Free and Cheap New Year’s Eve Events in Portland

New Year’s Eve events in Portland are the perfect way to ring in 2024. Yet trying to find a celebration that doesn’t cost a fortune can be difficult. Here’s a round up of free and cheap New Year’s Eve events in Portland. 

Keep in mind that entrance to these parties may be free or cheap, but food, beverages and activities will come at an additional cost. 

Another great way to save on New Year’s Eve is by leaving your car at home. Trimet is offering free rides on December 31 during select hours.

Is your favorite Portland business hosting a public New Year’s Eve event? Send me a message with the details.

2023 Free and Cheap New Year’s Eve Events

Aztec Willie’s Taqueria

Join the New Year’s Eve Dance Party at Aztec Willie’s. From 9:30 p.m. to 2 a.m., dance the night away to DJ Armando and enjoy a free glass of champagne. 

Admission is $10 at the door. 

Aztec Willie’s is at 1501 NE Broadway St. in Portland.

Birdie Time Pub

Visit Birdie Time Pub for indoor mini golf, a full bar and a menu of snacks, burgers and pizza, and music until 1 a.m. on NYE. 

Birdie Time Pub is at 925 SE Main Street in Portland.

Chopsticks

Dubbing itself Portland’s most favorite karaoke bar, Chopsticks is hosting a New Year’s Eve karaoke party with no cover fee. Karaoke is from 7 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. with champagne for purchase and a countdown at midnight.

Chopsticks is at 3390 NE Sandy Blvd. in Portland.

Columbia Gorge Sternwheeler

Take a short drive to Cascade Locks and board the Columbia Gorge Sternwheeler for the New Year’s Eve Party from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Admission includes a selection of passed hors d’oeuvres, drink token, music and entertainment. 

Tickets are $20 per person.

The dock is at 299 NW Portage Rd. in Cascade Locks.

Freeland Spirits

The Portland distillery is dressing up its tasting room for a New Year’s Eve Kick-Off Party from 5 to 9 p.m. Freeland Spirits will have a DJ, classic cocktails, sparkly French 75’s, champagne jell-o shots, and tasting snacks all day!

The event is free to attend. Minors are allowed.

Table service and seating is first come, first served with options to sit inside or outside on our patio with heaters.

Freeland Spirits is at 2671 NW Vaughn St. in Portland.

Ground Kontrol

The downtown Portland arcade is hosting New Year’s Eve free play party. Ground Kontrol‘s 100+ games will be open to play for one admission price on December 31. The venue also has a full bar and food menu. There’s also a champagne toast at midnight.

Tickets are $10 for all ages from noon to 5 p.m. and $25 for 21+ after 5 p.m. 

Ground Kontrol is at 115 NW 5th Ave. in Portland.

Kells Brewery

Kells Brewery is hosting an NYE Party that promises a night filled with laughter, dancing, and unforgettable memories.

The celebration is from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Advance tickets are $12.

Kells Brewery is at 210 NW 21st Ave. in Portland.

Kennedy School

McMenamins Kennedy School is hosting a special New Year’s Eve party. Free live music by genre-blending jammers Lost Ox will be cranked in the gymnasium from 9 p.m. to 12:15 a.m.  You can also get delicious drink and food specials throughout the night. 

Another option at Kennedy School is live music by funk soul collective Outer Orbit from 9 p.m. to 12:15 a.m. The theater will host a sparkling wine toast and balloon drop at midnight. This show costs $25 in advnce. This is a 21+ event.

Kennedy School is at 5736 NE 33rd Ave. in Portland.

Oaks Park

Rink in the new year at Oaks Park! Bring together your whole family or a group of friends for a special New Year’s Eve party at the roller rink. The New Year’s Eve Skate party at Oaks Park is counting down to the new year with a live DJ, party favors, and a special, extended skate session from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Tickets are $23 per person. Conventional skate rental is included at no additional charge. If you want to attend but not skate, tickets are only $7 per person. This event is open to all ages.

Oaks Amusement Park is located at 7805 SE Oaks Park Way in Portland.

Milwaukie

The Milwaukie Arts Committee invites the community to join in the revelry at the free event, aptly named Bing in the New Year, where the star of the show is none other than the beloved Bing cherry.

From 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., enjoy live entertainment, food and the cherry drop. 

The event is in the parking lot at the intersection of SE Main and SE Harrison streets in downtown Milwaukie.

Mississippi Pizza and Atlantis Lounge

Kicking off December 31 is Mr. Ben’s New Year’s Eve show for kids and families from 5-6 p.m.

In the evening, the New Year’s Eve Party, including an open mic event, DJ and live music. Participants are welcome to prepare a poem, song, dance or performing piece.

The event is $25 per person and takes place from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Mississippi Pizza and Atlantis Lounge is at 3552 N. Mississippi Ave. in Portland.

Peacock Lane

December 31 is the last night this decade to enjoy the lights at Peacock Lane! The lights will be on from 6-11 p.m. Best of all, this light show is completely free and open to all ages.

The street is located at SE Peacock Ln in Portland, between SE Stark and SE Belmont.

Quarterworld

Spend your NYE playing classic and contemporary pinball and arcade games at Quarterworld. From 7 p.m. to 1 a.m., the SE Hawthorne arcade is hosting a neon themed party with drink specials, live music by Dj Jason Wann, arcade games, and a new and improved balloon drop.

General admission is $10 per person. This is a 21+ event.

QuarterWorld Arcade ​is at 4811 Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard in Portland.

Sizzle Pie

How about an NYE pizza party? Sizzle Pie’s East Burnside location is serving up $4 slices and draft beer from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m.

The central eastside location is at 624 E Burnside Ave. in Portland.

Space Needle Live Broadcast

If you want to celebrate New Year’s Eve from the comfort of your home, tune in to the New Year’s Eve fireworks display at the Space Needle.

Christmas on the Campground

Take in the sights of the last day of Christmas on the Campground. The light display features life-size nativity, thousands of lights and the tallest decorated Christmas tree in Southeast Portland.

Lights will be on from dusk to dawn. Christmas music will play from 4:30 to 9 p.m. 

The Christmas display is located at the Apostolic Faith Church at 5414 SE Duke Street in Southeast Portland.

The Goodfoot Lounge

Join a funk, soul and disco 45’s from deep in the crates of the Soul Stew DJ starting at the NYE Dance Party starting at 9 p.m.

Tickets are $25 in advance and at the door. 

The Goodfoot Lounge is at 2845 SE Stark St. in Portland.

The Highland Stillhouse

From 9 p.m. to 12 a.m., The Highland Stillhouse is hosting a New Year’s Eve party with live music from Thom Dudley and Eddie Parente, bagpipes and the ball drop upstairs and a champagne toast at midnight.

The Scottish pub is located at 201 S 2nd St. in Oregon City.

Thirsty Sasquatch

The Vancouver bar and pizzeria is hosting an NYE celebration from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. There’s a music and visual experience hosted by Sync Up VNC and dancing in the arcade. 

This event is 21+ after 10 p.m. The event is free to attend. 

Thirsty Sasquatch is at 2110 Main St. in Vancouver. 

Whale Watching

I know this isn’t technically in Portland, but it is whale watching season on the Oregon Coast! Take a spontaneous trip to one of 15 viewing locations along the coastline.

Westside Commons

Looking for a sober NYE celebration full of tradition? Head to the convention center for the Native American New Year’s Eve Sobriety Powwow from 1  p.m. to midnight on Sunday. 

This is a free, family-friendly event. The Westside Commons’ Wingspan Event Center is at 801 NE 34th Ave. in Hillsboro.

White Eagle Saloon 

The McMenamins location is hosting a Flashback New Year’s Eve. Experience an 70s, 80s and 90s night out.

The 21+ event starts at 8 p.m.

Tickets are $20 per person in advance. White Eagle Saloon is at 836 N. Russell St. in Portland.