New Year's Eve in Portland, Oregon

New Year's Eve is celebrated annually in the American city of Portland, Oregon. The city has hosted a variety of events and activities that have commemorated the holiday, including balls and special dinners, concerts, drone light shows, and sobriety powwows.

Events and activities

DJ Anjali and the Incredible Kid (top, pictured in 2020), Jenny Don't and the Spurs (middle, pictured in 2024) and Pink Martini (bottom, pictured in 2012) often perform in Portland for New Year's Eve.

The city has hosted a variety of events and activities to celebrate New Year's Eve (NYE),[1] some of which are annual. The Portland Institute for Contemporary Art held its first annual "New Year's Eve Art Drop" in late 2013.[2] The Oaks Park Roller Skating Rink at Oaks Amusement Park has hosted a New Year's Eve party attended by hundreds of people.[3][4] QuarterWorld has hosted a balloon drop for the holiday for several years.[5] In late 2023, the drag venue Darcelle XV Showplace hosted a New Year's Eve celebration with champagne and breakfast served at midnight.[4][6]

Some hotels and event venues host special events. The Crystal Ballroom hosts an event annually,[7] and The Hoxton held a celebration in late 2023.[8] Some local bars and restaurants have scheduled dinner events and created special menus for the holiday, including Brix Tavern, Champagne Poetry Patisserie, and Portland City Grill in late 2025.[9]

Fireworks have been illegal inside the city limits since 2022. Residents are able to report illegal fireworks via an online tool.[10][11]

Champagne Ball

The Champagne Ball at the Hyatt Regency has been described by Portland Monthly as "the closest thing we have to the Times Square ball drop—except it's black tie-ish, with dance floors, karaoke, and the option to don 'singles beads.'"[7] Willamette Week has described the event as "Portland's most popular New Year's Eve Party" and said: "This 5-star NYE celebration is in a 5-star hotel and features Portland's top entertainment, multiple bars, fantastic food, amazing party vibes, fabulous party favors, and a massive video countdown at midnight."[12] Previously, the Champagne Ball was held at the Hilton Portland Hotel, as well as the Portland Art Museum in late 2023.[4] In 2019, the Daily Hive said that approximately 40,000 people had participated in the event since its inception in 1990.[13]

Concerts

DJ Anjali and the Incredible Kid perform annually for the holiday.[14] During the early 2010s, their concert was held at the Bossanova Ballroom and featured acrobatics, fire performance, a marching band, and Punjabi music.[15] "Cowboy Prom" with Jenny Don't and the Spurs has been described as "a New Year's Eve tradition several years running with deep roots" at the Landmark Saloon.[16] Pink Martini traditionally performs at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall on New Year's Eve.[17] During the COVID-19 pandemic, the band streamed a concert for the holiday called "Good Riddance 2020".[18][19] Brandi Carlile held a "New Year's Eve Party" at the Moda Center in late 2022.[20]

Drone shows

The city commemorated the arrivals in 2025 and 2026 with drone shows at Pioneer Courthouse Square. The late-2024 event cost approximately $150,000 and was attended by approximately 20,000 people.[21] The late-2025 event used approximately 250 drones.[22] It was supported by Prosper Portland's Portland Events and Film Office and included a dance party and a countdown to midnight.[23][24][25] Drag queen LadyBerri Matthews has been the master of ceremonies, and mayor Keith Wilson was slated to speak at the late-2025 event.[26]

Sobriety powwow

One of the city's most popular annual events for New Year's Eve is the Native American Rehabilitation Association's sobriety powwow, which has been held for approximately 30 years. The event features dance and music without alcohol or drugs.[27] Approximately 3,000 to 4,000 people were expected to attend in 2009 and 2011, respectively.[28][29] The late-2025 event was held at the Oregon Convention Center.[30]

Public transit and other transportation services

The city has extended TriMet and Portland Streetcar public transit service on New Year's Eve, offering free rides after 8 p.m.[23][31] The Portland Bureau of Transportation has also offered rideshare coupons as part of the Safe Ride Home Program.[24] In late 2024, the program helped approximately 2,100 people "celebrate New Year's Eve responsibly and return home safely, according to the city".[32]

References

  1. ↑ "21 Portland New Year's Eve Events, in Order From Lit to Chill". Willamette Week. December 26, 2018. Archived from the original on April 14, 2019. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Guide to 2013's New Year's Eve Parties and Concerts". Portland Monthly. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  3. ↑ "Ringing in the New Year at the Oaks Park Roller Skating Rink". East PDX News. Archived from the original on January 16, 2026. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 "New Year's Eve celebrations happening across the Portland metro area". KGW. December 28, 2023. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Where to celebrate New Year's Eve in Portland". KOIN.
  6. ↑ "As drag queens prepare to ring in 2023, Portland's Darcelle reflects on decades of artistry". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Archived from the original on December 14, 2025. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  7. 1 2 "Where to Party in Portland for New Year's". Portland Monthly. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Ring in 2024 at these Portland-area New Year's Eve celebrations". KOIN. Archived from the original on January 1, 2024. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Six New Year's Eve Portland-Area Dinner Specials to Wolf Down". Willamette Week. December 30, 2025. Archived from the original on January 17, 2026. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Portland Fire urges residents to report illegal fireworks on New Year's Eve". KGW. December 31, 2025. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Drones not Fireworks this New Years". Montavilla News. December 29, 2025. Archived from the original on December 29, 2025. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  12. ↑ "Whimsical Gifts". Willamette Week. November 20, 2024. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Welcome the new year in style at Portland's Champagne Ball | Events". Daily Hive. August 20, 2019. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  14. ↑ "Where to Spend New Year's Eve 2017 in Portland". Willamette Week. December 29, 2016. Archived from the original on July 20, 2018. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  15. ↑ "Portland's Best New Year's Eve Events". Portland Monthly. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  16. ↑ "The Mercury's Do This, Do That: Your Top Events for December 29-January 4". Portland Mercury. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Pink Martini's Portland New Year's Eve tradition returns, with local all-stars and a rediscovered film". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Archived from the original on March 3, 2024. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  18. ↑ "How to safely celebrate New Year's Eve in the Portland metro area". KGW. December 31, 2020. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  19. ↑ "OPB partners with Pink Martini to make the band's virtual New Year's Eve concert available across the Northwest". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  20. ↑ Brandi Carlile:
  21. ↑ "New Year's Eve drone and dance party will return to downtown Portland to ring in 2026". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on February 17, 2026. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  22. ↑ Park, Victor (January 1, 2026). "Behind the scenes at Portland's New Year's Eve drone show". KATU. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  23. 1 2 "Portland area welcomes 2026 with drones and more at public celebrations". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  24. 1 2 "Drones, Bing cherries play starring role in Portland-area New Year's Eve celebrations". KOIN. Archived from the original on January 2, 2026. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  25. ↑ "Portland will ring in 2026 with vibrant drone show, dance party". KOIN. Archived from the original on December 29, 2025. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  26. ↑ "What to Do in Portland (Dec. 24, 2025 – Jan. 6, 2026)". Willamette Week. December 24, 2025. Archived from the original on January 13, 2026. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  27. ↑ Bakall, Samantha. "Make your plans now for New Year's Eve 2018 in Portland". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on August 22, 2025. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  28. ↑ "NARA hosts Sobriety Pow Wow, one of Portland's largest New Year's Eve events". The Oregonian.
  29. ↑ Graves, Bill (January 1, 2012). "Native Americans gather for powwow in Portland to celebrate the New Year without alcohol". The Oregonian. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  30. ↑ "Winter Whale Watching, 'A Charlie Brown Christmas', and Joyous Kwanzaa: 10 things to do this week". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on January 3, 2026. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  31. ↑ "Portland New Year's Eve: Need a ride? Consider these options for getting home safely". The Oregonian.
  32. ↑ Seibold, Hannah (December 31, 2025). "Getting home safely on New Year's Eve? Here's how Portlanders can score free or discounted rides". Portland Tribune. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
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