At some point between the advent of the Gregorian calendar and the modern day, venues realized that December 31 was a goldmine.

Cashing in on the global desire to forget the last 12 shitty months by getting vomit-inducingly wasted, being speared through the foot by a stiletto, and increase the likelihood of contracting genital warts, clubs started raising their prices to fit the demand. That’s capitalism, man.

Sure, you could counter those expenses by heading over to your buddy Steve’s, sitting nicely around the TV set with a beer and a board game, and waiting for the fireworks to be televised at midnight—assuming, of course, that he’s one of those shmucks who still pays for cable.

Or, thanks to the flourishing of grassroots and countercultural collectives in Vancouver, you could venture out to any number of these great parties for pennies on the dollar. Because what could be a better way to ring in 2017 than partying like it’s 1999—with the prices to match?

(And, if you've got a bit more cash to splash, we also highly recommend making it rain at these more pricey New Year's events. You could even double up.)

Groundwerk New Years 2017  

From 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. at the Anza Club (3 West 8th Avenue)

Fast establishing itself as one of the most well-known underground electronic music collectives in Vancouver—it was recently featured in a documentary for the U.K.’s Guardian newspaper, after all—Groundwerk is throwing a two-floor extravaganza at the Anza Club.

One of the most inclusive dance parties of the season, Groundwerk’s New Year’s event welcomes people of all genders (or people with no genders), sexualities, and races. “No creeps allowed,” reads its poster—so, if you’re not a creep, Groundwerk is an excellent New Year’s Eve bet for those who like house, deep house, techno, tech house, and every variant in between. 

As well as its lineup of excellent local artists—including I M U R, Tyler Stadius, Nathan Mots, Dark Arps, and Diana Boss—the event will provide everything you need to keep going until 4 a.m. Boasting a full bar (necessary), confetti countdown (charming), and a “mood lounge” to give your dancing blisters a rest, the event has all the ingredients for a great evening. And you never know. You might end up being featured in the Guardian.

Tickets start at $20 and you can get yours here.

The Anti-NYE Party

From 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Colony Bar (3902 Main Street)

Typically, New Year’s Eve is decidedly un-chill. “Start as you mean to go on” is the general motto of the evening—and unless you want to spend 2017 going to bed at 11 p.m., being incredibly sober, and never ever putting on your dancing shoes, there’s huge pressure to make December 31 the biggest night of the year.

Main Street’s Colony Bar, however, is taking a different approach. Letting you show up when you want, wear whatever you want, and drink whatever you want, Colony is, basically, hosting a normal Saturday night—which is music to the ears of anyone who dreads Big Occasions That You Have To Make A Huge Effort For.

Plus, with its strict decision to veto any kind of crowd-drawing events like a balloon drop, you can be sure you won’t end up looking as stupid as Bill Clinton when the clock strikes 12. 

Entry is free and you can enjoy $8 double highballs. Win.

F**k You 2016 NYE Party

From 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. at Doolin’s Irish Pub (654 Nelson Street)

Let’s face it: 2016 kind of sucked. We lost a boatload of hugely influential stars, Donald Trump somehow became the president-elect of the Unites States, and, to top it all off, Apple decided to remove the cords on its earphones for some inexplicable reason.

Thus it’s hard not to be drawn to Doolin’s fittingly titled end-of-year shindig. Say “see ya, wouldn’t wanna be ya” to the past 365 days as you groove to tunes from Vancouver’s Matt Hoyles and DJ Morgan while digging into a slew of party favours and games.

Complimentary pizza and a straight shot of Jameson at midnight—this is an Irish bar, after all—help seal the deal. F**k yeah, 2017!

Tickets are $20 and may be purchased online. 

New Year's Eve Decentralized Dance Party

From 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. at various locations; see the event page for further details

Wherever you go, New Year’s Eve is likely to be expensive—because alcohol has a unique talent of cleaning out a wallet. Or an entire bank account.

For those who feel they have little self-control around liquor, the Decentralized Dance Party is a great place to ring in 2017. The DDP is a giant mobile street party, fuelled by boomboxes tuned into the same radio transmission. Elaborately costumed revellers dance through downtown city blocks, taking over entire buses, SkyTrains, and public monuments on its quest to gather a huge crowd of fun lovers.

According to Tom and Gary, writers of the DDP Party Manifesto, “People drink a lot at parties because most parties are boring, and drinking is therefore necessary to loosen up and have fun. This is due to poor music, dull clothing, a lack of props and a lame atmosphere: all of which inhibit singing and dancing.”

Instead creating an environment that, in their words, “inspire[s] people to lose their inhibitions, freak out, and drive the energy to ridiculous heights”, the DDP’s ambulatory celebration—which once hit 20,000 participants in Vancouver—promises to be a great place to make new friends for the new year.

And it's free.

No B.S. New Year's Eve Pizza Party 

From 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. at the Wise Hall & Lounge (1882 Adanac Street)

Everybody knows that, objectively, there are three types of cool parties: slumber parties, pool parties, and pizza parties. Given that most people are no longer a high-school girl and that it’s been an absolutely freezing winter, we say bring on the pizza.

Rock music events and booking company Apocalypse Sunrise will be hosting the No B.S. evening by offering a selection of some of the city’s best up-and-coming bands. Taking to the stage will be—amongst a number of others—punk-rock-meets-gypsy-blues artists Devil in the Wood Shack, indie rockers Gold Stars Are for Suckers, and basement punks The Godspot.

The intimate East Van venue promises the chance to welcome 2017 with a number of likeminded individuals—and, with its 250-person capacity, there won’t be too much competition for that pizza.

Tickets are $10 at the door and pizza will be sold for $2 a slice.

Nordic Trax NYE 2017

From 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. at Open Studios (200–252 East 1st Avenue)

What could be a better way to increase your 2017 street cred than beginning the year at an underground warehouse party? With its small capacity and dedicated audience, Open Studios has a subversive atmosphere missing from Vancouver’s mainstream club scene—so if you’re looking to get away from some of the over-populated downtown venues and add some spice to your evening, you’re onto a winner.

Headlining the night will be international house music star Doza. Primarily known as one-half of LawnChair Generals—a duo famed for their funky dance-floor fillers—the DJ also remixes and produces his own records with a more broody and spacey style, allowing him to serve up a blend of soundscapes and danceable hits in his live sets.

Local house music legend Luke McKeehan has assembled a lineup of the city’s best underground DJs in support of the veteran, including Joel Armstrong, Mike McSuede, Iain Howie, and McKeehan himself. Be warned: a strong Vancouver following will undoubtedly turn out for those names, so tickets will sell fast. Don’t sleep on this one.

Tickets start at $25 and can be purchased here.

NOLA NYE at Lamplighter

From 7 p.m. to 4 a.m. at the Lamplighter Public House (92 Water Street)

If all this slush and snow has you itching for an end-of-year getaway, head over to the Lamplighter on December 31 where you can experience the vibrant scene of New Orleans sans the plane ticket.

The Gastown institution will be transformed into NOLA’s historic Bourbon Street during Mardi Gras with all the flashy beads and bangles to match. Dinner will be served for an additional price at 7 p.m. before tables are cleared and the dance party starts at 9 p.m.

Looking to kick it old-school instead? Fellow Donnelly Group venue Library Square (300 West Georgia Street) will be throwing it back with party anthems from the ’90s and aughts all night long.

Tickets to both parties start at $10 and may be purchased here and here.

New Year’s, New Beers: A NYE Craft Beer Extravaganza

From 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. at 1683 Ontario Street

It’s been a good year for craft beer in Vancouver. The city welcomed a number of new tasting rooms, a bunch of local breweries walked home with an armload of B.C. Beer Awards, and perhaps the best part of all: there’s bound to be more delicious suds to come.

To wrap up 2016, new kid on the block Faculty Brewing Co. is hosting a New Year’s, New Beers event at the warehouse space located across the street from its Ontario Street tasting room. Five special kegs will be tapped from Faculty, Luppolo Brewing Co., Parkside Brewery, and Strathcona Beer Company—one of them a celebratory NYE cask that will be unleashed at midnight—making this a can’t-miss event for beer buffs and dedicated brew nerds.

Not into beer or attending as the night’s designated driver? (God bless you.) Not to worry: B.C. Tree Fruits Cider and Oddity Kombucha will also have sips available. Music and an impromptu dance-floor will be provided.

Tickets are $20 and include entry, coat check, and your first beer. Nab yours here. 

Fortune Sound NYE 2017

From 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. at Fortune Sound Club (147 East Pender)

Fortune Sound Club is planning an event that might be even more festive than the video for Run DMC’s “Christmas in Hollis”. Choosing not to mess with a good thing, the venue's NYE show treats partiers to a souped-up version of its club night SUP FU?: the biggest regular hip-hop evening in the city.

Residents Sailor Gerry and DJ Seko will be opening behind the decks, while DJ Marvel of The Freshest is slated to hit the ones and twos later in the evening. M.C. Dkay will, as ever, be on hand to whip the crowd into a 2016-hating frenzy—and with the death of Prince, Alan Rickman, Bowie, and Harambe to lament, you better hope they'll be plenty of excellent B-boys on hand to distract you from how shit this year really was. 

Fortune’s New Year’s Eve show gives revellers a lot for their money, with free bubbly, party favours, confetti cannons, and a midnight balloon drop all on the cards—so, if you’re a hip-hop fan, there’s nowhere better to toast the death of 2016.

Tickets start at $20 and you can grab yours online.