Seattle ranked among the top 10 cities for best New Year’s Eve celebrations. Here’s why
New Year’s Eve is officially here, and many people are searching for things to do and ways to celebrate to ring in the new year.
There’s no need to worry if you haven’t nailed down your New Year’s Eve plans because there is plenty to do in Seattle, according to a new Wallethub study.
The study compared and ranked 100 of the biggest U.S. cities to find the best cities for New Year’s Eve celebrations. Rankings were based on key metrics ranging from the legality of fireworks to the affordability of food and lodging.
One Western Washington city was ranked in the top 10 best cities for New Year’s Eve celebrations: Seattle.
Best cities for New Year’s Eve celebrations
The three main categories of the study used to determine the ranking of best cities for New Year’s Eve celebrations were entertainment and food, cost, and safety and accessibility.
The top 10 best cities in America for New Year’s Eve celebrations, according to the study, are:
No. 1 - New York, New York
No. 2 - Orlando, Florida
No. 3 - San Diego, California
No. 4 - Las Vegas, Nevada
No. 5 - Chicago, Illinois
No. 6 - Atlanta, Georgia
No. 7 - Miami, Florida
No. 8 - San Francisco, California
No. 9 - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
No. 10 - Seattle, Washington
What makes Seattle one of the best cities for NYE celebrations?
The study ranked Seattle as the 10th best city in the country for New Year’s Eve celebrations because the city has several fun ways to ring in the new year, Wallethub analyst Chip Lupo said in an email.
“Aside from its top ranking for the Availability of Affordable Fine Dining, Seattle boasts strong showings in nightlife options (11th), restaurants (12th), and music venues (12th) per capita,” Lupo said. “The city also ranks well in general fun, as it’s one of WalletHub’s top 20 Most Fun Cities in America.”
Although there is a lot to do in the Emerald City, the study found that it is quite costly and is ranked 93 out of 100 cities in the cost category. The cost category included the availability of affordable dining, average alcoholic beverage price, and the lowest price per three-star hotel rooms, among other things.
Lupo said Seattle ranked No. 91 for the average price of an alcoholic beverage, No. 87 for restaurant meal costs and No. 99 for grooming costs.
Lupo added that Seattle has a high crime rate and ranked No. 80 in neighborhood security.
If you’re interested in joining in on the New Year’s Eve celebration in Seattle, here are two options:
Winterfest New Year’s Eve Celebration: A free dance party at the International Fountain Mall on Dec. 31 that starts at 10 p.m.
New Year’s at the Space Needle: This celebration will feature a drone and firework show that will begin at 10 p.m. People who wish to view this in person can watch from the Seattle Center, International Fountain Lawn and Fisher Pavillion.
