New Year's Spots That Pop
Celebrate the old year and welcome the new with fireworks, food, fun, and family!
Have a festive cocktail, indulge in a festive end-of-year meal, and participate in a duck drop- southwest Illinois invites you to dress your best and toss some confetti as you say hello to 2024!
A Year to Celebrate Together
Spend the last day of the year in Grafton with a New Year’s Eve Balloon Drop at The Loading Dock Ice Rink. Watch the New Year’s Eve Fireworks in Grafton reflect off the waters of the Mississippi River after your skate and be sure to have a hot cocoa on hand from The Loading Dock for the show!
Want to bring the kids to a warmer event? Make a splash at the New Year’s Eve Party at the Korte Rec Center in Highland with a New Year’s swim, and a beach ball/ rubber ducky drop!
![](https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Loading-Dock-Ice-Rink-Balloon-Drop.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=0c2f957e66446ac37aa6a91e544e1ba0 320w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Loading-Dock-Ice-Rink-Balloon-Drop.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=df40ed4496b14b336889cc98ef5b64ee 540w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Loading-Dock-Ice-Rink-Balloon-Drop.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=e1e1e25578c68165ace46dfd4fbd6ed5 768w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Loading-Dock-Ice-Rink-Balloon-Drop.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=59e47cabd6c742dc81f43c2aed27ac9c 1024w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Loading-Dock-Ice-Rink-Balloon-Drop.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=4c375a8efb93711bb46667b169ca9ce2 1200w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Loading-Dock-Ice-Rink-Balloon-Drop.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=e2706b48790b369d39167c32b6bf4b96 1440w)
One Last Taste of 2023
Hungry for 2024?
Have one last taste of 2023 in style at fine sit-down eateries like Tony’s Steakhouse & Bar, Santino’s Steak & Pasta House, Gentelin’s on Broadway, or Castelli’s Restaurant at 255 in Alton.
In Collinsville, try out Mungo’s, Ravanelli’s Italian Steak House & Wine Bar, and Porter’s Steakhouse.
In Edwardsville you can dine at 1818 Chophouse, Cleveland Heath, Bella Milano, Blue Violet, Brick & Bramble, Moussalli’s Prime, or Sugo’s Spaghetteria, and check out other delicious options at places like Bakers & Hale in Godfrey, Maverick Steaks & Spirits or The Ariston in Litchfield, Charcoal House Tavern in Jerseyville, or 1929 Pizza & Wine in Wood River.
![](https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Cleveland-Heath.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=1c0e9b57859304efa1a6c0d7aa482322 320w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Cleveland-Heath.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=16eadf789c0cd9e8be28ba1dc33bdd1e 540w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Cleveland-Heath.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=cc7ec9e743b1d4fd1a1ef6ad65214efe 768w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Cleveland-Heath.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=3e5d5aacb36ec0a417cb325a0e2add20 1024w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Cleveland-Heath.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=a884a6a9d29eca0fe762fb3546d283da 1200w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Cleveland-Heath.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=54960b5bb49e6327b76bd31e0ae091d4 1280w)
Dance Until the Ball Drops
What would New Year’s Eve be without music?
Southwest Illinois venues are bursting this year with some of the region’s favorite local bands ready to rock you into 2023! Have some farm-to-table fare and jam at Bakers & Hale New Year’s Eve with Flip the Frog in Godfrey, get groovy at Karaoke Night New Years at The Conservatory in Alton, take a drive up to Chesterfield for Wild Pickins Wine Down & Countdown New Year’s Eve Party, pop champaigne at a New Year's Eve Party at Pere Marquette Lodge and celebrate with popular band Foreplay at New Year’s Eve at The Pump House in Wood River!
![](https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/spillie-nelson.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=01a695c411696d15c1b9c212c2c704b1 320w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/spillie-nelson.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=2fcf3d349292d68d35fde3ac9efa9cf9 540w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/spillie-nelson.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=9923536853caeabdf0e75eeaeb4dbeaa 768w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/spillie-nelson.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=1484638454635fc2c3d9a0e570fcc252 1024w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/spillie-nelson.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=b492a7e2daf0ba91c1a6b73f121a562b 1200w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/spillie-nelson.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=a35b24ce999b4803ee3349cc750b5579 1440w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/spillie-nelson.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=b7020db1d9404bbcafc26a6655baad69 1920w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/spillie-nelson.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=2560&s=976b81f91f52e6e6f3a2ab6da987a7d8 2000w)
About the Author
Kayla Howland
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