New Year's Eve 2022 In Danville: San Damiano Retreat, Gaucho Party

DANVILLE, CA — 2022 is coming to a close, and Danville and the Tri-Valley are gearing up to celebrate.

From drinks and comedy at numerous local clubs to a casino night to holiday lights displays to a famous local singer performing at the Bankhead, here are some of the most exciting New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day events going on in the area.

Danville/Alamo

San Damiano New Year’s Retreat. A reflective workshop at the retreat center. Dec 30 at 3 p.m.

European Model Train Exhibit. "Holiday fun for the whole family." Through Dec. 31.

San Ramon

Gaucho Brazilian Steakhouse & Nightclub Biggest Bollywood Party of 2022. DJ Hans and Dhol Beats by Sukhi Dholi. Dec. 30 at 9 p.m.

Gaucho Brazilian Steakhouse & Nightclub New Year’s Eve Party. Balloon drops, red carpet, champagne, photo booth, and more. Dec. 31 at 9:30 p.m.

Walnut Creek

New Year's Eve Casino Night. At the Elks Lodge with dinner & dancing. Dec. 31: bar opens at 4:30, dinner at 6, casino opens at 7.

Pleasanton

Neighborhood Sports Bar & Kitchen New Year’s Eve Celebration.
Balloon drop and champagne toast. Dec. 31 from 8 p.m. - 1 a.m.

Tony Roberts at Tommy T’s Comedy Club. “Comedian’s comedian” Tony Roberts is playing Dec. 30, 31, and Jan. 1. Click on the first link for tickets.

Michelle Lambert at Pairings Wine Bar & Restaurant. Indie-pop singer songwriter is playing Jan. 1 at 11:30 a.m.

'Widmer World' Annual Holiday Display: A beautiful holiday lights show is available for public viewing until Dec. 31.

Livermore

NYE 2023 Masquerade Party. Ring in the New Year at airport's one-of-a-kind Elevation LVK. Dec. 31 at 9 p.m.
New Year's Eve with Meredith McHenry. Evening concludes with sparkling wine toast & desserts in Bankhead lobby. Dec. 31 at 8 p.m.
New Years Eve Party with the Killbillies. With special prix-fixe dinner at Roxx on Main. Dec. 31 at 9 p.m.

New Year’s Eve With Crawdad Republic, Shape & Sound, Loren O. Great music at Almost Famous Wine Lounge. Dec. 31 from 7:30 p.m. to Jan. 1 at 12:30 a.m.

Deacon Dave’s Casa del Pomba Christmas Display. Dec. 31 is the last day to see this epic holiday lights display.

In the United States, one of the most popular New Year’s Eve traditions is, of course, the dropping of the giant ball in New York City’s Times Square. Various cities have adopted their own iterations of the event — the Peach Drop in Atlanta, the Chick Drop in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and the giant Potato Drop in Boise, Idaho.

The end of one year and beginning of another is often celebrated with the singing of “Auld Lang Syne,” a Scottish folk song whose title roughly translates to “days gone by,” according to Encyclopedia Britannica and History.com.

The history of New Year’s resolutions dates back 8,000 years to ancient Babylonians, who would make promises to return borrowed objects and pay outstanding debts at the beginning of the new year, in mid-March when they planted their crops.

According to legend, if they kept their word, pagan gods would grant them favor in the coming year. If they broke the promise, they would fall out of God’s favor, according to a history of New Year’s resolutions compiled by North Hampton Community College New Center in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

Many secular New Year’s resolutions focus on imagining new, improved versions of ourselves. The failure rate of New Year’s resolutions is about 80 percent, according to U.S. News & World Report. There are myriad reasons, but a big one is they’re made out of remorse for gaining weight, for example, and aren’t accompanied by a shift in attitude and a plan to meet the stress and discomfort of changing a habit or condition.