)

Quarterworld Nye Extravaganza 2022
Past Event List For those that prefer to flip and bump their way into the new year, this bash at old-school pinball hangout Quarterworld promises all the arcade gaming you desire, plus cocktails, live music by Taj Malik, and a midnight balloon drop. Come dressed as your favorite decade to revel with other nerdy time travelers.
(Quarterworld, Sunnyside, $10)

Samurai Cop
Past Event List What better way to recoup from the holidays than with this free screening of a trashy action flick? Samurai Cop is roundhouse schlock at its best—the flick stars Matt Hannon, Sylvester Stallone’s one-time bodyguard, as a buff hunk who has it out for evil ninjas, drug dealers, and other assorted ne'er-do-wells. Start your year off with a katana beheading, and enjoy the ride!
(Clinton Street Theater, Hosford-Abernethy, free)

See More Ways to Celebrate New Year's Eve in Portland

Report This

Please use this form to let us know about anything that violates our Terms of Use or is otherwise no good.
Thanks for helping us keep EverOut a nice place.

Please include links to specific policy violations if relevant.

optional
Say something about this item. If you add it to multiple lists, the note will be added to all lists. You can always change it later!

Gotta catch 'em all?
Click below to be reminded about every instance of this event. (You can turn this off anytime of course.)
Remind Me