EASTERN OREGON — From fun runs and parties to music and fireworks, communities throughout the region invite people to ring in the new year. Unless otherwise indicated, events are free and open to the public.

BAKER COUNTY

Baker City

• The Baker County Safe Communities Coalition and Rotary International are hosting a New Year’s Eve party for teens ages 12-18 on Tuesday, Dec. 31 from 6 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. at the Family Life Center, 1250 Hughes Lane. There will be pizza, games, karaoke and prizes to win.
• The Veterans Memorial Club, 2005 Valley Ave., will ring in the new year with a party on Tuesday, Dec. 31, featuring music by Trailer Hitch at 9:30 p.m. For details, check the Facebook page.

Halfway

A New Year’s Eve dinner and dance is planned at the Pine Valley Grange on the fairgrounds in Halfway on Dec. 31. A free potluck starts at 5 p.m., followed by cards and games.

A family-friendly dance will run from 7-10 p.m. Admission is $20 for a family of four or more, or $5 per person. Everyone will ring in the new year at 9 p.m. with the East Coast.

GRANT COUNTY

John Day

The John Day Elks Lodge, 140 NE Dayton St., will have a New Year’s Eve party starting at 8 p.m. for Elks members and their guests. The evening includes potluck snack food and music.

Prairie City

Prairie City will celebrate the end of 2024 with a fireworks show starting at 7 p.m. City officials said the show can be seen from anywhere in town — just watch the sky to the west of Prairie Wood Products.

UMATILLA COUNTY

Helix

Helix Market and Pub will host a New Year’s Party on Tuesday, Dec. 31, beginning at 7 p.m. at 206 Concord St. In addition to the celebration, dinner specials will be offered. For more information, call 541-457-2246 or search Facebook via bit.ly/400hrph.

Hermiston

• Country singer-songwriter Ben Naught will strum in the new year during a party beginning at 8 p.m. on New Year’s Eve at Midway Bar & Grill, 1750 N. First St. There is no cover charge. For questions, call 541-567-5180.
• If bowling is up your alley, check out the Cosmic Family New Year’s Eve Celebration at Desert Lanes Family Fun Center, 1545 N. First St. Sessions run from 3-4:30 p.m., 5-6:30 p.m. or 7-8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 31. The party package for up to six people is $129.95 and includes 90 minutes of cosmic glow bowling with lights and music, shoe rentals, a large pizza, a pitcher of soda, six $10 arcade cards and party favors. Reservations are required. For more information, call 541-567-6364 or search www.facebook.com/DesertLanes.

Mission

• The New Year’s Eve Sobriety Powwow offers an alcohol-free event to ring in the new year on Tuesday, Dec. 31, at the Mission Longhouse on Confederated Way. It begins with basket weaving with Wenona and Fabian at 5 p.m.; dinner at 6 p.m., followed by a raffle, dancing, a cake walk and a sobriety countdown. The celebration was created in 2012 by the New Beginnings Coalition, a group of tribal and community members, including youths and elders. The Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center’s Chemical Dependency Prevention team continues the event’s traditions. For more information, call Jessica or Leighton at 541-240-8425.
• Wildhorse Resort & Casino invites adults 21 and older to shine a light into 2025 during the Let’s Glow Forward New Year’s Eve Celebration on Tuesday, Dec. 31, starting at 8 p.m. in the Rivers Event Center. Boasting their biggest party of the year, the event features live music, dancing, drink specials, party favors, dancing and live music with Dance, Dance Evolution. Also, with a theme of Aurora Borealis, Gigawatt will perform in the Wildhorse Sports Bar from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. There is no cover charge. And wait, there’s more — head to Quaking Aspen Lanes for a chance to win cash prizes during Cosmic & Monte Carlo Bowling. For more information, search www.wildhorseresort.com.

Pendleton

• Adults are invited to shake their booties into the new year during the Retro Video Dance Party on Dec. 31, 8:30 p.m. in The Ballroom at Electric Sundown, 14 SE Third St. Music videos will be projected on three screens. Tickets, which include a champagne toast, photo booth pictures and party favors, are $30 at www.allevents.in/pendleton. Dress in retro pop-culture outfits for a chance to win $100 in the costume contest. A no-host bar and food will be available for purchase.
• Cadillac Jack’s Saloon & Grill will offer a sparkling good time during the All That Glitters New Year’s Eve Party. The staff is eager to serve up memories, food and fun on Tuesday, Dec. 31 at 1703 SW Emigrant Ave. There will be music. For questions, call 541-276-9422.
• Scotty Wilson’s Music Medicine will crank up the tunes during the New Year’s Eve Party at Hamley Slickfork Saloon. The event is Tuesday, Dec. 31, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. at 8 SE Court Ave. The cover charge is $10, which includes your first drink. A champagne toast will be held at midnight. For more information, call 541-278-1100.

UNION COUNTY

La Grande

La Grande and the surrounding area have no shortage of ways to ring in the New Year, culminating in the award-winning Baum Smith, LLC New Year’s Eve Ball Drop at Adams and Depot at midnight.

• For the young, Mnemosyne Studios, 104 Depot St. in La Grande, is offering a New Year’s Eve Youth Improv and Theatre Games event. Throughout the event on Dec. 31, running from 8:30 p.m. to 12:10 a.m., kids ages 6-14 will engage in a variety of interactive improv games designed to spark creativity, boost confidence and encourage teamwork. Light refreshments and beverages will be provided to keep energy high and creativity flowing. A little before midnight, everyone will head over to Depot and Adams to be part of the countdown to midnight for the New Year’s Eve Ball Drop. The cost is $20 and tickets can be purchased at tinyurl.com/4te4u4k7. For more information, visit www.holisticacting.com.
• Grande Ronde Fitness, 2214 Adams Ave. in La Grande, is hosting a New Year’s Eve fundraising party on Dec. 31 from 8 p.m. to midnight for members of the Opera House Youth Association’s trip to London to experience peak theatre arts and acquire once in a lifetime acting training. The whole gym will be open for a dance party in the aerobics room. The swimming pool and hot tubs will also be open and there will be wallyball, ping pong, and cornhole. There will also be a bake sale with designated eating areas and children under 16 must be supervised by a parent or guardian. Suggested donations are $10 per person or $30 per family. For more information, visit www.GRFitnessClub.com.
• Le Bebe Cakes is hosting a New Year’s Eve jazz night and dinner with their “Secret” Alley Door Speakeasy at 1101 Washington Ave. A dinner and dessert menu, along with a full-service no-host bar, will be available for purchase. Saxophonist Greg Johnson will entertain revelers with 1920s jazz-age musical selections. Doors open at 6 p.m. and attendees will ring in the new year at 9 p.m. with the New York City ball drop — which leaves time to attend the La Grande ball drop as well. RSVP to TheSecretAlleyDoorSpeakeasy@gmail.com to receive a secret access code. There is a $10 door charge. For more information, visit Le Babe Cakes Bakery on Facebook or call 541-963-2253.
• At 7 p.m., HQ, 112 Depot St., opens the doors for the Metal Before Midnight celebration. The beer garden will be in full swing by the time local metal band Subutai steps up to the mic to open at 8:30 p.m., followed by headliner Nogero, another local metal favorite. Cost is $15 at the door. For more information, visit lagrandehq.com or call 541-612-0551.
• The Depot, 10 Depot St., will have a grand re-opening on New Year’s Eve from 8-10 p.m. with live music by Elwood, Jay Colton Hughes and Luke McKern. The cover charge is $10. Find more information on Facebook at The Depot or thedepotstreet.com.
• Capping off the celebrations in downtown La Grande, the Baum Smith, LLC New Year’s Eve Ball Drop officially kicks off at 10 p.m., hosted by La Grande Main Street Downtown at the intersection of Adams Avenue and Depot Street. The Oregon Festivals and Event Association awarded this festive celebration the honor of being one of the best events in Oregon with its “WOW Factor Award,” and La Grande can boast the only New Year’s Eve Ball Drop in the state. High Country Realty Professionals will provide a warming tent with cookies, coffee and cocoa and, farther up the street, Perky’s Play Café will offer light refreshments. There will be burn barrels set up and a historical La Grande scavenger hunt to get people moving for the chance to win gift cards and downtown coupons. For more information, search the La Grande Main Street Downtown’s Facebook page, visit www.lagrandemainstreet.com or call 541-963-1223.

Union

The Lodge at Hot Lake Springs, 66172 Highway 203, is planning an evening of music to ring in 2025 on Tuesday, Dec. 31.

The Boogie Men DJ gets the party started at 5 p.m., followed by Wicked Mary at 7 p,m., The Boogie Men at 8:30 p.m., Fading Sage at 9 p.m. and The Boogie Men from 11 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

Appetizers, dinner (6 p.m.), dessert and a midnight champagne toast is included. There will also be a no-host bar, and raffle for the chance to win prizes (must be present to win).

Tickets are $53.65 at tinyurl.com/yr3uuywf. For more information about the Lodge at Hot Lake, visit hotlakelodge.com or check the Facebook page. This event is a fundraiser for Friends of Hot Lake.

WALLOWA COUNTY

Joseph

• The Wallowa Lake Lodge, 60060 Wallowa Lake Highway, will host A Jazzy New Year’s Eve Party on Dec. 31 from 7 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Admission is free and Seth Kinzie will perform live piano music. There will be a no-host bar and appetizers will be available to purchase.
• On New Year’s Day, everyone is welcome to jump into Wallowa Lake to give an icy welcome to 2025 at the Beth Gibans Memorial Wallowa Lake Polar Bear Plunge. The event happens at 10 a.m. at the county park on the north end of the lake. This tradition started in 2007.