Families and early celebrators will love the Appalachian Theatre’s Noon Year’s Eve celebration in downtown Boone. This daytime event features a special 75th anniversary screening of Disney’s Cinderella (1950), followed by a kid-friendly countdown complete with party favors, a balloon drop, sparkling cider, and a photo booth. It’s a festive option that lets little ones join in without making it to midnight.
Across the region, New Year’s Eve is also a highlight for food lovers. In West Jefferson, the High Country Tea & Grazing Room hosts a charming British-inspired evening with a multi-course dinner, champagne toast, and a countdown timed to celebrate the New Year overseas. In Blowing Rock, Chetola Resort and Westglow’s Daingerfield’s both offer elevated dining experiences featuring seasonal menus, refined settings, and optional wine pairings. The Embers Restaurant adds to the lineup with a thoughtfully prepared three-course New Year’s Eve dinner, perfect for a cozy yet polished night out.
If live music and themed parties are more your style, there’s no shortage of excitement. OH Restaurant in West Jefferson brings the glamour with a Roaring 20s–inspired Gatsby celebration featuring live music, ballroom dancing, hors d’oeuvres, and cocktails. Mast Farm Inn in Valle Crucis hosts its own Jazz Age soirée, complete with a seated dinner, champagne toast, ball drop, and plenty of reasons to dress to impress. For a high-energy vibe, Brew Haus Events Center turns back the clock with an 80s-themed New Year’s Eve party, complete with themed drinks, costumes, and dance-floor favorites.
Those looking to celebrate outdoors can welcome the New Year on the slopes. Appalachian Ski Mountain and Sugar Mountain Resort both host festive evenings with night skiing, torchlight parades, live music, and fireworks. Beech Mountain Resort offers a family-friendly midnight celebration with fireworks and entertainment best enjoyed from the village or near the outdoor fire pits.
Downtown Boone also comes alive as midnight approaches. Lost Province rings in the New Year with live music and a complimentary champagne toast, while The Beacon offers a more intimate experience with a curated multi-course Italian dinner. The Appalachian Theatre keeps the energy high with live music, dancing, party favors, a photo booth, and a live broadcast of the Times Square ball drop.
A longtime local tradition, the Boone Ball Drop is best viewed from outside near the Jones House lawn on King Street. Nearby bars and lounges stay open late, making it easy to toast the New Year without straying far from the action.
No matter how you choose to celebrate, New Year’s Eve in the High Country blends mountain charm, festive energy, and memorable moments. From elegant dinners to fireworks under the stars, it’s a beautiful place to close out the year and step into the next — especially when you can retreat back to the comfort of The Getaway afterward.
