When the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, you can welcome 2026 at events and soirees all over Hampton Roads.

For those too young to celebrate late into the night, families can enjoy early ball drops and activities at the Virginia Zoo, Children’s Museum of Virginia and Virginia Living Museum.

Whatever your celebration preference, there’s plenty to do, from listening to The Band Perry at Last Night on the Town in Virginia Beach to watching the lighted crab pot drop in downtown Hampton.

This is not an exhaustive list. There are even more events and parties at restaurants, breweries, hotels and other venues across the area. Be sure to check with your favorites to see where to ring in the new year.

Wednesday events

Noon Year’s Eve, 9:30 a.m.-noon, Virginia Zoo (3500 Granby St., Norfolk). A family-friendly celebration with a dance party, countdown, toast, activities and a ball drop at noon. Included with zoo admission. virginiazoo.org.

Noon New Year’s Eve, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Children’s Museum of Virginia (221 High St., Portsmouth). Family-friendly party on the museum mall. Activities, juice box toast, ball drop and more. Free. 757-393-5258. childrensmuseumvirginia.com.

Glowing New Year’s Eve, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Virginia Living Museum (524 J. Clyde Morris Blvd., Newport News). Countdowns, dancing, games, sensory-friendly activities, hands-on crafts and more. Included with museum admission. 757-595-1900. thevlm.org.

Olde Towne Scottish Walk, 4-5:30 p.m., corner of Queen and Washington streets in Portsmouth. The annual tradition is modeled after Scotland’s Hogmanay Festival to honor the community and merchants and wish them good luck in the coming year. Walk, led by bagpipes and drums, ends at High Street Landing for a flag ceremony and to sing “Auld Lang Syne.” Free. portsvaevents.com.

New Year’s Eve Crab Pot Drop, 9 p.m., downtown Hampton. Live entertainment, food and drink vendors, and more, culminating with the traditional dropping of the crab pot at midnight at the intersection of Queen and Wine streets. downtownhampton.com.

New Year’s Eve Pig Drop, 11:55 p.m., in front of Wharf Hill Brewing Co. (25 Main St., Smithfield). Annual dropping of a lighted pig in Hamtown USA. (Wharf Hill will not be open at the time of the drop.) wharfhillbrewing.com.

Last Night on the Town, 7 p.m.-midnight in Town Center (4525 Main St., Virginia Beach). Family-friendly activities, with Ripe opening at 9 p.m. and The Band Perry performing at 10:30 p.m. Free. VIP tickets available for $250. lastnightonthetown.com.

New Year’s Eve with Claude Stuart, 6:30 p.m., Cozzy’s Comedy Club (9700 Warwick Blvd., Newport News). Shows at 6:30 and 9 p.m. with Claude Stuart, Fred McKinnon and Fernando Rivera. Champagne toasts. Tickets at cozzys.com.

Midnight Lotus Ball, 9 p.m.-midnight, The Cavalier (4200 Atlantic Ave., Virginia Beach). Live performances, food, midnight toast and more. $137.50 and up. Adults 21 and older. 757-425-8555. cavalierresortvb.com.

All That Glitters New Year’s Eve gala, 7 p.m. Wednesday-2 p.m. Thursday, Founders Inn and Spa (5641 Indian River Road, Virginia Beach). Packages include overnight accommodations with late checkout, dinner, drink tickets, champagne toast, performance by Astro Entertainment, New Year’s Day champagne brunch. $430 (plus tax and other charges) per couple. Reserve at 757-366-5723 or newyears@foundersinn.com.

Rocking Through the Ages New Year’s Eve party,9 p.m., Atlantic Avenue, Virginia Beach. Tickets include access to Waterman’s, Chix and The Shack, with free coat check and transportation between locations. Music by Snackbar Jones, The Steals, DJs and more. Adults 21 and older. Start at $35. theshackvb.com/nye.

New Year’s Eve Live! 7 p.m., Waterside District (333 Waterside Drive, Norfolk). General admission to first-floor venues. Ticket packages include drink tickets, silent disco, karaoke, champagne toasts and more. Adults 21 and older. watersidedistrict.com.

New Year’s Eve at The Annex, 9 p.m., 2500 Church St., Unit A, Norfolk. Entertainment by The Traptastic + Hey Ma!, Sugarbearz, J’Koure, Rayvon and Vega. Adults 21 and older. $36. 757-226-7651. theannexnfk.com.

New Year’s Eve at The Main, 8 p.m., Hilton Norfolk (100 E. Main St., Norfolk). Party in the ballroom with dancing, food and the countdown to midnight. Tickets and info: nyeatthemain.com.

Gatsby’s House New Year’s Eve, 8:30 p.m., Sheraton Norfolk Waterside (777 Waterside Drive, Norfolk). A Roaring ’20s-themed party with appetizers, open bar, DJ and countdown to midnight. Adults 21 and older. $105.65. eventbrite.com.

Keys to the Future Dance Party, 5 p.m., DoubleTree by Hilton (50 Kingsmill Road, Williamsburg). DJ, silent auctions, food, prizes, concert with The Deloreans. Adults 21 and older. $55.25-$402. eventbrite.com.

New Year’s Eve Bash, 9 p.m., Kingsmill Resort (1010 Kingsmill Road, Williamsburg). Colonial DJs, Slapnation, food, champagne toast and balloon drop. Tickets $79-$99 for 14 and older. Child care available for an additional cost. 866-371-6732. kingsmill.com.

Wolph presents: Winterland at the Kimball, 7 p.m., Kimball Theatre (428 W. Duke of Gloucester St., Williamsburg). Wolph performs an acoustic session and two electric sets through midnight. $33.85. eventbrite.com.

Good Shot Judy’s fifth annual New Year’s Swingin’ Eve, 6:30 p.m., Williamsburg Lodge (310 S. England St., Williamsburg). A buffet dinner will be served at 7 p.m., with Good Shot Judy on at 9:30 p.m. and a champagne toast and balloon drop at midnight. $175. goodshotjudy.com.

Hope House Foundation and Hank’s Filling Station are hosting the 13th annual Hogs for Hope New Year’s Day Pig Pickin’ & Oyster Roast on Jan. 1 in Norfolk. Proceeds benefit the foundation, a nonprofit that supports adults with development disabilities. (Courtesy/Hope House Foundation)

New Year’s Day

13th annual Hogs for Hope, noon-5 p.m. Thursday, Hank’s Filling Station (4301 Colley Ave., Norfolk). Pig picking and oyster roast to support Hope House Foundation. $50. hankshogsforhope.com.

Ongoing displays

Holiday Lights at the Beach, 5:30-10 p.m. daily through Wednesday. Drive along a holiday display along the Virginia Beach Boardwalk, starting at 2nd Street. $37.50. beacheventsvb.com.

Winterfest on the Wisconsin, 5-8 or 9 p.m. select nights through Wednesday, Nauticus, Norfolk. The battleship Wisconsin is decorated with more than 2 million lights; new this year is a below-deck experience. Also new is a lighted Winterfest Riverwalk along the Elizabeth River, free. The ticketed Wisconsin-Nauticus event includes a talking polar bear, Snow Queen and a wise owl. $11-$22. winterfestonthewisconsin.com.

Celebration in Lights, 5:30-10 p.m. daily through Thursday, Newport News Park. The 2-mile drive-thru lights display is in its 33rd season and includes light tunnels, Santa’s toyshop and an ode to the Battle of the Ironclads. $15-$20 for cars, $85 for buses. Advance tickets can be purchased at the Newport News Visitors Center for $12 to be used any night. 757-886-7912. nnparksandrec.org/nlightn.

Garden of Lights, 5-7 or 8 p.m. daily through Jan. 4, Norfolk Botanical Garden. Take about a 1-mile walk through 1.5 million lights. (A mobility shuttle can be booked in advance.) Members, $12-$24; others, $15-$30. Walk-ups add $5. 757-441-5830. norfolkbotanicalgarden.org.

Busch Gardens Christmastown, select days through Jan. 4. The theme park is decorated in millions of lights. Rides, including coasters, are open, and there are several live shows. New this year is “Christmas Town Live! A Holiday Special,” which will transport visitors to a holiday television special 1960s-style with classic carols and medleys. Hours and tickets: buschgardens.com.

https://www.pilotonline.com/2025/12/28/ring-in-2026-across-hampton-roads/