One of the things I like most about Leipzig is its diversity, not only in the population, but in catering to all tastes. Want Hungarian food? No problem! Need some authentic Korean sesame oil? Hit up the big Asian Bistro in Zentrum. Want to watch some monkeys juggle fiery top hats on a tightrope? Totally doable (but more about that later). In the array of options to welcome in the new year (at least according to the Gregorian calendar), Leipzig – true to form – doesn’t disappoint.
Whether you want to dance the night away in a fancy ballroom, bounce around a basement in Plagwitz to some hip hop, or just huddle in a square getting drunk and watching the fireworks, Leipzig has got you covered. As for aforementioned monkeys, DM me and maybe I’ll try to get you in.
Here is a quick round-up of some of the local parties that represent your various options on Silvester (New Year’s Eve) this year.
First up we have Taübchental, hosting their big Silvesterrabatz – two dance floors pumping hits as well as all the classics from the 80s and 90s, mixing it up from techno to house to hip hop to indie. A free glass of Sekt in your hand when you arrive and drink specials all night will keep you on your feet until sunrise. Get tickets here.
Want some live music thrown into the mix, maybe something to eat, too? The Alte Wollkämmerei has it all worked out: included in your VIP ticket price you get an indoor music festival with more than 10 DJs, a live band, a buffet, an assortment of drinks, and fireworks. Ticket prices range from €16.50 to the VIPs, and it’s all there, under one roof, with no need to go anywhere else until at least early 2019. More info through this link.
The swinging 20s more your idea of a good time? Trust Plagwitz to sort you out. At Felsenkeller, you can swing your feather boa to your heart’s content, while drinking (legally) and mixing with the other divas, gentlemen, bootleggers, gangsters, and hoi polloi who dressed up and fooled everyone into letting them in. Electro swing, DJs, live bands, drinks specials – what more do you need to immerse yourself in a fantasy world for one fabulous night? Tickets this way.
That still sound a bit feisty for your taste? You prefer something a little more, shall we say, classy?
Well, if you’re lucky, you’ll manage to snag a ticket to the gala concert at the Leipzig Opera House before they sell out. The sought-after NYE concert offers the Gewandhaus Orchestra under the expert direction of Prof. Ulf Schirmer, in addition to performances by the Leipzig Operatic Choir and soloists, as well as Leipzig Ballet. A stylish, glitzy, traditional event, this sounds like a very elegant way to kick off a new year.
But there’s more. The oldest event hall in Leipzig, the Eventpalast, was built in 1913, and for New Year’s Eve hosts a huge U30s party, with the main dance floor under the spectacular domed roof, as well as a second dance floor in the graffiti hall. DJs will spin everything from the 80s to modern pop classics, and drinks are included in the ticket price. It is also possible to book in advance for a buffet meal. Tickets are €45.50 (check it out).
My personal favourite, though, has to be the queer.Bier party at the Neues Schauspiel in Lindenau.
The party starts at 21h00, with a queer quiz at 22h00 and DJs and special performances from 23h00 onwards. The queer.Bier parties kicked off this year, and have been so successful that they decided to turn it into a big New Year’s bash with 5 DJs, specials on drinks, surprise performances, and lots of glitter and pizzazz! Open to LGBTIAQ & friends, this evening sounds like a super fun, glitzy and glam way to see in 2019. Find event details via this Facebook link, and tickets at the Tante Manfred bar in the Neues Schauspiel, or at Café kaputt nearby.
Wishing everyone a wonderful, safe and joyous start into the new year!
May 2019 be kind to us and bring us the love, joy, peace, and abundance we all deserve after the tumultuous ride that was 2018 (and 2017, and probably 2016, but anyhoo). Stay safe, stay beautiful and I’ll see you all on the other side! Tschüß!
