New Year’s Eve: Party, dine and celebrate at Southern California casinos
Get ready to say goodbye to 2023!
This is the last time that a New Year’s celebration will land on a weekend for a while, so there’ll be plenty of room to enjoy the holiday before it starts landing in the middle of the week as we move in and past 2024.
Whether you want to go all out with dance parties or to do one last fancy dinner for the year, you’ll have plenty to choose from at Southern California casinos. Some of the events and dining offerings require advance ticket purchase or reservations. Call ahead to ensure your event isn’t sold out.
Here are some of the live entertainment and dining options being offered on New Year’s Eve inside Southern California casinos.
New Year’s Eve Parties
Agua Caliente Casino Cathedral City
68960 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Cathedral City. 888-999-1995 or aguacalientecasinos.com.
Agave Caliente Terraza: An a-List-themed party where guests are encouraged to dress their best. DJ Alpha will perform an outdoor set. There will also be a midnight countdown complete with a festive balloon drop. 8 p.m.-2 a.m. Free. 21-and-older.
Agua Caliente Casino Palm Springs
401 E. Amado Road, Palm Springs. 888-999-1995 or aguacalientecasinos.com.
NYE Block Party: A Hollywood glam-inspired party with midnight fireworks, food trucks, outdoor bars, live music from Haute Chile and more. 8 p.m. $40 in advance; $50 the day of; VIP Tickets are $125 each. Anyone under 18-years-old must be accompanied by an adult 18-or-older. All ACE Club members receive $10 Free Play with each ticket purchase.
Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage
32-250 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage. 888-999-1995 or aguacalientecasinos.com.
The Show: KC and The Sunshine Band performs and there’s an afterparty with Zowie Bowie. 8 p.m. $55-$125. Tickets for KC and The Sunshine Band include free entry to Zowie Bowie.
Fantasy Springs Resort Casino
84-245 Indio Springs Drive, Indio. 760-345-2450 or fantasyspringsresort.com.
Lit: DJ Nano, DJ Oz and Bootie Quake will perform dance music to get the party started. 7 p.m. Free. 21-and-older.
Twelve: The acoustic sets of Moon Child will be followed by Steel Rod, who will perform hits from artists such as Marvin Gaye, Sublime and Metallica. 9 p.m. Free. 21-and-older.
Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa
49500 Seminole Drive, Cabazon. 951-849-3080 or morongocasinoresort.com.
Colors Red Carpet Party: The property will host a red carpet event that encourages guests to dress in their favorite colors to ring in the New Year, with live music being played within several parts of the casino and various food and drink specials. All evening.
Casino Floor: The all-female front rock tribute band Pulp Vixen performs. 9 p.m. Free. 21-and-older.
Sideline Stage: All the Vibes will perform popular Latin and English covers on the Sideline Stage across from Wahlburgers. 9 p.m. Free. 21-and-older.
Front Desk Area: DJ Kid Jay will spin a set by the valet area. 9 p.m. Free. 21-and-older.
Casino Morongo: The New Vibe, a new age, psychedelic funk band, will have you grooving into the New Year. 9 p.m. Free. 21-and-older.
Pechanga Resort Casino
45000 Pechanga Parkway, Temecula. 877-711-2946 or pechanga.com.
1882 Cantina and Great Oak Steakhouse: The bar and restaurant will host live acts performing classic rock, pop and dance music. 7 p.m.-1:30 a.m. Free. 21-and-older.
Eagle’s Nest Nightclub: Bring your hairspray, tease your hair and break out the neon for this ’80s themed party. 9:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. $75. 21-and-older.
Grand Ballroom: The casino will host a masquerade ball in its ballroom with a performance by DJ Michaelangell, who will mix EDM and chart-topping hits. 8 p.m.-1:30 a.m. $75.
Kelsey’s: A dueling piano performance with a midnight champagne toast. 9:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. $75. 21-and-older.
Round Bar: The NYE balloon party is back with live music and a massive balloon drop. Free. 6 p.m.-1:30 a.m. 21-and-older.
Yaamava’ Resort & Casino
777 San Manuel Blvd., Highland. 800-359-2464. yaamava.com.
Aces Bar: The bar will host a DJ who will drop old school ’90s hits. 7 p.m.1:30 a.m. Free. 21-and-older.
Bar Bar Bar: The music at this bar will be geared towards contemporary high-energy club hits and will have a balloon drop at midnight. 7 p.m.1:30 a.m. Free. 21-and-older.
George Lopez’s Chingon Kitchen: Guests can expect a live Flamenco guitarist and dancer with a DJ scheduled for the rest of the night. Free. 5 p.m.-1 a.m. 21-and-older.
Outer Bar: A DJ will play all the hits for ’80s era lovers. Free. 7 p.m.1:30 a.m.
Rock & Brews: DJ Bateeza’s Rockin’ 80’s tunes featuring Van Halen, Mötley Crüe and Poison tributes. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. $25 advance tickets and $30 at the door. Table seating is available for an additional $75 and booth seating is an additional $100. 21-and-older.
Tukut Lounge: Finesse will perform top 40 hits for the crowd to dance and the bar will have a balloon drop at midnight. 8 p.m.-2 a.m. $35 advance tickets and $40 at the door. A VIP table for two is $50 and a VIP booth for four is $90 plus fees. 21-and-older.
Yaamava’ Theater: Get ready for a funkadelic time bending experience with Morris Day & The Time performing at the casino’s theater. The show will also include a balloon drop. 11 p.m.-12:15 a.m. $65 general admission and $100 for VIP tickets, which include two drinks and a champagne toast at midnight. 21-and-older.
New Year’s Eve Dining
Harrah’s Resort Southern California
777 Harrah’s Rincon Way, Valley Center. 760-751-3100 or harrahssocal.com.
A Hollywood Food Station: The Valley Center property will include Hollywood themed food stations to ring in the New Year. Cinematic snacks include “Freddie Fondue, The Original Cheese” ($10), giant Texas-sized soft pretzels ($10), “Nacho Libre” nachos ($10), “A League of Their Own” jumbo hotdog ($10), “Back to the Future” candy ($8 and “Hangover” popcorn carts ($6).
The Café: New York steak and coconut shrimp, served with grilled asparagus and a loaded baked potato. $45.
‘Ritas Cantina: A 9-ounce grilled lobster Tail with a 12 ounce hand-cut char-grilled ribeye, Serrano salsa,habanero pickled cabbage, Pico de Gallo, served with elote, rice and black beans. $85.99
Salt & Fin: A lamb surf and turf featuring garlic-herb crusted half-rack of lamb, pomme puree, crispy leeks, Beurre blank scallops, with a Mint balsamic drizzle. $75.
Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa
49500 Seminole Drive, Cabazon. 951-849-3080 or morongocasinoresort.com.
Cielo: Three-course dinner for two includes a mixed grain and avocado salad, a 32-ounce Tomahawk ribeye, lobster risotto with mascarpone cheese, and broccoli rabe. Dessert is a chocolate strawberry torte. 5-11 p.m. $225.
Fiesta Taco: Menudo served with cilantro, onions and lime. 11 a.m.- 3 a.m. $10.99.
Good Times Café: Prime rib and lobster tail, seasonal vegetables, Yukon gold mashed potatoes and chocolate mousse cake for dessert. 11 a.m.-2 a.m. $47.99.
Pit Stop Diner: Located next door at Casino Morongo, the restaurant surf & turf meal includes a New York steak and lobster tail, mashed potatoes, seasonal vegetables and a caramel brownie cheesecake for dessert. 11 a.m.-midnight. $38.99.
Pechanga Resort Casino
45000 Pechanga Parkway, Temecula. 877-711-2946 or pechanga.com.
1882 Cantina: A starter choice of apple & beet frisée salad, caldo de res or crab-stuffed portobello mushroom caps. The main entree is a 6-ounce filet mignon served with grilled langoustine, butter, chimichurri, broccolini, cauliflower and sweet corn cake. Dessert is a chocolate caramel cake. 9 a.m.- 9 p.m. $72.
Journey’s End: The restaurant near the casino’s golf course will serve a three course a la-carte menu with a starter of Portabellini stuffed mushrooms ($15); a 10-ounce garlic herb prime rib as the main entrée served with mashed potatoes, gravy, creamed corn, asparagus, au jus sauce and horseradish ($40). Dessert is a chocolate raspberry cake ($12). 7 a.m.-3 p.m.
Kelsey’s Bar and Grill: A three-course meal with a starter choice of a wedge salad or creamy broccoli soup. The main entrée 8-ounce filet mignon, steamed lobster tail, with asparagus, garlic mashed potatoes, red wine sauce and butter. Dessert is a layered chocolate cake. 4-10 p.m. $85.
Paisano’s: The Italian restaurant will serve a four-course meal with a starter choice of Caesar salad or winter vegetable soup; an appetizer choice of Waygu meatballs, bruschetta or calamari; a entrée choice of angel hair primavera, salmon risotto or fillet mignon. Dessert is a almond ricotta cake. 4-11 p.m. $82.
Pechanga Café: An a la carte menu with items such as a polenta shrimp cake ($14), a 8-ounce prime rib with a 4-ounce fried lobster tail alongside roasted pepper aioli, mashed potatoes, gravy and baby carrots ($58), and a chocolate dome mousse cake for dessert ($12). Open 24 hours.
Umi Sushi & Oyster Bar: Three a la carte specials with an appetizer of a seafood tostada ($28), an entrée of Lobster champagne risotto served with asparagus, sansho pepper, tarragon oil and paddlefish caviar ($78); dessert is a cherry chocolate cake ($12). 4-11 p.m.