Ring in 2025 at these fun and festive gatherings

Baby New Year: The Smoke Shop presents its fifth annual early, family-centered shindig at its Assembly Row location in Somerville. From 2:30–4:30 p.m., enjoy the eatery’s delectable barbecue offerings along with fun activities and a 4 p.m. balloon drop.

Enchantment Under the Sea New Year’s Eve Party: Night Shift Brewing’s Everett facility gets decked out in 1950s prom décor when it hosts this Back to the Future-inspired showcase, which features live music, photo ops, caricatures, a costume contest, complimentary bubbly for the midnight toast and special cocktails along with the brewery’s usual lineup of outstanding craft beers. And did we mention that admission is free?

Resolution Ball: The Back Bay’s Westin Copley Place hotel is the place to be for this 21+, black tie-optional bash that begins with dinner at 7 p.m. and continues all night with live music, cocktails, party favors, DJ-curated tracks for dancing and a midnight countdown. The hotel is also home to the Back Bay Ball, a companion celebration geared toward the 30+ crowd. In addition, there’s a silent auction benefitting the Ellie Fund, a non-profit focused on supporting those dealing with breast cancer.

Gatsby’s Glitter Ball: Head Downtown to the Hyatt Regency Boston for this Roaring ’20s-themed hullabaloo sure to rival all the glitz and glamour of the Jazz Age. Break out your flapper costume and pearls and mingle while supping on a gourmet dinner and desserts, dancing to live music and enjoying retro cocktails. A portion of the proceeds from the evening also goes to the Ellie Fund.

First Night Boston (pictured): The grand dame of all New Year’s Eve arts extravaganzas, this free spectacle encompasses live music, dance, puppet shows, ice sculptures, arts and crafts, and not one, but two, fireworks displays—the Family Fireworks on Boston Common at 7 p.m., which are preceded by the return of the First Night Parade, and midnight pyrotechnics over Boston Harbor—at indoor and outdoor venues across Downtown Boston, the Back Bay, the Fenway and even the new CanalSide Food & Drink food hall in Cambridge. Other special happenings include free carousel rides at the Rose Kennedy Greenway from 11 a.m.–6 p.m., The Skating Club of Boston’s two-part Skating Spectacular at the Boston Common Frog Pond and a laser show-punctuated midnight countdown at City Hall Plaza that promises a surprise musical guest on the outdoor stage.