![The confetti dropped during the Noon Year's Confetti Dance Party. ] LEILA NAVIDI • leila.navidi@startribune.com](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/JNX5IJURKMDG2MN5TDQ3XDTJVE.jpg?&w=1080)
There's no reason you have to do the same old, same old this New Year's. Instead of sitting home and watching the ball drop in another time zone, why not get out and take part in one of the dozens of NYE options around the Twin Cities? Sure, there's dancing (pick a style!), concerts and comedy, but you could also attend a sledding party, a drag brunch or go jump in a lake. Find your way to welcome the new year here.
RUN OUT THE CLOCK
Get a head start on your New Year's resolution to get more exercise by going on an organized run on New Year's Eve. The Run Minnesota Polar Bears group will have a free group run for all abilities, with routes that run from 3 to 10 miles. Meet at 8 a.m. Saturday at the World War I monument at Summit Avenue and Mississippi River Boulevard in St. Paul. There's also a 5K race sponsored by the Running Room store in Woodbury on Saturday. The race starts at 8:30 a.m. at the corner of Valley Creek Road and Bielenberg Drive. Cost is $65 and you can register on race day if you bring cash. Participants get a hoodie and a medal. Richard Chin
WELCOME NOON YEAR
Silly selfie stations, a countdown craft and — drum roll, please — a confetti drop. Como Park Zoo and Conservatory turns the clock back for two days of family fun — at a reasonable hour. The free Noon Year's event begins at 10 a.m. with games and music by DJs of Kidsdance and winds up by 1 p.m. — in time for afternoon naps. There also will be zookeeper talks, giveaways and contests before and after the countdowns on Saturday and Sunday. Go to comozooconservatory.org for more info. 1225 Estabrook Drive, St. Paul. Connie Nelson
HAVE A (PICKLE) BALL
Dink responsibly at a new establishment dubbed by the Mankato Free Press as the local "Taj Mahal of Pickleball." The Picklebarn is hosting a PickleBALL Drop featuring not only pickleball, but cornhole, snacks and beverages, cards and cribbage and a New Year's countdown (well, to 10 p.m. anyway). Reserve your spot on the Court Reserve app or by emailing picklebarnmn@gmail.com. $25; 6-10 p.m. Saturday.Closer to the Twin Cities, Life Time members and their guests can play at the Bang'n Pickleball Mixer 6-9 p.m. Saturday at the club's Bloomington North pickleball facility, 5250 W 84th St, Bloomington, MN 55437. $15-25 per person. Sign up through the Life Time app or call 952-835-2222. Another option is a NYE pickleball party and potluck at the Premier Pickleball Club, 8401 83rd Av. N., Brooklyn Park. 7 p.m.-12:30 a.m.; $25 per person. Register at www.twincitytenniscamps.com. Laura Yuen
DRAG IN THE NEW YEAR
If you like your drag shows set to the music of Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Lizzo, (or, unexpectedly, "Jurassic Park"), event producer Flip Phone has packed the holiday weekend with themed brunches and dance parties at venues around the Twin Cities. So you can enjoy drag performances, basically nonstop, between Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon. Lush, the northeast Minneapolis theater and lounge, hosts a drag dinner on Saturday (Southern fare from from Betty & Earl's) followed by a "Glitter Ball," both with shimmery attire requested. See flipphoneevents.com and lushmpls.com for times, locations and prices. Rachel Hutton
IMMERSE YOURSELF
Want to get a really fresh start to 2023? Go jump in a lake! Lululemon Mall of America is sponsoring a Cold Dip and Sauna Party at the "Magic Hole" on the North Beach of Lake Harriet from noon until 3 p.m. Sunday. The after-party at Embrace North in Minneapolis includes sauna sessions, a live DJ, warm beverages and prizes. Both events are free, but registration is required. If you'd prefer to make a splash without the c-c-cold, Grove Aquatic Center in Inver Grove Heights has a family-friendly indoor pool party from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday. Dance on the pool deck, then dive in. $6 for ages 1-11, $9 for 12-59.
FAMILY EVENTS
A BIG ROCK'N EVE: Explore the holiday light display, acrobatic performances, dueling pianos and fireworks. 4-10 p.m. Saturday. $15-$25. Miracle at Big Rock, 1674 WI-87 St. Croix Falls, Wis. miracleatbigrock.com.
