Portland New Year's Eve Events

Flash back more than 22 years (gulp!) for the 80s Video Dance Attack hosted by VJ Kittyrox. It's an old school dance party, priced right: Advance tickets are just $17, or pay $22 at the door (either way, be prepared to buy drinks separately). Thrill to dance hits of the 80s on 10-foot video screens, take in the light show, and dance your aging feet off.

Free classic video games all night? Oh yes, it's on! Ground Kontrol takes on New Year's in nerdy style with FREE PLAY (well, free after a $15 admission) from 5pm until 2am. All the arcade games and pinball machines are set to FREE mode, and you can buy alcohol to fuel your nerdy passion. Music will be provided. Try to set a record on the six-player X-Men, Smash TV, original Mario Bros., or any of the 90 other games. Drinks are extra; you can also buy classic home video game cartridges if you're into that kind of thing.

Join the 21st annual Champagne Ball--a raucous party at the Hilton! With its new "no jeans allowed" policy, the event is officially classy to the max. Featuring two DJs (DJ Sugar and DJ Reckless) and 70s dance act 5 Guys Named Moe, the party starts at 8pm, ends late, and tickets are a minimum of $89 (with a portion of that going to benefit the Children's Cancer Association). You MUST dress up for this--cocktail attire is a minimum, and fancier is better. Pro tip: Singles have the option of wearing a "special" party favor to indicate their status; keep an eye out for a midnight kiss companion!

Up for a burlesque show on New Year's? Of course you are--you've got the kinky party hat to prove it! This year, Taste of Sin 2012 mixes burlesque dancing, regular dancing, and the New Year's tradition of heavy drinking. Basic tickets are $30, with VIP tickets (including hors d'oeuvres and seats) ringing in at $50, and VIP XXX tickets (with access to the, ahem, very adult section of the party) at $75. Drinks are extra, though all VIP tickets include a midnight champagne toast. The dress code is advertised as "No Naughty Bits," so you won't upstage the performers.

Storm Large, Holcombe Waller, a balloon drop, and champagne? Yes, folks, it's on. Storm performs two edgy cabaret sets on New Year's Eve, signs her new memoir, and toasts the New Year! Tickets range from $50 to $75 (choose either the 7:30pm or 10:30pm show) and the 10:30pm show includes a Champagne toast and balloon drop at midnight. Cocktails are available; budget accordingly. If you're in the under-21 demo, check out Storm's show on Dec. 30--it's an acoustic all-ages set.

Want to stay fit on New Year's Eve? Lace up your running shoes (and maybe some rain gear) and trot down to The First Run & Walk, with a party starting at 10pm and the running/walking at midnight. While you won't find (official) alcoholic beverages, you'll find a bunch of folks running a 1.5 mile (or 5k), and one of the very few New Year's Eve events that allows participants under 21--and those under 18 get a $10 discount. Music, food, and non-alcoholic beverages will be provided. Tickets are $35 in advance, or $40 on the day of the race.

Catch Al Madrigal's first-rate standup at Helium on New Year's--choose from the early show (8pm) or the late show (10:30pm), pay just $25 to $45. Don't dress up--this is one of the few Portland NYE events that specifically encourages you to go in casual wear. Check Helium's site for details on the shows--the early show price includes a free ticket for a future show, appetizers, and comedy ... the late show adds on party favors, a Champagne toast at midnight, and dessert to the mix. Budget extra for drinks, and be ready for a raucous night of laughs!

DJ Cooky Parker celebrates the coming 2012 apocalypse with "the mother of all dance parties," featuring party jams and dance favorites. Starting with a track from 1961, the Cooky drops hits chronological hits--celebrating 50 years of getting down. Tracks will be played from original 45s or LPs, except for the most recent cuts (which are digital). The years 1980 to 1989 gets special treatment, with live videos. The show starts at 8pm, tickets are $10 advance/$12 door, and drinks are extra.