New Year's Eve ball-drops happening in Farmingdale, Lindenhurst, Patchogue and Huntington
Patchogue's New Year’s Eve outdoor ball drop celebration “Midnight on Main” will feature a professional fireworks display by Grucci. Credit: Benny Migs Photography
Watching the ball drop on New Year’s Eve in Times Square is exciting, but not easy to pull off. There is a way to capture a similar experience without the hassle. Here are four Long Island events happening Dec. 31, where you can ring in 2026 without traveling far from home.
New Year’s Eve revelers gather around Village Square Park in Lindenhurst. Credit: Newsday/Thomas A. Ferrara
LINDENHURST
This year Lindenhurst’s New Year’s Celebration is kicking off America’s semiquincentennial.
"There will be a George Washington impersonator, stilt walkers dressed in red, white and blue as well as red, white and blue confetti," village clerk Katie Schrader says, adding that 2026 glasses, streamers and noisemakers will be given out to attendees.
Live music is provided by rock band The Good Life, while vendors sell pretzels and the Lindenhurst Moose Lodge No. 1421 serves complimentary hot chocolate.
This year’s honoree is Douglas Elliman real estate agent Jo Ann Boettcher, who served as president of both the Lindenhurst Chamber of Commerce and the Lindenhurst Kiwanis Club as well as being an active Rotarian.
"I’m very honored to be honored because I’m passionate about my community. It’s rewarding work," Boettcher says. "I grew up in Lindenhurst and it has really come back to where it was."
The Lindenhurst Fire Department will drop the ball, made by Chivvis Enterprises of Copiague, with Boettcher handling the countdown ball light up honors. Additionally, a T-shirt gun will shoot out Lindenhurst shirts to the crowd.
WHEN | WHERE 6-8 p.m., Dec. 31; Village Square, 116 N. Wellwood Ave., Lindenhurst
INFO 631-957-7500
ADMISSION Free
WHERE TO EAT
- Hermanas Kitchen & Cocktails: Owned by three female friends — "hermanas" means sisters in Spanish — who consistently deliver a tempting slate of Pan-Latin dishes from tacos to pupusas, ceviche to empanadas, Cuban sandwiches to carne asada. And the cozy, eclectic rooms offer a good reason to linger over expertly shaken cocktails; 136 S. Wellwood Ave., Lindenhurst, 631-991-8999, hermanaslindy.com
- Vicky’s Casa del Sabor: Vicky Ramos has been making traditional Colombian empanadas since 2011 — more than 30 types including traditional beef, chorizo and chicken with cheese, along with more playful ones like mac-and-cheese, jerk chicken and Philly cheesesteak. There are also sandwiches, burritos, quesadillas and tacos, perfect for a quick bite; 771 Wellwood Ave., Lindenhurst, 631-225-5040, vickyscasadelsabor.com
Kyla Heyward, 21, of Coram, holds her cousin Amari Lee, 18 months, of Bay Shore, at the Patchogue New Year's Eve party on Main Street. Credit: Newsday/Steve Pfost
PATCHOGUE
The original local New Year’s Eve outdoor ball rise celebration is "Midnight on Main" from the Greater Patchogue Chamber of Commerce, which has been running for more than a decade.
"This is a feel-good, family event that we hold to give kids the experience of a New Year’s Eve ball drop without having to stay up late," executive director Silvana Aloisio says.
The event offers bounce houses and kid games while DJ Beso spins tunes for two hours, creating a party atmosphere. Folks can warm up with free hot chocolate and coffee as tickets are drawn for the "30 Days of Dining" raffle, which features a basket of gift cards from local restaurants (tickets are $20).
When the ball rises at 8 p.m., the crowd will get treated to a professional fireworks display by Grucci, near Blue Point Brewery.
"It’s a magical moment," Aloisio adds. "The chamber wants people to be able to feel the vibrancy that Patchogue has and welcome in a new year that’s a little kinder and brighter for everyone."
WHEN | WHERE 6 to 8 p.m., Dec. 31; Main Street and West Avenue, Patchogue
INFO 631-207-1000, patchogue.com
ADMISSION Free
WHERE TO EAT
- Shands General and The State Room: Shands General and The State Room have been on the cutting edge of fine dining since the original speakeasy-like upstairs space debuted in 2023. There are house-made pastas, steak and chops, plus a killer burger on the menu, and all complement the cocktail program, which is just as special as the food; 67 W. Main St., Patchogue; The State Room, 2nd floor; 631-447-2337, shandsgeneral.com
- Millie’s Smash Bar: This new, glossy red-and-white counter spot is lined with banquette seating along one wall and a bar on the other, but if you’re in a rush, there’s also a take-out window for their juicy burgers, chicken sandwiches, disco fries and milkshakes; 52 W. Main St., 631-569-5888, milliessmashbar.com
Families warm up by the firepit on the Village Green in Farmingdale. Credit: Marketing Masters NY
FARMINGDALE
The Village of Farmingdale will rock in the New Year as the Electric Dudes perform in the gazebo on the Village Green. The band is set to play a mix of classic rock, pop, dance music and holiday songs. Bonfires provide warmth along with free hot chocolate and cookies.
"I don’t think anyone really could have predicted how big this would get and how much everyone enjoys it," says Electric Dudes guitarist Dave Saul, who curates the event. "You can see the glee in people’s eyes during the countdown."
The ball gets lowered by Farmingdale Village trustee Walter Priestley with the help of the Farmingdale Fire Department and was built in a unique way.
"It’s actually a giant Hippity Hop Ball wrapped with 6,000 Christmas lights and covered with packing tape," Priestley says. "We run a rope and extension cord up to it. Then use a pulley to get it up on top of the ladder until we have the countdown. It’s an adventure every time we do it."
Mayor Ralph Ekstrand leads the crowd in the countdown at 8 p.m. and noisemakers are distributed to everyone.
"People want to go to bed early," Priestley notes. "Not many can stay up until midnight."
WHEN | WHERE 6:30 to 8 p.m., Dec. 31; Village Green, 361 Main St., Farmingdale
INFO 516-249-0093, farmingdalevillage.com
ADMISSION Free
WHERE TO EAT
- Casa Stellina: If it’s Italian you’re craving, it’s Casa Stellina you want. The large dining room trades in the same classics as the original restaurant in Oyster Bay: from chicken Parm to pizza, meaty lasagna and spicy rigatoni vodka, fried artichokes to fritto misto, lamb chops to New York strip steak; 300 Main St., Farmingdale, 516-943-9111, casastellinany.com
- The Coop: Billing itself as a bar, lounge and Nashville kitchen, The Coop is a fast-casual spot slinging hot chicken sandwiches, spicy chicken fingers, burgers, brisket, po’ boys and ribs in a honky-tonk setting. The restaurant shares space with a live music venue next door if you’re looking to keep the party going until the wee hours; 342 Main St., 516, 730-8906, thecoopli.com
HUNTINGTON
New ground is being broken in Huntington this year as the village is starting what may become a tradition, with the launch of "The Spectacular New Year’s Eve Drone Show" on Wall Street.
"We wanted to do something that was big, new and exciting," says event curator Nicolina Sciascia. The celebration comes from the team behind the Huntington Village Business Improvement District’s Huntington Holiday Spectacular series of events. "The idea was to be ahead of the curve and hold an event that no one else has done before."
Sky Elements, a nationwide drone company that holds 16 Guinness World Record titles, will launch 200 remote control drones more than 100 feet in the air above the parking lot across from the Huntington Post Office.
The 15-minute show, starting at 11:50 p.m., will feature a series of illuminated images set to music. The theme is a surprise.
"It’s going to be very on-brand for the Huntington Holiday Spectacular and New Year’s Eve," Sciascia says. "We are doing a countdown in the clouds because the ball will be one of the main moving images. Hopefully, this will become an annual tradition."
DJ Mike Shortt gets the evening going by spinning on the street for a pre-drone show party starting at 9:30 p.m.
The Huntington Holiday Spectacular runs through Jan. 4 and features a Christmas tree, holiday decor, Santa visits and holiday markets.
WHEN | WHERE 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., Dec. 31; Wall St., Huntington
INFO huntingtonholidayspectacular.com
ADMISSION Free
WHERE TO EAT
- Parea: This sit-down Greek spot, which channels Santorini’s blue and white aesthetic, is family-owned, warm and always buzzing. Fuel up on their traditional avgolemono soup, hummus and pitas, Greek salads and generous portions of souvlaki, spanakopiita and seafood specials; 360 New York Ave., 631-423-8982, pareany.com
- BRGRS: This fast-casual spot owned by three Melville brothers, the Singhs, is a burger-lovers delight. Their no-frills menu is short, savory and delicious: Smash burgers come in single, double or triple stacks, with chicken and Impossible varieties, while fries can be had regular or curly; 392 New York Ave., 631-470-2013. brgrshuntington.com
David J. Criblez is a reporter for Newsday's exploreLI, covering entertainment-related events from local music to stand-up comedy to festivals.
