New Year’s Eve: How is everyone ringing in 2025?

(NewsNation) — It’s almost a new year, and plenty of people are getting ready to watch the ball drop, or go party with friends and family.

You can stream the ball drop in the player above. Or, if you still need plans (or last-minute snacks) to celebrate the end of 2024, here are some places that could help.

What’s open and closed?

Walmart will be on for its regular hours. Target will be open during normal hours on New Year’s Day, but will close at 9 p.m. New Year’s Eve.

Publix stores will be open on Jan. 1, although the company told USA Today that some will close at 7 p.m. and others could close at 8 p.m.

Costco and Sam’s Club are closed on New Year’s Day, according to their websites.

Banks, which follow the Federal Reserve System’s holiday schedule, will be open on Dec. 31 but not Jan. 1.

Local post office locations will be open and regular mail will be delivered on New Year’s Eve, but they will be closed on New Year’s Day and mail that is not priority express will not go out.

Most fast food places like Starbucks, Dunkin, McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s and Taco Bell have hours varying by location.

The New York Stock Exchange will be closed Jan.1.

What’s the country doing to celebrate?

New York City, NY

New York City’s iconic ball drop in Times Square is being hosted by Jonathan Bennett and Jeremy Hassell, with live performances by Mark Ambor, Mickey Guyton, Rita Ora, Carrie Underwood, the Jonas Brothers, Megan Moroney, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and TLC among others, NewsNation local affiliate WPIX reports.

Festivities are scheduled to start at 6 p.m., Dec. 31 and the ball will start its descent down the poll one minute before midnight. People can watch the show along Broadway, from 43rd Street to 50th Street and along Seventh Avenue. Access to Times Square will be from 6th to 8th Avenue only.

Chicago, Ill.

If you’re looking to begin 2025 off with a bang, you can go to Chicago’s New Year’s Eve Fireworks Spectacular. It takes place along the Chicago River, with the best view from Upper Wacker Drive. The fireworks will be set from the Orleans Street, La Salle Drive, Clark Street, Dearborn Street, State Street and Columbus Drive bridges.

Navy Pier (600 E. Grand Avenue) also has an award-winning fireworks display.

Los Angeles, Calif.

Los Angeles residents can see live music and a countdown show at “the biggest free New Year’s Eve celebration on the West Coast” in Grand Molina Grand Park, 200 N. Grand Ave. From 8 p.m. onwards, artists including an all-female DJ lineup; Weapons of Mass Creation; Pachyman; and Antibalas will help people dance the night away.

Miami, Fla.

Biscayne Beach’s Ocean Drive Fireworks on 301 Biscayne Blvd are set to light up the sky at midnight, Dec. 31. The next day, the Miami Beach Classical Musical Festival is having a full orchestra concert.

Cincinnati,Ohio

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is having its 15th annual “Happy ZOO Year.”

Portland, Ore.

Two drone displays will be shown at The Square, 701 SW 6th Ave — one at 9 p.m. and another one at midnight. Before that, there’ll be music videos from the 80s and beyond projected onto large screens in the City’s Living Room.

Denver, Colo.

Denver has had fireworks over downtown for more than 20 years, and the fun isn’t stopping this year. Two free shows are at 9 p.m. and midnight on Dec.31, with the best spot to watch from 16th Street Mall.

What will the weather be like on New Year’s Eve?

Before you head out for New Year’s, you might want to bring an umbrella. NewsNation meteorologist Max Tsaparis says most of the country, particularly the central and eastern regions, can expect to see rain. The Northeast and Pacific may experience rain and snow, the Weather Channel writes, while temperatures in other states could be from the 20s to 40s.

A round of showers, and maybe even a couple of rumbles of thunder, will be around Washington, D.C. and the storm system should be around New York by the time the ball drops, according to Tsparis.

Around 28 million Americans were under dense fog advisories as of Tuesday morning.

See the northern lights

Northern lights can potentially be seen over many northern states, and even some parts of the lower Midwest to Oregon on Dec. 31, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center issued a geomagnetic storm warning for New Year’s Eve. That means the aurora borealis is going to be much farther south than usual.

For the best chance to see the light show, you’ll want to be in a place with as little light pollution as possible.