News Year’s Eve Activities:

From Old Town to downtown, the Homer Spit and out East End Road, Homer prepares to ring in the New Year with New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day celebrations. To help keep revelers safe, Homer’s taxi cab companies again offer free rides home from 8 p.m. Dec. 31 to 6 a.m. Jan. 1.

New Years Eve:

Homer’s Crowd Funded New Year’s Eve Fireworks

Mariner Park near the base of the Homer Spit

8 p.m.: Second Annual fireworks show, 100% donation funded. Donations can be made by dropping cash or checks to 1091 East End Road or via paypal.me/WeisserFireworks.

Alice’s Champagne Palace

195 E. Pioneer Ave.

9 p.m.: New Year’s Eve dance party with a local DJ

Midnight: Champagne toast and party favors

AJ’s Old Town Steakhouse and Tavern

120 W. Bunnell Ave.

4 p.m.-8 p.m.: Open for dinner. Reservations recommended. 907-235-9949

8 p.m.: New York time champagne toast

Down East Saloon

Mile 3 East End Road

8 p.m.: New Year’s Eve party with local musicians including Jim Malone, Jane Kilcher, Tyler Munns and Jacques Longpre

Midnight: Champagne toast

Kharacters

Pioneer Avenue and Shelford Street

10 p.m.: DJ Black

Midnight: Champagne toast

Land’s End Resort

4786 Homer Spit Road

5 p.m.-10 p.m.: Late dinner with specials. Reservations recommended. 907-235-0400.

Otter Room

Best Western Bidarka Inn

575 Sterling Highway

Midnight: Champagne toast

Salty Dawg Saloon

Ramp 1, Homer Harbor, Homer Spit

8 p.m.: Champagne toast

9 p.m.: Live music with K Bay Renegades

SPARC

600 Sterling Highway

8 p.m.-Midnight: Contra Dance. Family-friendly, alcohol-free community potluck. Free; donations welcomed. Bring clean shoes or socks. Parking available at Homer Middle School.

The Alibi

453 E. Pioneer Ave.

10 p.m.: DJ Fractal Theory

Midnight: Champagne toast

Wasabi’s Bistro

Mile 5 East End Road

6 p.m.-9 p.m. – Champagne and garlic pairing. Reservations recommended. 907-226-3663.

Taxi Cab Rides

Taxi Cab rides are free 8 p.m. Dec. 31 to 6 a.m. Jan. 1.

Courtesy of Kostas Taxi, Ryder Transport and Kachecab

For rides, call 399-8008, 399-8115, 399-8888 or 235-1950

New Years Day:

Alaska State Parks & Friends of Kachemak Bay State Park First Day Hike, Ski, Snowshoe

Eveline State Recreation Area, Mile 13.8 East End Road past McNeil Canyon Elementary School

New Years Day: Noon-3 p.m.: Hike, ski or snowshoe, snow dependent. Bring your own skis or snowshoes. Hot drink and snacks provided. Please leave dogs at home. $5 donation to Friends suggested.

Land’s End Resort

4786 Homer Spit Road

10 a.m.-4 p.m.: New Year’s Day Brunch. Reservations recommended. 907-235-0400.

Christina Whiting is a Homer artist and freelance writer.

People throng Mariner Park on New Year’s Eve in 2018 for a crowd-funded fireworks display on the Homer Spit in Homer, Alaska. (Photo provided)