The Best New Year's Eve Festivals and Festivities to Ring in 2016

Article by: Marcus Dowling|@marcuskdowling

Thu December 24, 2015 | 00:00 AM


New Year’s Eve provides a party-ready festival goer with one final chance to really let loose prior to the start of 2016. If you’ve successfully felt all of the grooves, been transformed and just want to close the calendar with a memorable event, we here at Fest300 have the perfect list for you. Around the world, the days surrounding Dec. 31 are jam packed with outstanding offerings. Here’s six top-tier outings to consider.

Universo Parallelo
Dec. 27, 2015 - Jan. 4, 2016
Praia de Pratigi, Bahia, Brazil

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJdHnnjrLw8

Nearly two decades after it’s inaugural event, Universo Parallelo is a yearly celebration of Brazil’s vibrant electronic music scene in the Atlantic Forest along the nation’s northeastern coast. 150-plus live and DJ acts from both Brazil and a plethora of other international locales typically play psychedelic and trance-flavored sets. For seven days, tens to hundreds of thousands of revelers are treated to camping, music, artistic and cultural activities. If looking to close 2015 on sandy beaches whilst hearing blissful tunes, this could be the ultimate event.

SnowGlobe
Dec. 29 - 31, 2015
South Lake Tahoe, CA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TlC5ITUUK0

EDM and top-40 pop collide in a frosty snowbank at Northern California’s year-ending SnowGlobe event. Ideally suited for skiers, snowboarders and ravers, 2015’s lineup includes dance dons like Jack U and Kaskade, rappers E-40 and Run The Jewels and an impressive array of breakout underground acts including Goldlink, Post Malone, Justin Jay, NGHTMRE and more. In full, 50,000-plus festival fanatics are expected to close 2015 in grand fashion, multiple stages set up at Tahoe Community College for the proceedings.

NYE 2016 with Justice
Dec. 31, 2015
Brooklyn, NY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kN89U6de60

Early EDM era French house-meets-garage rock duo Justice are set to return with a 2016 album release. They kick off the year a night early at a “secret” warehouse show in Brooklyn joined by French techno wizard Gesaffelstein, Bob Moses and more. Though not a festival, this may be the Big Apple’s most ultimate New Year’s event outside seeing the ball drop in Times Square. The intimate and underground vibe of this event may truly elevate it to a once-in-a-lifetime level experience.

The Falls Music and Arts Festival
Dec. 28, 2015 - Jan. 1, 2016
Lorne, Victoria, Australia
Marion Bay, Tasmania, Australia
Byron, New South Wales, Australia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alO_B38_QQs

Occurring in a trio of locales down under is Australia’s five-day Falls Music and Arts Festival. Fanciful and funky vibes dominate at the event that celebrates 24 years in Victoria, 13 in Tasmania and the third annual event in Byron Bay in 2015. 100 well regarded Australian and global acts are booked for the three events, acts that include Hiatus Kaiyote, Leon Bridges, Disclosure, Gary Clark, Jr., Toro Y Moi, and yes, even “Weird Al” Yankovic. With free camping, and non-musical entertainment options also offered, this is a can’t-miss highlight event of the Australian summer.

Hogmanay
Dec. 30, 2015 - Jan. 2, 2016
Edinburgh, Scotland

https://vimeo.com/137242723

Edinburgh, Scotland hosts an estimated 75,000 people yearly for the Hogmanay series of events to close out the year. Live bands and DJs including BBC 6’s Craig Charles DJing his “Funk and Soul Show,” as well as two-piece punk act Slaves and popular contemporary folk act the Peatbog Faeries are among the acts playing on New Year’s Eve on four separate stages. As well, the night before, the “Torchlight Procession” through Edinburgh has 30,000 torch-bearing partiers marching through the city with a fireworks display to close the event. An experience unlike few others, it’s a definite must attend.

The Ruins New Year’s Eve Party
Dec. 31, 2015
St. Francis Bay, South Africa

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwGdgyTZd1g

For the past 15 years, Africa’s southern tip has hosted over 90,000 partiers at South Africa’s top New Year’s Eve concert. 2015 offers what is described as a “new generation” event at the St. Francis Bay-based nightspot. This year’s festivities include three “experiential” stages providing top South African acts separated by genre providing unique and vibe-driven experiences. DJs including Roger Goode, Niskerone, Israel’s Roy Rosenfeld, Dutchwoman Sophie Francis and more spin everything from electro house to drum and bass, techno and more. Heavy grooves being heard on South Africa’s Eastern cape with the Indian Ocean in the distance sounds awfully appealing, indeed.