Plan your New Year’s Eve with our local event guide

Figuring out your New Year’s Eve plans shouldn’t be the hardest decision of the year.

There are variations on the party themes, but ultimately it’s a choice of grabbing a taxi, Uber or Lyft and heading out for the night, or staying in and catching the festivities on the TV. We have you covered on both fronts with this quick list of New Year’s Eve options. See an expanded, updated guide on our entertainment FresnoBeehive.

Going Out

Going out? Enjoy some live music, countdown to the New Year with an electronic dance party or take in a dinner (seen story on Page 9) and a show.

The Local NYE Show, 8 p.m. Fulton 55, 875 Divisadero St. This may be the best deal of the night. It’s certainly the cheapest. Two dollars gets you in to see a local lineup of ska, funk, electronic rock and hip-hop acts. Featured bands included MKC, The Tough Love, Sampson Simspon, Cockamami Jamie and DJ Andi Mac. Show starts at 8 p.m. 559-412-7400, www.fulton55.com

Mash-Up Bash Up, 9 p.m. Strummer’s, 833 E. Fern Ave. Think of this as a gathering of tribes. Several local DJs from different scenes will come together under one roof for one night. Featuring DJ Connor Miles spinning Motown, soul and disco; DJ Woody spinning future house; DJ Rekwel, bringing hip-hop and trap and DJ Johnny Brown, plus a midnight champagne toast and LED wall light show. Tickets are $5. 21 + 559-485-5356, www.strummersclub.com

Club Imperio New Years Eve Party, 9 p.m. 3950 N. Cedar Ave. Those looking for the Las Vegas experience (meaning big crowds and packed dance floors), should head to Club Imperio, which is billing its annual New Year’s Eve party as Fresno’s largest. Last year, more than 1,000 people came through the club. Also Fresno’s largest? The event’s midnight balloon drop with 4,000 balloons. Pre-sale tickets are $27.37. 559-228-1900, www.imperiofresno.com

NYE Party 2016, 8 p.m. The Standard, 9455 N Fort Washington Road. North Fresno nightclub The Standard has set the standard with its New Year’s Eve celebrations. The annual events are popular, but done on a smaller and more intimate scale than the nightclub’s Halloween and pre-Thanksgiving parking-lot parties. So, plan ahead. Just 200 tickets were made available online and if tradition holds, people will be turned away. Tickets are $30-$40, or $20-$25 before Dec. 28. 559-434-3638, www.standardfresno.com/nye

Everafter 2016, 8 p.m. Rainbow Ballroom, 1725 Broadway St. Here’s a dance party for the 18-plus crowd. EDM Junkies presents its third annual electronic music celebration with a live countdown and its own massive balloon drop, plus party favors, go-go dancers and 10 DJs playing through the night. Shant P headlines with a set of “anything-goes” house music. Tickets are $2 or $25 for fast access VIP passes. 559-264-6404 www.edmmusicjunkies.com

Good Company Players New Year’s Eve show, Roger Rocka’s Dinner Theater, 1226 N Wishon Ave. Fresno. It’s tradition that Good Company Players ends it year with a dinner and a show (and a dance). The evening kicks off at 6 p.m. with dinner and live music by the Blue Street Jazz Band Quintet, followed by an 8:15 p.m. Junior Company pre-show, followed by “A Christmas Story: The Musical,” complete with most of the gags from the beloved movie. After the show, there’s champagne and party favors at midnight and dancing until 1:30 a.m. Tickets are $99. 559-266-9494, www.gcplayers.com

New Year 2016 at Bass Lake, 8 p.m. The Pines Resort. The fireworks are back! End your 2015 watching fireworks explode over Bass Lake while enjoying a Wild West Saloon party with appetizers, live music from The Stallion Dance Band, a photo booth and $1 champagne toast at midnight. Tickets are $10. 559-642-3121, www.basslake.com

Staying home

Staying in? There are an assortment of countdown programs airing late Friday, Dec. 31, that will take you into 2016. That’s in between games of Jenga or Charades (or beer pong), obviously.

“New Year’s Eve with Carson Daly,” 11:30 p.m. NBC (KSEE, Channel 24.1): Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga, Seth MacFarlane, Blake Shelton, Gwen Stefani and Pharrell Williams will perform.

“Pitbull’s New Year’s Revolution,” 8 p.m. FOX (KMPH, Channel 26.1): Mr. 305 returns to Miami to ring in the New Year. He will be joined by Becky G, Fall Out Boy and Enrique Iglesias.

“Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2016,” 8 p.m. ABC (KFSN, Channel 30.1): Ryan Seacrest hosts the traditional countdown to midnight from Times Square in New York City. Taylor Swift, Alessia Cara, DNCE, Nick Jonas, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, OMI, Pentatonix and Nathan Sykes are slated to perform. Fergie hosts the Billboard Hollywood Party that will feature One Direction, 5 Seconds of Summer, Fall Out Boy, Andy Grammer, Ellie Goulding, Elle King, Tove Lo, Rachel Platten and Walk the Moon.

This story was originally published December 23, 2015 at 7:14 PM with the headline "Plan your New Year’s Eve with our local event guide."