Orange County is full of festive ways to welcome the New Year without breaking the bank. Whether you’re looking for family-friendly fun, outdoor activities, or unique local events, there are plenty of free and affordable options to celebrate. Check out this list of top things to do this New Year’s Eve in Orange County to ring in 2025!
1. Enjoy Live Music and Fireworks at First Night Fullerton
- Location: Downtown Fullerton Plaza, Fullerton
- Time: 7pm – Midnight
Join the annual “First Night” celebration in downtown Fullerton! The event is family-friendly, and while you can certainly enjoy a New Years libation, alcohol is by no means the focus of the evening. Instead, you can enjoy a night full of delicious food, live music, carnival rides, and more. The event features a “Kids Lane,” with tons of family-friendly activities, including carnival games, inflatible attractions, and face painting.
The night ends with a spectacular fireworks display at midnight to ring in the new year! While the event itself is free, we recommend getting any desired activity tickets ahead of time (sold at the Fullerton Community Center front desk) to save money on ticket bundles. Otherwise, tickets are $1 each.
2. Countdown to 2025 at STC GardenWalk
- Location: 400 Disney Way, Anaheim
- Time: 5pm – 1am
For another free event on the list the whole family can enjoy, celebrate New Year’s Eve at the STC GardenWalk’s “Countdown to 2025” event! Starting at 5pm, you can join in the dance party with a lineup of fantastic live music performances, enjoy carnival attractions, or peruse through an array of goods from street vendors. There is also kids’ craft tables, lots of great photo opportunities, and multiple giveaways throughout the night to possibly win awesome something to take home!
While admission is free, we recommend getting your tickets in advance via Eventbrite in order to participate in the giveaways! Upon arrival, just show your tickets at the event check-in table to get entered AND receive a free gift!
3. Roll in the New Year at Fountain Valley Skating Center’s New Year’s Eve Skate Party
- Location: 9105 Recreation Circle, Fountain Valley
- Time: 6pm – 9pm or 9pm – Midnight
Celebrate New Year’s Eve with a night of rollerskating, music, and fun at the Fountain Valley Skating Center. This family-friendly event offers two skating sessions for those looking to countdown to midnight or celebrate a little earlier in the evening. Each session features a live DJ, a snack bar, and a whole lot of fun ringing in 2025 on wheels.
Admission isn’t free, at $20 per person, but skate rentals are included in the price of admission! They also provide festive hats, noisemakers, and headbands for attendees as well. To get your tickets, click here.
4. Experience Snow on the Beach at Winter Fest OC’s Swiftie Spectacular
- Location: OC Fair & Events Center, Costa Mesa
- Time: 8pm – 12:15am
We hope our Swifties got the pun in this headline 😉. This is admittedly the most expensive option on this list, with general admission tickets starting at $35 for kids and $40 for adults, but the admission to Winter Fest OC’s Swiftie Spectacular does come with a lot and is something you can do with the whole family! Not to mention, if you’re a Swiftie, it’s MUCH cheaper than Eras Tour tickets were!
In addition to all the typical winter-themed fun, including ice skating, ice tubing, snow play, carnival rides and more, on New Year’s Eve Winter Fest OC is also hosting a Taylor Swift Tribue Band, Taylor Nation, so you can countdown to the new year while singing your heart our and dancing the night away. Get your tickets here.
5. Get Home Safely on a Free Bus Ride with OCTA
- Location: Throughout Orange County
- Time: 6pm – 2:30am
No matter how you choose to ring in the new year, the best way to end the evening is to ensure you make it home safely. Luckily, the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) is making it easier by offering free rides on ALL OC Bus routes this New Year’s Eve. This complimentary service allows residents and visitors to travel conveniently to and from parties and events across Orange County without the worry of driving.
There are no tickets or passes required. We recommend planning your trip in advance using OCTA’s trip planner to determine the best routes and schedules for your New Year’s Eve destinations.
