No plans? No problem! Moscow has got you covered. Moscow is lit up and ready for fun. By now you surely have your New Year’s Eve plans nailed down. But if you don’t, or if you’re unsure, or if you’ve been buried under so much end-of-the-year work that you haven’t even thought about it, we’re here to help.
Journey Into Christmas
From Dec. 31 until 3 p.m. on Jan. Tverskaya Ulitsa and the streets around Manege Square, Teatralnaya Ploshchad and Ploshchad Revolyutisii will be closed to automotive traffic and become Moscow’s Holiday Central.
On ten stages there will be performances of traditional Russian holiday fare like “The Nutcracker” and “The Snow Maiden.” Street performers from Russia and abroad will take over parts of the roadway, and there will be an endless panoply events, activities, quests, games, and contests for children and adults. This is in addition to the chalets for snacks, sweets, drinks and souvenirs; the decorated trees; the huge ice chute (if it isn’t rained out); and the general party atmosphere. At midnight on Dec. 31 fireworks will be set off from all ten stages, with Red Square’s show in the background.
Revelers at Gorky Park after too much punch.
Hermitage Garden
One of Moscow’s prettiest little urban gardens, the Hermitage, is offering a free party to all comers starting at 10 p.m. on Dec. 31. Inside the pavilions and throughout the garden there will be entertainers, costumed performers, not to mention DJs, music and dancing. The merriment will go on until 2 a.m. If the ice isn’t washed away, the rink will be open until 3 a.m. (500 ruble fee).
Gorky Park
Gorky Park, Muzeon and the entire embankment along the Moscow River will be another Holiday Central on Dec. 31. Expect dancing, fireworks, skating (weather permitting), snacking, street performers, musicians and lots of people taking selfies. Entrance is free; skating and skate rentals are 800 rubles for adults and 500 for children.
The view from the 85th floor of the Ruski Restaurant.
High in the Sky
The restaurant Ruski high up in the sky in Moscow City is having an Onegin Ball — spelled in Russian in pre-Revolutionary orthography, which must mean it will be fancy. It begins with champagne at 9 p.m., moves to a theater performance, breaks for President Putin’s address to the nation, followed by singer Tina Kuznetsova, and then dancing until 4 a.m. Some window table seats are still available at 30, 000 rubles a head. Call +7 (495) 777 7111 to reserve. For more information see the event site.
The Turandot restaurant seems destined to hold a «Game of Thrones» themed New Year’s party.
Play for Two Days at ArtPlay
If an evening of merriment seems insufficient for all your pent-up New Year’s dancing-eating-drinking-partying energy, head over to ArtPlay. There the fun, organized by Signal, begins at 10 p.m. on Dec. 31 and ends at 10 a.m. on Jan. 2. Cool. You can dance on three completely separate dance floors, check out into enhanced reality, and flit around the media art sculptures and installations. All for 2,200 rubles a head entrance fee.
Game of Thrones at Turandot
If you love «Game of Thrones» and have a lot of disposable income, there’s still room at Turandot. The entire restaurant will be redecorated into Westeros banquet halls, with a feast fit for kings and queens, and dancing alternating with running away from White Walkers into the arms of the Ironmen. Music will be provided by stars Valery Meladze and Svetlana Loboda, along with the Luxury Cover Band — billed as the group Tyrion Lannister performs with. Dress code: regal. Entrance fee: from 69,000 to 199,000 rubles per head. Call ahead to reserve: +7 (495) 739 0011.
