A rundown of all Sandpoint’s New Year’s Eve parties
By Soncirey Mitchell Reader Staff
Barrel 33, 100 N. First Ave., 5-10 p.m.
The local wine bar will expand its usual offerings with a one-night-only hot chocolate bar, photo booth, raffles, games and more to ring in the new year. Sandpoint band Picked Up Pieces will serenade partygoers throughout the evening, performing covers of lesser-known radio hits from the ’70s through to the present day. Then, at 9 p.m., everyone will gather to watch the Times Square Ball Drop. Visit barrel33.com for more information.
Matchwood Brewing, 513 Oak St., 4-10 p.m.
Matchwood will roll out food and drink specials in honor of the holiday, accompanied by DJ Michael Aerni of Sandpoint DJ, who will bring the dance beats from 6:30 p.m. onward. Enjoy the tunes until 9 p.m., when the brewery will pass out free four-ounce pours for a toast while streaming the Ball Drop. Visit matchwoodbrewing.com for more information.
Pend d’Oreille Winery, 301 Cedar St., 5-8 p.m.
The winery will host the Bakerwood Brothers — a.k.a. local favorites Benny Baker and Sheldon Packwood — for its early New Year’s celebration. The duo will perform the lively rock and country covers for which they’re known and most Sandpointians have heard at the weekly “Benny on the Deck” performances at Connie’s Lounge in the summertime. Visit powine.com for more information.
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Baxter’s on Cedar, 109 Cedar St., 6-9 p.m.
Anyone familiar with the local music scene will recognize Bright Moments Jazz, which is a staple at restaurants and outdoor venues around town. The group will perform their usual upbeat jazz stylings — blending in a bit of reggae and Latin influences when the mood strikes them — for diners at Baxter’s all evening long. Visit baxtersoncedar.com for more information.
219 Lounge, 219 N. First Ave., 9 p.m.
Indie-pop-rock band Snacks at Midnight is perhaps the biggest name headlining at any of Sandpoint’s New Year’s parties, and, as usual, they will have the crowd on their feet the entire night. The high-energy, alt originals are a hit here and abroad, and so this will be the band’s final performance in the States before they embark on another tour of Japan. Listen at snacksatmidnight.com to learn your favorite songs before hearing them live at this 21+ party.
Roxy’s Lounge, 215 Pine St., 9 p.m.-1 a.m.
When everything else shuts down, Roxy’s Lounge will still be jumping with tunes from DJ Sterling until the wee hours. Enjoy a complimentary bubbly toast at midnight to celebrate the new year on West Coast time.
Schweitzer will go all out, as usual, for the annual New Year’s party at Taps Bar. The theme is “black tie at the dive bar,” meaning pop on a nice jacket and a beat-up T-shirt to enjoy original electronic mixes with DJ Lady Oda. Tickets are $35 at the door and include a toast at midnight.
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