With the year 2020 being the flaming dumpster fire it has been, you'd be forgiven for having not made plans for an epic New Year's Eve this time around.
Heck, you might just be glad you're allowed to go outside, breathe near other people, have a swim and enjoy some fish and chips, given the devastating pandemic that continues to ravage much of the world.
But you might also be the type that thinks they're totally sweet with having a chill, nothing-much kind of NYE celebration, but now the FOMO has begun to creep in.
You scoffed at your mates for buying Northern Bass or Rhythm and Alps tickets in June, cos it would like, totally probably be cancelled, but now that's sold out - along with a bunch of other festivals - and you're second-guessing yourself.
Never fear! The comprehensive last-minute NYE festie guide is here. Down here in Aotearoa, we're lucky enough to be charging ahead with our usual smorgasbord of live music events to ring in the new year, and there are still a few options for the last-minute reveller.
Please note: The following is a list of just some of the major festivals taking place over the New Year's Eve period that still have tickets available at the time of writing. We haven't included any events that are totally sold out.
In some cases, some nights of the multi-day gigs below are already sold out, but let's be honest, all you're really looking for is one big end of year blow-out with a backdrop of good local tunes. Who really cares what night it's on? With that in mind, don't forget there are festies either side of NYE, like Le Currents in Taupo on December 27 and Bay Dreams in Nelson and Mount Maunganui on January 3 and 5 respectively.
Wherever you end up, you'll still be seeing in 2021 in the best little country on the planet, so enjoy it!
The Other Side - NYE20
- Where: Joe's Farm, Whangamata
- When: December 30 - 31
- Line-up highlights: Shapeshifter, LAB, JessB, Aroha & Tali, Concord Dawn, Montell2099, Chaii, P-Money, Melodownz, David Dallas, State of Mind
- Tickets: December 31 final release still available
HighLife NYE
- Where: Ascension Wine Estate, Matakana
- When: December 31
- Line-up highlights: Otosan, General Lee, Samson Live, Rio Funk
- Tickets: General admission final release still available
Rhythm and Vines
- Where: Waiohika Estate, Gisborne
- When: December 29 - January 1
- Line-up highlights: Benee, Fat Freddy's Drop, Shapeshifter, LAB, Shihad, Broods, The Beths, Ladi6, Dave Dobbyn, The Upbeats
- Tickets: One day festival passes for December 29 - 30 available, some resale tickets available for December 31 and three-day passes available
AUM New Year's Eve Festival
- Where: Leightons Farm, South Head, Auckland
- When: December 30 - January 2
- Line-up highlights: No big-name headliners, but a family-friendly schedule of music, performance art and wellness/healing activities
- Tickets: Single and multi-day passes still available
Resolution NYE Festival
- Where: Kumeu Showgrounds, Auckland
- When: December 30 - January 2
- Line-up highlights: Another family-friendly timetable that promises barn raves, world fusion music stages, markets, drum circles, ancient ceremonies and kids zones
- Tickets: Full festival passes still available
Britomart Block Party
- Where: Galway Street, Britomart, Auckland
- When: December 31
- Line-up highlights: Mt Eden, Weight Together, State of Mind, Concord Dawn, Dick Johnson, P Money
- Tickets: General admission and VIP still available
Kaleidoscope NYE 2020
- Where: Our Place, Tauranga
- When: December 31
- Line-up highlights: Mini Simmons, Strangely Arousing, The Leers, Joe's Van
- Tickets: General admission still available
