Options for New Year’s Eve celebrations vary widely: a festive dinner at your favorite restaurant, a special theater performance, a community party, a concert or band show with or without dancing. We include a sampler here, including a couple thoughts for the short set.

Fireworks

You can look down the Front Range and see them on Pike’s Peak, or you can hop the Light Rail to 16th and California and enjoy an immersion experience.

The Downtown Denver Partnership fills the skies above the 16th Street Mall with a great fireworks display, launched simultaneously from several building tops at 9 p.m. and again at midnight. The two shows are identical and can be viewed all along the mall. If you have a goofy hat, this is a place where it won’t be alone. Food and drink spots are crowded and a general good mood permeates the crowd. (It’s a good plan to establish a meeting place if your group gets separated).

Lannie’s Clocktower Cabaret, on the Mall at Arapahoe Street, offers entertainment by vocalist Lannie Garrett and her Big Band— with time out to watch the fireworks. Tickets: $125. See www.lannies,com or call 303-293-0075.

Fundraiser

Greet the New Year in Castle Rock at Douglas County Fairgrounds’ Kirks Hall: A celebration to raise money for two charities, Project Sanctuary and Reeces Roundup.

Dinner at 7:30 p.m.

Dancing at 9 p.m.

Champagne toast at 12 a.m.

Tickets are normally $40 single/$75 couple (limited time discount). Tickets can be purchased at Automaster, 3160 No. Industrial Way, Castle Rock or call 303-660-6150.

Ticket price includes:

Dinner buffet put on by Sweet Lorraine’s Catering includes roast beef and pork loin.

Noise makers

Champagne toast at midnight

Coffee and dessert bar

Live entertainment and dancing

Cash bar available.

Proceeds from ticket sales and bar will go to the charities. Those who would like to purchase a ticket but can’t attend the event can donate tickets to a military couple who might not otherwise be able to afford to attend.

Theater programs

The 17th Avenue Allstars will perform two shows, 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. at Town Hall Arts Center, 2450 W. Main St., Downtown Littleton. The a capella quintet will sing favorites from five decades. Included: Baritone Barry Brown, Tenor Tim Rosendo, Bass Norm Silver, Vocal Percussionist Richard Steighner, Tenor Bob Shammas. Tickets: all reserved seats $25. (A champagne toast is included in the 9:30 ticket). 303-794-2787 ext. 5, www.townhallartscenter.com.

Captain Quirk and Friends perform “Tommy,” the Who’s Pete Townshend work that coined the words “Rock Opera” at 8 p.m. at Miner’s Alley Playhouse, 13th and Washington, Golden. Award-winning music director Donna Debreceni performs on keyboards, with a band including Rick Thompson, bass; Mitch Jervis, guitar and Larry Ziehl, drums. They accompany vocalists Traci Kern and Daniel Langhoff in the tale about a deaf, dumb and blind boy who becomes leader of a messianic movement. Ticket: $40 per person, $70 Couple, 21 and over only. Includes one complimentary cocktail, hors d’oeuvres at intermission, dancing and party 10 to midnight after the show, complimentary champagne at midnight. (Cash bar). In cooperation with Table Mountain Inn across the street, two packages are offered: $199 per couple includes ticket, room, breakfast; $299 includes ticket, dinner, room, breakfast. 303-935-3044, www.minersalley.com.

“A Very Dark Holiday Playwright Festivus” offers six holiday-themed one acts written by Colorado playwrights, each with a local director, including a show at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 31 at Vintage Theatre, 2119 E. 17th Ave., Denver. Included: “Silent Night” by Jeffery Neuman; “’Tis the Season” by Linda Berry; “Intimate Information” by Frank A. Oteri; “Ringing It In” by Laura Coe; “Bored to Death” by Mark Sbani; “Family Business” by Kurt Brighton. Tickets: $15, 303-839-1361, vintagetheatre.com.

”I’ll Be Home for Christmas …a USO Show” plays through Dec. 31 at Heritage Square Music Hall, 18301 W. Colfax Ave. Golden. Heritage Square Music Hall offers eight hours of food, laughs, wonderful desserts, dancing and bottomless champagne at midnight, with keepsake glasses. Tickets: Buffet dinner, show and more, $100; show only, $70. 303-279-7800.

Comedy Works Landmark DTC and Larimer Square offer early all-ages shows and later ones for grownups, with Brad Upton in the south venue and Ralph Harris downtown. For details: 303-595-3637, www.comedyworks.com.

Music

(Check with your favorite local spots.) Three options:

“Night in Vienna” a tradition with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, offers polkas, waltzes and marches beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Boettcher Concert Hall, Denver Performing Arts Complex. Afterwards, stroll down to the 16th Street Mall to enjoy the 9 p.m. fireworks. Tickets: $37 to $90. www.coloradosymphony.org or 303-623-7876.

Denver Favorite Hazel Miller and her band will perform at 9 p.m. at the Sherman Street Event Center, 1770 Sherman St., Denver. A dessert bar and champagne at midnight included in the ticket price of $55 per person, $100 Couple — 21 and over only. Visit shermansteventcenter.com, 303-778-0916, TicketsWest at King Soopers. A portion of the proceeds benefits KUVO Jazz radio.

Award-winning bluesman Otis Taylor and his band will play at Dazzle Jazz Lounge, 930 Lincoln St., Denver. A 6:30 pre-gala includes show and dinner. $25 pre-pay, $50 total. The 8:30 gala has Taylor in the showroom and Supercollider in the Dizzy Lounge. $30 pre-pay, $70 total (favors, champagne at midnight). Ticket holders can go back and forth between dance floors. Reservations, 303-839-5100, info@dazzlejazz.com.

For the kids

Noon Year’s Eve, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Children’s Museum offers five ball drops a’la Times Square, countdowns, massive sheets of bubble wrap that sound like fireworks when one jumps on them, art activities, performances, cookies. Stories by Lars the Polar Bear. Admission: $6, 1 and under; $8, 2 to 59; $6 seniors. www.cmdenver.org, 303-433-7444. Bright lights, magical surroundings. All require admission.

Zoo Year’s Eve starts at 5 p.m. at the Denver Zoo, with an early countdown at 9 p.m. Zoo lights, activities, entertainment.

Hudson Holidays is open 5 to 9 p.m., 6115 S. Santa Fe Drive, Littleton.

Blossoms of Light at both Chatfield And York Street Denver Botanic Gardens.