Toast the New Year in style from home
Gathering with friends to ring in 2021 will have to wait until it’s time to welcome 2022, but that doesn’t mean celebrating the promiseofanewyearshouldfallby the wayside. It’s tradition to hoist your favorite sparkling beverage while toasting the year that was, and here are some ways you can do so while safely at home on Dec. 31.
The AmaZing Theatre Company hosts the free “New Year’s Eve Performing Arts Showcase,” with songs, dancing, plays, storytelling and more. The Baltimore, Maryland-based nonprofit aims to celebrate an ethnically diverse population, plus “acknowledge social changes and lift up our voices to the future.” Register for this 90-minute online program, which starts at 4 p.m., at www. amazingtheatre.org.
Watch the ball drop in Times Square in New York in real time via https://www.timessquarenyc. org/times-square-new-years-eve/ nye-live-webcast. The official website offers behind-the-scenes stories and backstage access to the performers and guest stars who will appear in this commercialfree webcast, starting at 3 p.m. The webcast will also be streamed on Facebook Live at facebook.com/ timessquarenyc.
There are several other choices for watch the 2021 ball drop on broadcast TV. For 49 years, ABC has covered the festivities with “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve,” now hosted by Ryan Seacrest. The “American Idol” host has appeared on the New Year’s Eve show since 2006, and this year, he’ll be joined in New York by actors Lucy Hale and Billy Porter, as well as R& B singer Ciara. The multitalented Jennifer Lopez headlines the musical program, which also features Cyndi Lauper and Jimmie Allen. The fun begins at 8 p.m., and country artist Jessie James Decker will appear throughout the evening with finalists in the Powerball First Millionaire of the Year drawing.
CarsonDalyhostsNBC’s“New Year’s Eve 2021” with model/ author Chrissy Teigen. Hopefully, this year’s broadcast will not include Teigen’s eye meeting the umbrella of “Saturday Night Live” star Leslie Jones, who will once again wander Times Square. Expect music from Ne-Yo, Leslie Odom, Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani, while Keith Urban appears from Nashville’s Bicentennial State Park. The show airs from 10-11 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m.
FOX’s “New Year’s Eve with Steve Harvey” will again be cohosted by Maria Menounos and include several cameos from guests such as the Big Dog, Roman Reigns. There will also be performances by LL Cool J, DJ Z-Trip, the Chainsmokers, the Lumineers, Florida Georgia Line, Backstreet Boys, Tyga and the Killers. The special airs from 8-10 p.m. and 11-12:30 a.m.
Starting at 8 p.m. on CNN is “New Year’s Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen,” which features live performances from Christina Aguilera, 50 Cent, Lenny Kravitz, Shania Twain and Patti Labelle, as well as Urban in Nashville.
For those looking to celebrate in a more global fashion, San Francisco’s Co-Reality Collective offers a “round-the-clock, round-the-world countdown.” Starting with the Pacific islands of Kiribati, the changing of the year will be celebrated with inhabitants of every time zone, ending at Baker Island. For more details and to reserve a ticket, go to https://www.eventbrite. com/e/new-years-everywhere-tickets 132348402635.
