Ending your year in South County, RI, will surely leave you with memories that will last a lifetime. This area is full of outstanding New Year’s Eve events, and the entire holiday season in coastal Rhode Island is something everyone has to experience at least once.
After a couple of years with subdued December 31 celebrations, many highly anticipated parties in this part of the world are back as we ring in 2023. Book your vacation rental early to ensure you don’t miss out on the action.
Here’s a look at some of the New Year’s Eve events you’ll find when vacationing in South County, Rhode Island, to close out 2022.
New Year’s Eve Stargazing
Perhaps the quietest way to say goodbye to 2022 is at the Frosty Drew Observatory in Charlestown, Rhode Island. This venue will be open from 7:00 until 9:00 PM for their New Year’s Eve Stargazing event, allowing you to watch the night sky over Ninigret Park for the Orion Nebula, Uranus, and Albireo.
The Town of Charlestown is also hosting a bonfire in the park starting at 4:30 PM, so you can get there early before heading into the observatory.
Admission to the observatory is by donation, and $5 is the suggested amount for visitors five years of age and older.
Dance Party at the Courthouse Center of the Arts
In West Kingston, you can attend a concert by Neal and the Vipers starting at 9:00 PM. This event takes place at the Courthouse Center of the Arts and includes some light appetizers and a champagne toast at midnight.
Tickets to this concert are $30, and an on-site bar will be open throughout the night. Remember that this is a 21+ event and runs until 1:00 AM.
A Concert at Ocean Mist
Ocean Mist is a consistently popular oceanfront bar in South Kingstown that will host a concert by Sublime tribute band Badfish on New Year’s Eve. This concert kicks off at 9:00 PM, and drinks will flow well into the morning’s early hours.
Tickets to the concert at Ocean Mist are $30, and this is a 21+ show. There won’t be any seating at the venue, so remember to bring your dancing shoes.
Party at the Weekapaug Inn Restaurant
The Weekapaug Inn Restaurant is hosting a dinner on New Year’s Eve, with seatings available at 5:30 and 8:30 PM. If you’d like to return to your vacation rental early or attend another party, the 5:30 seating makes it easy to eat and run. You can also opt for the 8:30 seating to enjoy a later meal while ringing in the New Year at the venue’s outdoor firepit.
Tickets to this dinner in Westerly are $150 each. An optional wine pairing is also available for an additional $100. It’s a five-course meal featuring items like Quonnie oysters, foie gras, scallops, steak, and champagne pavlova, ensuring it’s a dinner you’ll never forget.
New Year’s Eve at Ocean House
It should come as no surprise that Ocean House is hosting a couple of New Year’s events because this venue has something going on for pretty much every holiday. You’ll have two choices if you’re set on attending Ocean House in Watch Hill, depending on how you wish to spend your evening.
First, there’s a dinner at COAST, the venue’s fine dining restaurant. This meal will have options like lobster spaghetti, poussin, beef wellington, Dover sole, and a chocolate cheesecake for dessert. Tickets are $325 and include access to the venue’s other event.
That other event is the House Party, which takes place in the venue’s Drawing Room. This party includes live music, an open bar, food stations, and a midnight countdown with a toast, ensuring you can make the most of your New Year’s eve celebration.
Food available at the House Party includes a raw bar, a cheese and charcuterie station, a salad station, a pasta bar, prime rib, and roasted salmon. There’s dessert available, too. Tickets to the House Party are $195 and keep in mind that both Ocean House events are 21+.
Dinner at the Windjammer Surf Bar
Finally, the Windjammer Surf Bar in Misquamicut will host a New Year’s party featuring the music of Granite City Rocks from 6:00 to 9:00 PM and DJ Caswell Cooke between 9:00 and 1:00 AM. There will also be two seatings for dinner – 5:00 and 8:00 PM – depending on your preferences.
Dinner will be a four-course event featuring options like crab cakes, shrimp cocktail, lobster bisque, ribeye steak, butter poached lobster, scallops, and grouper. Tickets are $100 each and include champagne for a midnight toast.
Book Your Tickets Today
Tickets to most of these events will sell quickly as we approach the big day, so it’s best to select the party you wish to attend and buy them as early as possible. From there, you can begin planning the rest of your South County vacation for New Year’s Eve 2022.