Ringing in the New Year: Top Events and Celebrations Across New Jersey

Plus creative retirement party themes to celebrate the next chapter!

Author

Better With Age NJ team
December 26, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 14 minutes

It's Thursday, New Jersey!

🥳🎈It's also just a few days before we ring in 2025. If you don't have any New Year's Eve plans yet, check out some events happening around New Jersey below!

☀️Weather: Mostly sunny, high 41

👀What's on tap today:

  • Retirement party ideas

  • Missed Medicare enrollment? You still have options.

  • Free January events in the parks

Up first...

Ring in the New Year Across New Jersey!
Make this New Year’s Eve unforgettable by celebrating in the heart of New Jersey. Whether you’re seeking vibrant entertainment or a sophisticated night out, New Jersey has it all. Don’t wait—secure your plans today, as these celebrations sell out fast.

Shindig at the Showboat: The Showboat Hotel in Atlantic City, that is. Get ready to raise a glass at one of the biggest events on the East Coast, featuring six parties (yes, six!), a five-hour open bar, multiple DJs and bands, a live concert, dueling pianos, champagne toast and oh-so-much more. 

Party in the Penthouse: The New Year’s itinerary at the Grand Hotel in Cape May includes a 3-course New Year’s Eve dinner in Hemingway’s Restaurant, a dance party in the Penthouse Ballroom with music from the house band and DJ, and – of course – a champagne toast at midnight. 

NYE Bash on a Boat: Ring in the new year with a signature New Jersey New Year’s Eve Cruise by City Cruises New Jersey. Start off your three-hour tour with a romantic New Year’s dinner, then hit the open bar and make some moves on the dancefloor while you sail into next year with panoramic views of the NYC skyline and a fireworks display over the Hudson River. 

Soirees in the Skylands: Plan the ultimate mountain escape in New Jersey with a New Year’s Eve hotel package at Crystal Springs Resort in Sussex County. Enjoy all the winter fun the resort has to offer, from heated snow pools to “glice” skating to roasting marshmallows over the fire. Then, experience the resort’s famous New Year’s celebrations, like the Family Rockin’ Eve Party or the 21+ Biosphere Bash.

Countdown with the Classics: Celebrate at Surflight Theatre in Beach Haven during the New Year’s Eve Bubbly Bash with The Rave-Ons’ new show: Dick Clark’s Countdown to the 50s and 60s. Enjoy a blast from the past featuring classic hits from legendary artists like Chuck Berry, The Everly Brothers, and more. Special guest Jannah Kenney will also join them to pay tribute to the era’s iconic female singers.

Celebrate with a Symphony: Experience a Trenton tradition this New Year’s Eve with a concert at the Patriots Theater at the War Memorial. Enjoy an evening inspired by masterpieces with the Capital Philharmonic of New Jersey, followed by a backstage Champagne reception complete with a jazz trio.

Jokes in Jersey: Get your tickets to a New Year’s Eve comedy show in New Jersey. Mark the evening with a delicious NYE dinner buffet and stand-up by headliner Joey Vega at the American Hotel in Freehold. Check out a special New Year’s Eve matinee by Jeff Dunham at the Prudential Center in Newark, and enjoy some laughs before heading out on the town. Or grab tickets to AC Jokes’ Tuesday Night Stand-Up at the Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City.

First Nights to Remember: For an alcohol-free New Year’s Eve jam-packed with more than 70 exciting performances, kid-friendly programming, and a film festival with selections for all ages, snag your tickets to First Night Morris County. Or head down south to Ocean City, which offers its own 70-event First Night celebration, as well as First Day at the Beach with a 5k and polar plunge.

Spending New Year’s Eve at Home? 🎉

Let Chef Rob from the Monmouth County Library spice up your night with his delicious Penne alla Vodka with Shrimp recipe! 🍝✨ Watch the video on the library’s website—no registration needed!

Aging News Roundup

Missed Medicare Open Enrollment? Here Are Your Options: If you missed Medicare open enrollment, you may still be able to change your Medicare selections, depending on your current coverage and why you fumbled the deadline.

Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Begins on January 1: Medicare Advantage open enrollment runs from January 1 to March 31 — you can change Advantage plans, switch to Original Medicare and enroll in a Part D drug plan.

Arizona Retirement: Nine Things You Must Know: The Grand Canyon State offers so much more than that gorgeous hole in the ground. Check out whether you’d like to spend your golden years in this southwestern state.

Four Things You Need to Know Before Applying for Social Security in 2025: Don’t unnecessarily delay or reduce your Social Security benefits because you don’t know all the rules and requirements.

January In The Parks

Here are some free events organized by the Monmouth County Park System for January 2025. Go solo, take a friend or bring the grandkids!

Cutting, Splitting, and Hewing
Sunday, January 5, 12:00–2:30 PM
Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel.
Experience traditional woodworking techniques using tools like a two-man saw and splitting wedge. Open to adults. FREE!

Wondrous Winter Walks
Wednesday, January 8, 10:00–11:30 AM
Freneau Woods Park, Aberdeen.
Meet in the Visitor Center Parking Lot.
Wednesday, January 22, 10:00–11:30 AM
Hartshorne Woods Park, Highlands. Meet in the Rocky Point Parking Lot.
Join a Park System Naturalist for a serene winter walk. Open to all ages; under 18 with adult. Sturdy footwear recommended. FREE!

Winter Beach Walk
Sunday, January 12, 11:00 AM–12:30 PM
Fisherman’s Cove Conservation Area, Manasquan.
Take a guided walk along the beach to collect and identify ocean treasures. Dress warmly and bring a container for shells. FREE!

Parlor Games for Wintry Weather
Sunday, January 12, 12:00–2:30 PM
Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel.
Play 1890s board games like Halma and Basilinda, along with classics like Backgammon and Checkers. FREE!

Nature Lecture: Cold Water Sharks of New Jersey
Sunday, January 12, 3:00–4:00 PM
Freneau Woods Park Visitor Center, Aberdeen.
Learn about the sharks found near the Jersey Shore during winter. FREE!

Pine Barren Bonfires
Monday, January 13, 6:00–8:00 PM
Turkey Swamp Park, Freehold.
Enjoy a winter evening around a bonfire with games, s’mores, and a full moon. Open to all ages; under 18 with adult. $15 per family of four; cash or check only.

Casual Birder
Tuesday, January 14, 9:00 AM
Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park, Long Branch. Meet at the Pavilion.
Tuesday, January 28, 9:00 AM
Manasquan Reservoir, Howell. Meet at the Environmental Center.
Join a Park System Naturalist for a relaxed morning bird walk. No birding experience required. Limited binoculars available. FREE!

National Seed Swap Day
Saturday, January 18, 10:30–11:30 AM
Freneau Woods Park Visitor Center, Aberdeen.
Bring labeled seed envelopes to share. Vegetable, annual, perennial, and native seeds welcome (no invasive species). FREE!

What to Do with Wildlife
Sunday, January 26, 11:00 AM–12:00 PM
Thompson Park Visitor Center, Lincroft.
Learn about local wildlife, identifying signs of distress, and how to help. FREE!

Under the Winter Stars
Wednesday, January 29, 7:30–8:30 PM
Dorbrook Recreation Area, Colts Neck.
Use the soccer field parking lot. Join a guide to observe constellations in the night sky. Bring a camp chair and flashlight. Program may be canceled due to overcast skies or inclement weather. Open to all ages; under 18 with adult. FREE!

For more information, visit Monmouth County Parks or call 732-842-4000. For persons with hearing impairment, the TTY/TDD number is 711.

Cheers to Retirement: Creative Party Themes to Celebrate the Next Chapter

Here are 10 fun and creative themes for a memorable retirement party sent in by our readers in response to last week’s poll question!

  1. “Around the World Adventure”
    Celebrate their newfound freedom to travel with a globetrotting theme. Decorate with maps, suitcases, and cultural items from their favorite destinations. Serve international foods and play world music.🌍

  2. “Golden Years Gala”
    Make it a formal affair with a gold-themed party. Guests dress in their finest attire, and the decor sparkles with gold accents. Add a champagne toast to honor the retiree. 💛

  3. “Vintage Hollywood”
    Roll out the red carpet and turn the retiree into a star for the night. Guests can dress as iconic movie stars, and the event can include classic movie props and a photo booth.🎥

  4. “Beachside Bliss”
    Create a tropical paradise with leis, tiki torches, and Hawaiian shirts. Serve fruity cocktails and island-inspired dishes to celebrate retirement as a permanent vacation.⛱️

  5. “Hobby Heaven”
    Highlight the retiree’s favorite hobbies, whether it’s gardening, golfing, painting, or cooking. Incorporate themed decor and activities that reflect their passion⛳

  6. “Decades of Fun”

  7. Take a nostalgic trip through the decades with decorations, music, and costumes inspired by the retiree’s life milestones (e.g., 60s, 70s, 80s). 📻

  8. “The Roaring Twenties”
    Go retro with a 1920s Gatsby-inspired theme featuring flapper dresses, jazz music, and speakeasy vibes. A perfect way to start their new “roaring” chapter. 🎺

  9. “Adventure Awaits”
    Highlight the retiree’s plans for the future with a camping or outdoorsy theme. Decorate with maps, compasses, and nature-inspired elements. 🏕️

  10. “Game Night Extravaganza”
    Host a party centered around board games, trivia, and card games. Create stations with different games and offer prizes for the winners.♟️🃏

  11. “Bon Voyage to Work!”
    Celebrate leaving the 9-to-5 grind with a travel-themed party. Use passport-style invitations and decorate with globes, luggage, and postcards from dream destinations.🛳️

News & Notes

Jackpot for Mega Millions surges past $1B after no numbers match on Christmas Eve drawing: Hang onto those stocking-stuffer lottery tickets. The Mega Millions jackpot has surpassed $1 billion after no ticket matched all six numbers drawn on Christmas Eve. That means the estimated jackpot for Friday’s drawing is $1.15 billion, potentially the fifth largest jackpot in the game’s history. Lottery officials say the odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are 1 in 302,575,350, while the odds of winning any Mega Millions prize are 1 in 24.  Tickets for the game are sold in 45 states. Mega Millions tickets are $2 a piece. Half of the proceeds from the sale of each ticket remains in the state where the ticket was sold.

King Charles III focuses Christmas message on healthcare workers in year marked by royal illnesses: King Charles III used his annual Christmas message to hail the selflessness of those who have cared for both him and Kate, the Princess of Wales this year, after both were diagnosed with cancer. The 76-year-old monarch said he and his family are “continually” impressed by those who dedicate their lives to help others. The broadcast Wednesday was the king’s third Christmas speech since he ascended the throne after his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, died. It's the first since he was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer in February. He was joined by Prince William, Kate and other family but his scandal-plagued brother, Andrew, was absent.

Biden signs a bill officially making the bald eagle the national bird of the US: President Joe Biden has made it official: The bald eagle is now the national bird of the United States. Biden signed a bill into law on Tuesday to correct what had long gone unnoticed and designate the bald eagle as the national bird. The bald eagle has been a symbol of the United States for more than 240 years, appearing on the nation's Great Seal since the design was finalized in 1782. That year, Congress also designated the bald eagle as the national emblem. But the honor of becoming the national bird had remained elusive until now.

Richard Perry, record producer behind 'You're So Vain' and other hits, dies at 82: Hitmaking record producer Richard Perry has died at 82. With a flair for both standards and contemporary sounds, his many highlights included Carly Simon’s “You’re So Vain,” Rod Stewart’s “Great American Songbook” series and a Ringo Starr album featuring all four Beatles. Perry was widely known as a “musician’s producer,” treating artists like peers rather than vehicles for his own tastes. He was also the rare producer to have No. 1 hits on the pop, R&B, dance and country charts.

Soprano Angel Blue sings her first Metropolitan Opera 'Aida' in a new production:
Angel Blue, one of the most admired singers of her generation, is headlining the Metropolitan Opera’s first new production of Verdi’s “Aida” in 36 years. The 40-year-old takes on the title role of the enslaved Ethiopian princess torn between love for an Egyptian warrior and loyalty to her country. It’s a part that comes weighted with history, especially for a Black soprano at the Met, where Leontyne Price embodied the role from her first performance in 1961 until her retirement in 1985. Blue’s Met debut in ‘Aida’ will happen New Year’s Eve.

Quick question

"What's your favorite way to stay active and engaged during the winter months?"

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

Today’s birthdays

🎉 Happy 82nd Birthday, Robert Mahoney! 🎂🎈
Wishing you a fantastic day filled with joy, laughter, and all your favorite things! 🥳🎁 May the year ahead bring happiness and success to you in Brick and beyond! 🌟🎊 Enjoy your special day! 🎶🎉

A few other notable people sharing a birthday today with Robert are: “America’s Most Wanted” host John Walsh is 79. Baseball Hall of Fame catcher Carlton Fisk is 77. Baseball Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith is 70. Humorist David Sedaris is 68. Rock musician Lars Ulrich (Metallica) is 61. Actor-musician Jared Leto is 53. Rock singer Chris Daughtry is 45.

Thought for Today

“If you don’t believe in yourself, no one else will. That’s the bottom line.”

Baseball Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith

🙏Thanks for reading! A special shoutout today goes to all our readers who sent in great ideas for retirement party themes, including John H. of Manalapan, who had this joke to share: “Retirement: The only time in life when you can finally do what you want… unless your spouse has other plans!” 😄🎉

👀First time reading? Join thousands of New Jersey seniors. Sign up here.

📨Do you have news, thoughts or feedback? Email us at: [email protected]

☺️See you next week!

The Better With Age New Jersey team