Times Square stands out as one of the most popular choices for ringing in the new year in the U.S., but it can also be one of the pricier options. Many destinations nationwide tend to raise their prices when large crowds gather for major events, particularly affecting hotel rates. To identify the best cities for a New Year’s Eve celebration, WalletHub analyzed the 100 largest cities, considering 26 key indicators that contribute to a memorable event. These factors range from the legality of fireworks to nightlife options per capita, food affordability, and the forecasted precipitation for December 31.
Florida's best cities for New Year's Eve.
Earning the top spot is Orlando, recognized not only for its New Year's Eve festivities but also as a consistently favored destination during the holiday season. According to the ranking, Orlando excels in various aspects, including nightlife options and the availability of affordable restaurants rated 4.5 stars or higher.
The city has some of the longest fireworks displays in the country, and the allowance of consumer fireworks adds an extra layer of celebration. Additionally, Orlando leads in the number of party supply stores and holds the second-highest concentration of gourmet specialty food stores per capita of the population.
Miami secures a place in the top 6 cities, with a focus on its abundant entertainment and food options for New Year's Eve. However, the study does highlight a lower affordability rating for the city.
Completing the top 5 are San Diego, CA, New York, NY, Las Vegas, NV, and Atlanta, GA. Despite New York City's renowned ball drop event, the study emphasizes that celebrations in the city are notably less affordable compared to the other top cities.
Several Florida cities are featured in the list, including Tampa at number 24, Jacksonville at number 31, St. Petersburg at number 37, and Hialeah at the 99th spot towards the bottom of the ranking.
For a detailed view of how other cities performed, check out the complete list here.
