Denver Named One of the Top New Year's Eve Cities in the U.S.

Fireworks Displays, Family Friendly Activities, Concerts and Decadent Parties Make Denver the Place to Ring in 2012

DENVER, Dec. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- This year, Yahoo! declared the Mile High City as one of the best cities to ring in the New Year.  With two dazzling fireworks displays in Downtown, family-friendly events, live music and all-night parties, it's easy to see why.

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DENVER'S BIG BANG

Two spectacular fireworks shows will take place on Dec. 31st high above the 16th Street Mall, Downtown Denver's mile-long pedestrian promenade. A family-friendly show occurs on New Year's Eve at 9 p.m., followed by the traditional midnight extravaganza.

The Mall is lined with 28 outdoor cafes, many of which will be open for the evening with heat lamps, creating a ski town atmosphere. While thousands of revelers stroll the Mall, costumed entertainers, magicians, mascots, balloon artists, stilt walkers, and comedians will interact with the crowds. From 6 p.m. on, horse drawn carriages will clatter up and down the pedestrian mall, while after 7 p.m., all public transportation in Denver is free, making it easy – and safe – to come downtown by bus or Light Rail.

To make a night of it, there are many deals and packages at Denver's 8,400 downtown hotel rooms.  For details visit Mile High Holidays online.

FAMILY FRIENDLY NEW YEAR'S EVE

Noon Year's Eve
The Children's Museum of Denver
The Children's Museum of Denver is ringing in New Year's Eve just like Times Square with five ball drops every hour from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Children can yell the countdown, watch colorful confetti splash the plaza and make fireworks with their feet when they jump on massive sheets of bubble wrap.

Zoo Year's Eve
Denver Zoo
On the brink of a brand new year, children can also experience the fun of Zoo Year's Eve, a wild New Year's Eve party beginning at 5 p.m., with entertainment and activities that lead up to an early countdown to the New Year at 9 p.m. Kids will also love Zoo Lights, with thousands of glittering lights all over the Zoo's 38 acres.

NEW YEAR'S EVE CONCERTS & PARTIES

Night in Vienna
Boettcher Concert Hall
Colorado Symphony Orchestra keeps New Year's Eve classy at Boettcher Concert Hall, with a Vienna-themed selection of the beloved waltzes, polkas and classics. The show starts early at 6:30 p.m., and ends in time for you to catch the first downtown fireworks display at 9 p.m.

Denver's Grandest New Year's Eve Party
Grand Hyatt Denver
Enjoy an open bar with premium pour, buffet supper, champagne toast at midnight, party hats and favors and balloon drops galore. Revel in three parties in one as the party moves from one ballroom to another. The entertainment lineup includes The Nacho Men, Dance Party Music and Dueling Pianos.

New Year's Eve Olive Drop & Fireworks Display
Tavern Downtown
Revelers will have a front row seat to fireworks on Denver's largest rooftop patio. At the 60-second countdown to midnight, the Tavern's Olive Drop will begin to descend. The two-foot illuminated olive will drop 20 feet into a 15-foot tall/seven-foot wide illuminated martini glass placed on the Tavern's rooftop.

Decadence NYE
Colorado Convention Center
Get ready for a night of lavish self-indulgence. When the clock strikes midnight and a new year begins, it's time to make vows to leave the year's sinful habits behind. This is 2011's final night to indulge.

Flappers & Gangster's New Year's Eve Bash
The Corner Office Restaurant + Martini Bar
Swing dance the night away at a Roaring 20's themed party right in the heart of Downtown Denver. Get in the mood with swinging tunes from The Hot Club of Pearl Street Band, prohibition-era cocktails and a champagne toast at midnight.   

White Rose Gala
Hyatt DTC
A party that is over the top with beautiful people, amazing entertainers and the best DJs in Colorado playing the hottest hits. White Rose Gala has a flair of "upscale" but still very accessible by anyone with just the slightest sense of style and appreciation for quality.

About VISIT DENVER, The Convention & Visitors Bureau
Celebrating more than 100 years of promoting the Mile High City, VISIT DENVER is a nonprofit trade association that contracts with the City of Denver to market Denver as a convention and leisure destination, increasing economic development in the city, creating jobs and generating taxes. A record 12.7 million visitors stayed overnight in Denver in 2010, generating $3 billion in spending, while supporting nearly 50,000 jobs, making Tourism the second largest industry in Denver. Learn more about Denver on the VISITDENVER website and at TOURISMPAYSDENVER, on Twitter @visitdenver and the VISIT DENVER Facebook page, or by phone at 800 2 DENVER.

With press or photo inquiries, please contact:
Rich Grant- (303) 571-9450 or [email protected]
Debbie Park (303) 571-9451 or [email protected]
Katie Adamson- (303) 571-9418 or [email protected]

SOURCE VISIT DENVER, The Convention & Visitors Bureau