Countdown by the Coast: 2023 New Year’s in Carlsbad

On Sunday, December 31, LEGOLAND invites families to its spectacular Kids' New Year's Eve celebration - a unique event where "midnight" arrives early so that bedtimes aren’t missed and everyone still has fun.

Known as the ‘largest New Year’s Eve party’ specifically for kids, the celebration features festivities for all. The highlight of the evening is an early fireworks display, set to illuminate the sky at 6 p.m. The fireworks have a bit of magic added to them, turning the sky into 3D LEGO bricks with the help of special viewing glasses.

Throughout the park, various themed parties lead up to the big show. The POP! Dance Party in The Beginning area will burst with pop music and vibrant colors, while Benny’s New Year’s Eve Party in LEGO Movie World is scheduled to bring a cinematic twist to the celebration. In Fun Town, the New Year’s Eve Block Party invites guests to dance and sing along with the New Year’s Noisemakers or, for a more adventurous celebration, guests can join Captain Cranky’s Countdown in Pirate Shores, where a pirate-themed party sets sail.

And if that’s not enough, a Party Hat Hunt in MINILAND USA will be on site for pop badge enthusiasts. Guests are invited to help the minilanders find their lost party hats amidst the miniature cities, with a pop badge prize awaiting those who find them.

Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, Golf Club & Spa is hosting "Champagne & Cabaret: A Vintage New Year's Celebration," themed evening with a glance back to the ‘good ole days’. This party, set to bid farewell to 2023 and welcome 2024, encapsulates the glamor of the 1960s Las Vegas style with a classic cabaret experience to usher in the new year.

The festivities begin at 7 p.m. with a hosted cocktail hour featuring an open bar. Guests can enjoy unlimited beer, spirits, wine or non-alcoholic beverages. Following the cocktail hour, from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m., the event transitions into a dinner and show segment. Attendees are treated to a five-course dinner prepared by the resort's skilled chefs. Dinner will be accompanied by the tunes of The Jazz Cartel, whose live music adds a Frank Sinatra-style swing to the evening.

As midnight approaches, guests will be invited to the Pacific Point Lounge for the final countdown. There will be a champagne toast and a balloon drop at midnight to welcome the start of the New Year with a bang.

New Year’s Eve at Chandler's Oceanfront Dining at Cape Rey Carlsbad Beach features a New Year's Eve dinner from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The event, priced at $110 per adult and $30 for children 12 and under, plus tax and gratuity, is a spectacular feast to ring in the new year.

Guests have the option to add an extra special touch to their celebration with California sturgeon caviar, blini and crème fraiche for an additional $15 per person. A wine pairing for each course, including a champagne toast, is also available for $55 per person.

The evening's menu begins with an amuse bouche of salmon mousse in a savory mini tuille cone, accompanied by chive and dill crème fraiche and salmon roe, with a vegetarian alternative of roasted eggplant mousse. The first course offers a choice between oysters “Rockefeller” and beets & granola. The second course features local hen of the woods mushroom soup with a truffle cream, and a vegetarian butternut squash alternative.

For the main course, guests can choose from braised short rib, miso glazed Chilean seabass or a vegetarian huitlacoche rice porridge. Dessert options include champagne mousse or a ruby chocolate & raspberry Napoleon. The kids' menu, for those 12 and under, includes chicken tenders or spaghetti bolognese, followed by an ice cream sundae dessert.

Another fabulous dinner option to ring in the new year is at Bob's Steak & Chop House at the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday, December 31.

The prix fixe menu features a selection of appetizers, including shrimp platter, jumbo shrimp cocktail or remoulade, fried calamari, onion rings, Maryland-style crab cake and seared scallops.

Guests can then choose from a variety of soups or salads, such as clam chowder, Caesar salad, the wedge, mixed greens or tossed salad. The main course offerings are divided into three price categories. For $105 per person, options include dry aged pork tomahawk, broiled Verlasso salmon and broiled jumbo shrimp scampi. At $115 per person, diners can select from prime filet mignon (9 oz), prime New York strip (14 oz), prime ribeye (14 oz), seafood of the day or Australian rack of lamb. The $125 per person category features prime filet mignon (12 oz), prime ribeye (18 oz) and prime “cote de boeuf” bone-in ribeye (22 oz). Each entrée is served with Bob’s signature glazed carrot and smashed potatoes.

To complete the meal, guests can choose from a selection of desserts, including cheesecake, chocolate cake and carrot cake. The entire meal will be served alongside entertainment, party favors and a complimentary champagne toast at midnight, ensuring a stylish start to the New Year.

20|Twenty Grill at the Westin Carlsbad will be serving up an elegant dining experience with a menu that is a culinary masterpiece, showcasing a blend of sophisticated flavors and high-quality ingredients.

The meal begins with a starter of Hama Hama oyster, delicately paired with passion fruit sorbet, yuzu and caviar, setting the tone for an evening of exquisite dining. For the next course, guests have the choice between scallop crudo, featuring lemon, zucchini and black truffle, or a rich cauliflower bisque complemented by goat cheese, leek and black truffle.

The main courses offer a selection of exquisite options. The Maine lobster is served with pistachio, pumpkin gnocchi, ginger and beets, creating a delicious blend of flavors. For meat lovers, the Wagyu beef is a standout choice, presented as ‘chicken’ fried short rib with bone marrow potato puree and white gravy. The roasted beef pave with chanterelle, parsnip and cashew cream also offers a mouthwatering option.

The meal concludes with a dessert of mascarpone mousse cheesecake, accompanied by honey, mandarin and tuile, providing a sweet and fancy finish to the dining experience.

All Beach Terrace hotel guests staying over New Year’s Eve will receive complimentary access to the Beach Terrace Last Sunset Celebration. Guests are invited to gather at the hotel’s Sun Deck for the best view of the last sunset of the year while enjoying complimentary beverages and hors d’oeuvres. Sounds will be provided by local Carlsbad musician, Austin Cosler and the Celebration will be from 4-6 p.m. on Sunday, December 31.

Once the new year is officially here, Beach Terrace is starting it off right with a serene and rejuvenating way to kick it off. The "Stretch + Flow on the Beach | New Year Reset." is open to both hotel and non-hotel guests, and will provide a unique opportunity to blend yoga and meditation right on the sands of the Pacific Ocean.

The class is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., and is designed for yogis of all levels. It will begin with gentle stretching exercises, transitioning into a yoga flow that harmonizes with the waves and concluding with a guided meditation focused on setting intentions for the New Year.

Attendance is complimentary, and check-in for the class is at the front desk of Beach Terrace.

Hotel guests benefit from using the in-room yoga kit for the class.

For a unique experience on New Year Eve in Carlsbad, head to Torsap Thai Kitchen from 4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday, December 31. The evening will feature the rich flavors and vibrant culture of Thailand with traditional Thai dance performances and New Year's Eve specials.

One of the highlights of the evening is the special set menus designed for the occasion which includes a salad, appetizer, entree, curry and dessert for two. The regular dining menu will also be served.