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New Year’s Eve in Vegas goes bigger than ever with a galaxy of stars and a raucous party lineup

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Major Lazer closes out a big year at XS.
Photo: Danny Mahoney

AMERICA'S PARTY DOWNTOWN AT FREMONT STREET EXPERIENCE Say goodbye to 2016 with a year-in-review retrospective on the Viva Vision screen and a midnight countdown led by Mayor Carolyn Goodman, plus live music from ’80s Station, Alter Ego, Zowie Bowie and more. $35-$40.

BRUNO MARS AT PARK THEATER One of the world’s biggest pop stars begins his residency at the newest live performance venue on the Strip December 30, warming up for his NYE show. You can also catch Mars hosting at the Bank Nightclub at Bellagio after the NYE show. $160-$500+, Monte Carlo, 844-600-7275.

CALVIN HARRIS AT OMNIA “In 2016, 83.9 million Spotify listeners streamed 10,089 years of Calvin Harris,” Instagrammed Calvin Harris last week. Calvin Harris has ruled over Omnia on Friday nights all year. Did we mention Calvin Harris? Caesars Palace, $150-$225+, 702-785-6200.

CHEAP TRICK AT THE FOUNDRY The power-pop stalwarts celebrate a new year by closing out the first year of SLS’ intimate concert hall. $60, 702-761-7617.

DJ PAULY D AT DLVEC The Jersey Shore star has had quite the year with off-again, on-again girlfriend Aubrey O’Day. He’ll work it out with a Downtown dance party on December 30 that includes a $50 all-you-can-drink option. $18-$25, Downtown Las Vegas Events Center, 800-745-3000.

DJ SNAKE AT SURRENDER The relentless French hitmaker blows the roof off Encore’s other nightclub to close 2016. $50-$75+, 702-770-7300.

DRAKE AT HAKKASAN Drizzy took things to new heights this year with fourth studio album Views and his record-breaking Summer Sixteen tour. He’s got all kinds of reasons to celebrate. $200-$250+, MGM Grand, 702-891-3838.

ELTON JOHN AT THE COLOSSEUM Elton’s Million Dollar Piano show has been running strong for five years, but a New Year’s Eve show is an extra-special occasion. $55-$500, Caesars Palace, 877-427-7243.

ESCAPE MASQUERADE AT GOLD SPIKE Sip on warm spiced drinks, dance to DJs Wizdumb and Dilemma and catch local band Avalon Landing before counting down the New Year in style with a Champagne toast. Also, introduce yourself to the Sugar Shack, a new “tiny house” in the Backyard. $10+, 702-467-1082.

FRENCH MONTANA & DJ KHALED AT TAO The rapper also known as Karim Kharbouch teams with the producer and Snapchat expert also known as Khaled Mohamed Khaled for what should be a memorable NYE event. $78-$128+, Venetian, 702-388-8588.

GEORGE CLINTON AND PARLIAMENT FUNKADELIC AT BROOKLYN BOWL Turn up the funk on New Year’s Eve with the rainbow-haired ringleader and his extraterrestrial brothers, the dealers of everything cosmic, P. Funk. $48-$99+, Linq Promenade, 702-862-2695.

GINUWINE, YING YANG TWINS & WARREN G AT LAX The throwback hip-hop and R&B that has served the Luxor club so well this year gets amplified for New Year’s Eve with a triumvirate of old-school faves. $109, 702-262-4529.

KENDRICK LAMAR AT DRAI’S If you questioned—even for a moment—the hip-hop powers of Drai’s, you regret it now that you see who’s playing up on the rooftop on the final Saturday night of the year. Kendrick plus fireworks is a huge show. $175-$250+, Cromwell, 702-777-3800.

LIL JON AT 1 OAK You want to get wild? You want to get loose? You don’t want to do it out on the Boulevard with the other wild, loose partiers? Lil Jon’s got you covered. $50-$75+, Mirage, 702-693-8300.

LUDACRIS AT LIGHT Get a little Southern hospitality complements of Luda, with a little Bay flavor backed by DJ E-Rock. $40-$80+, Mandalay Bay, 702-632-4700.

MAJOR LAZER AT XS You can catch Diplo and crew mix it up for a discounted rate if you want to stick to XS’ patio ($40-$60). $100-$200+, Encore, 702-770-3387.

MAROON 5 AT MANDALAY BAY EVENTS CENTER This New Year’s Eve concert tradition keeps coming back because it’s always a good time. PJ Morton and Polly A (NYE only) support this year, which includes a December 30 show. $99-$250, 877-632-7400.

MIDNIGHT IN PARIS AT BLUE MARTINI The Town Square lounge celebrates New Year’s Eve with a chic Parisian theme, passed hors d’oeuvres and an open bar with cocktails, wine, domestic beer and five signature martinis. $50-$60, 702-949-2583.

NEW YEAR'S EVE AT GILLEY'S Put on your boots and get ready for a three-hour open bar—yes, three hours—plus fireworks and live music by country favorite Scotty Alexander and $5 mechanical bull rides. $120, Treasure Island, 702-894-7111.

NYE PARTY AT VELVETEEN RABBIT Hop into the New Year at Downtown’s Velveteen Rabbit, featuring DJ sets by Sparkles, Cherry Bomb and Night Club, a free photo booth and, of course, a Champagne toast when the clock strikes midnight. Free entry, 702-685-9645.

PROHIBITION NYE AT HOUSE OF BLUES Ring in the New Year with a speakeasy dinner menu plus specials on Hendricks Gin cocktails from 4 to midnight. All-you-can-drink packages start at $50, and music from The All-Togethers and Chuck E. Bumps will keep you dancing straight into 2017. Free entry, Mandalay Bay, 702-632-7600.

ROOFTOP PARTY AT TOPGOLF Sip on cocktails and beer from the hosted bar, dance to live music and celebrate with a Champagne toast at midnight, or indulge in a Topgolf’s group package that includes unlimited play, chef-selected bites and party favors. $75+, 702-933-8458.

SIN CITY SPEAKEASY AT REBEL REPUBLIC The neighborhood bar will pour handcrafted prohibition-era cocktails while Lagunitas Brewing takes over the taps. Show off your dapper ’20s threads and enjoy $5 Jameson specials. Free entry, 702-538-9050.

STEVE AOKI AT JEWEL Aoki was in the intro video released before Aria’s intimate new nightclub opened in the spring, so it only makes sense that he’ll lead the biggest party of the year there. $75-$125+, 702-590-8000.

STING AT THE CHELSEA Rolling Stone calls his latest album 57th & 9th his first rock record in decades. Expect that same impulsive energy at his NYE show. $150-$250+, Cosmopolitan, 702-698-7000.

THE WEEKND AT MARQUEE The Starboy singer precedes Sting with a concert of his own at the Chelsea December 30, but he’s sticking around to host at Cosmopolitan’s nightclub on New Year’s Eve. $128-$202+, 702-333-9000.

WU-TANG CLAN AT AXIS Do Wu Year’s Eve and party with hip-hop legends RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah and the rest inside the theater at Planet Hollywood. $69-$149, 877-333-9474.

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Brock Radke

Brock Radke is an award-winning writer and columnist who currently occupies the role of managing editor at Las Vegas Weekly ...

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Leslie Ventura

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