5 hot spots to celebrate New Year's Eve around the world
While much of the United States associates New Year’s Eve with wintry weather and blustery January air, numerous international escapes offer a warmer way to the ring in the new year - with no less of a party.
To give sunshine lovers some hope for getting through the winter, we’ve compiled five bucket-list worthy selections for the warmest and most vibrant locations to celebrate on Dec. 31.
Those desperate to escape winter’s grip will find just what they are looking for in Rio de Janeiro, which is nearing the midpoint of summer during January. Many celebrations take place on beaches - particularly Copacabana - where more than two million gather to watch fireworks and enjoy live music. The average high temperature in Rio is a balmy 83 F (28 C) on Jan. 1.
Revelers flock to Sydney, Australia, each December for one of the city's biggest parties of the year. The city hosts air shows, numerous massive firework displays and a parade of boats adorned with choreographed lights along the Sydney Harbour. Highs in the city are in the upper 70s F (mid-20s C) at this time of the year.
Each year, partiers gather around Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour for an explosive pyrotechnic show on the waterfront. Afterward, rooftops around the Harbour will launch 'shooting stars' allowing visitors to make wishes for the new year. Jan. 1, on average, hits 66 F (19 C) in the city.
Valparaiso, Chile, boasts one of the biggest New Year's Eve shows in Latin America, with a 20-minute fireworks display and an all-night dance party. More than a million people take to the city's shore to party on the beach where temperatures hover around 68 F (20 C) at this time of year. For those searching for an extended party, Valparaiso is your place. Festivities begin on Dec. 28 and last through Jan 1.
While many New Year's Eve bashes revolve around grand fireworks displays, the Bahamas has put a spin on the traditional celebrations. In Nassau, the city celebrates Junkanoo, where dance troupes, musicians and costumed parade walkers take to the streets. The parade lasts several hours and attracts thousands from around the world. Attendees can also enjoy the beach afterward, as the average temperatures is 78 F (25 C).
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