Bring in 2012 with these New Year's Eve holiday activities, events, and shows in Reno and Sparks. Activities include parties at casinos and nightclubs across the Truckee Meadows, plus dining specials and fireworks at midnight in downtown Reno. If you are going to be up at Lake Tahoe, check out these Lake Tahoe New Year's activities for your partying pleasure.
New Year's Fireworks in Downtown Reno
The 2012 Reno New Year's fireworks show is sponsored by the downtown hotel casinos and the City of Reno. Be downtown at midnight for a spectacular fireworks display and fun street party.
Free New Year's Eve Safe Ride Home Program
Between 7 p.m. New Year's Eve and 4 a.m. New Year's Day, RTC will be offering free rides on RTC RIDE, RTC RAPID, and RTC RAPIDCONNECT around the Reno / Sparks area. Just hop on board - no ticket required. The new 4th Street Station is at the corner of Lake and 4th Streets. Reno's downtown bus system, RTC SIERRA SPIRIT, is always free and will be running its regular schedule on New Year's Eve. Call (775) 348-RIDE (348-7433) for assistance and more information.
In addition, AAA will be offering "Tipsy Tow" from 6 p.m. Saturday through 6 a.m. Sunday. Call (800) 222-4357 and tell the operator you need a "Tipsy Tow," and your vehicle will be towed up to 10 miles free of charge.
New Year's Eve Events and Parties at Casinos and Restaurants
Rockin' the Dome Dance Party at the Silver Legacy - Spend New Year's Eve at Silver Legacy's annual Rockin' the Dome Dance Party featuring Reno's best DJs. It's the hottest dance party in town with complimentary New Year's Eve party favors and a midnight champagne toast. The party starts at 8 p.m. and tickets are $30 with one drink included.
Rum Bullions and Aura Ultra Lounge will be serving up party favors and a champagne toast at midnight. Rum Bullions will feature the famous Dueling Pianos and Aura will have DJ "I" spinning the hottest in new dance music, as well as your favorite oldies. There is a $20 cover charge at each location. Call (775) 325-7401 for details and reservations.
Outside on Virginia Street, celebrate New Year's with the downtown Reno fireworks spectacular at midnight. Silver Legacy and other Reno casinos will be rocketing hundreds of pyrotechnics from the rooftops to ring in 2012. The Silver Legacy is at 407 N. Virginia Street in Reno.
New Year's Eve at John Ascuaga's Nugget in Sparks - Adam Carolla plays two shows this New Year's weekend at the Nugget. Carolla’s New Year's Eve show at 10 p.m. will be followed by a casino-wide complimentary countdown champagne toast in two time zones and a $25,000 weekend cash giveaway. Call (800) 648-1177 or (775) 356-3300 for details. The Nugget is at 1100 Nugget Avenue in Sparks.
New Year's Eve at the Peppermill Hotel Casino - Ring in 2012 at the VINTEDGE party inside the EDGE! nightspot. Enjoy complimentary cocktails and champagne from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., then celebrate with a champagne toast at midnight complete with a balloon drop. Masquerade masks and party favors provided. Vintage cocktail attire encouraged. Tickets are $45 in advance and $55 at the door. Buy tickets online or call (866) 821-9996. The Peppermill is at 2707 S. Virginia Street in Reno.
New Year's Eve at the Eldorado - The Eldorado Hotel Casino will ring in the new year with parties, countdowns and champagne toasts, and lots of celebratory party hats and favors handed out on the casino floor. The Eldorado is one of the sponsors of Reno's New Year's fireworks show at midnight. Places to party inside the Eldorado include BuBinga Lounge, The Brew Brothers, Roxy's, and Cin Cin. There are covers for most of these and reservations can be made from the Eldorado website or by calling (775) 786-5700.
New Year's Eve at Harrah's Reno - Harrah's Reno, downtown next to the Reno Arch, is offering two no-cover New Year's Eve parties. At Sammy's Showroom, doors open at 9 p.m. with a live DJ, giant-screen videos, topless go-go dancers, drink specials, and free party favors. The Sapphire Lounge party will be from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m., featuring a DJ playing the hits, go-go dancers, and drink specials. Harrah's helps sponsor the midnight fireworks show.
New Year's Eve at the Grand Sierra Resort - There will be free partying on the casino floor plus live music and dancing in three of the Grand Sierra's nightspots. Big & Rich will be playing in the Summit Pavilion and Rebelution will be in the Grand Theatre. New Year's Eve and New Year's Day champagne brunch will be served at The Lodge Buffet and New Year's Eve dining will be available at Charlie Palmer's Steak and Briscola. The Grand Sierra is at 2500 E. 2nd St. in Reno. For reservations, call (775) 789-2458. For show tickets, call (775) 789-2285.
New Year's Eve at The Knit - On New Year's Eve, The Knitting Factory will feature KJ KOS spinning tunes, videos on the huge screens, and go-go dancers for a big dance party. Tickets start at $10 general admission. Get a VIP party booth (includes admission for 4 people) for $125. Doors open and show starts at 8 p.m. This show 18 and over. Get tickets online or call (775) 323-5648 for information. The Knitting Factory is at 211 N. Virginia Street, just south of the Reno Arch.
New Year's Eve Party for Teens at CommRow CommRow will be hosting an adults-free New Year's Eve celebration for high school students in Cargo, its third floor venue. High school juniors and seniors are invited to bring in 2012 New York City style, with New York street food and non-alcoholic drinks available for purchase, a disc jockey mixing music accompanied by videos on a big screen, and a sparkling cider toast while watching the ball drop in Times Square live at 9 p.m. in Reno (that's midnight in New York). Party goers are encouraged to wear semi-formal or formal attire and have a commemorative photo taken. The party winds up at 11 p.m.
Tickets must be purchased by a high school junior or senior, or their parents. Freshmen and sophomores may attend if accompanied by a junior or senior. Tickets can be purchased either online for $30 in advance or for $40 at the door. Student identification will be required for entry. Those 18 years and older and not high school students are prohibited from attending. CommRow is in downtown Reno at 255 N. Virginia St.., next to the Reno Arch.
New Year's Eve Party at Great Basin Brewing Co. - Great Basin's annual New Year's Eve party/concert features Dead Winter Carpenters & Dad's LP. The music starts at 10 p.m. and this popular event may sell out. For tickets and more information, call (775) 355-7711. Great Basin Brewing Co. is at 846 Victorian Ave. in Sparks.
New Year's Eve with Reno Tahoe Comedy - Doors at the Pioneer Underground open at 6 p.m. with DJ Dan Kimm providing New Year's Eve dance music. First comedy show is at 7 p.m. The second show headliner is Mike E. Winfield of NBC's The Office. Doors for this one open at 8:45 p.m., show is at 9:30 p.m. (show is R-rated). There will be drink specials, including a complimentary east coast toast at 9 p.m. and the traditional west coast champagne toast at midnight. The entrance to Pioneer Underground is from the plaza in front of the Pioneer Theatre for the Performing Arts, 100 S. Virginia St. in Reno. Tickets are $11 in advance, $16 day of the show. For ticket information, call (775) 686-6600 or (775) 322-5233.
Keep going for more New Year's Eve activities at Lake Tahoe and New Year's activities for kids, teens, and families.
