A couple of days ago was the first time I celebrated three New Years’ in one day. You might be wondering – how is that possible? Well, I’ll tell you it’s totally possible and surprisingly fun! Similar to their Christmas traditions, the island of Curacao takes their New Years celebrations seriously, and this year was no exception.

Fireworks Shows

The week prior to New Year’s Eve, companies with a large presence on the island throw huge firework shows to drum up excitement for the big day. The schedule is usually shared around Facebook groups and local Whatsapp groups, and you can also find it by looking up Curacao Professional Fireworks Display on Facebook.

The biggest show of the week prior to NYE is by Kooyman, one of the largest home improvement stores on the island. They note this show as being “XXXL” meaning the fireworks are BIG and the show is LONG. Arrive early to snag a parking spot as it will be crowded.

For this evening, we dined at El Gaucho Steakhouse which has a gorgeous panoramic hilltop view over the island. We saw the Kooyman Fireworks show from a distance, and I’m not kidding it lasted for 45 minutes! The fireworks were incredible, and we saw many more fireworks shooting off from other parts of the island while we were having dinner.

Where to Eat on New Year’s Eve in Curacao

Planning for New Year’s Eve day starts early. Around late October or November, restaurants and beach clubs will start announcing special menus which will require reservations in advance. These menus are typically prix-fixe elevated dining with live music and the promise of fireworks in the evening. The best way to find out about restaurant announcements is by following their Instagram or Facebook as they rarely have their own websites to visit. Keep in mind some restaurants will be closed on NYE to give their staff the day off – reach out to them to be sure!

Here are a few of the more in-demand restaurants and beach clubs that offered New Year’s Eve events in 2023:

• Kome – located where all the action is in Pietermaai, this restaurant rarely announces their events on social media because they’re so in-demand. Kome typically offers passed tapas, a live DJ, and great vibes. Note that there are no views of fireworks from this restaurant, but the lively atmosphere makes up for it.
• Cascada Rooftop Bar – Proud of their status as the “only rooftop bar in Willemstad”, Cascada is one of the top picks to see the fireworks. The ticket costs are steep, but it’s well worth it for the nearly 360 degree views of the city and the fireworks all around. Passed tapas, a live DJ, and a champagne toast are part of the experience.
• Saint Tropez/BijBlauw/De Heeren at Sea – I’ve lumped these three together because they’re quite literally a stone’s throw away from each other in the bustling Pietermaai district. This year they put together an informal NYE celebration with fireworks and a champagne toast with seafront views.
• Mood Beach/Cabana Beach Club – These two are also located close together at Mambo Beach, the party hub of the island. Both beach club restaurants offered a special NYE menu with live entertainment and beachside fireworks.
• Blue Bay Beach Club – There are several restaurants located on or by the beach at Blue Bay Resort, which is placed slightly outside Willemstad by Kokomo Beach, that offered NYE menus and entertainment. A great spot to be if you want to enjoy a lovely dinner, chill vibe, and fireworks.
• Coral Estate Resort – For those who prefer to be far away from the bustle of the party crowds, Karakter Restaurant at Coral Estate in Westpunt would be the choice. Not only is their food consistently delicious, but they also offered their own fireworks show with live entertainment and unspoiled ocean views.

There are plenty more spots that offer a special New Years Eve event, but above are some of the most popular. Jan Thiel Beach restaurants, like Zest and Zanzibar usually put together a big event with fireworks. The new shipping container concept foodie spot, Pasawa, also had a NYE event with dancing and firecrackers. There’s so much happening on the island around this time that you’ll easily find a place to go!

Pagara Tradition in Pietermaai

You’ll see the word “pagara” starting to pop up around December, and this means firecrackers. The best way to experience the pagara is in Pietermaai. Starting around 2 PM on New Year’s Eve the Pietermaai District becomes transformed into an outdoor pedestrian party scene. The long street leading from Pietermaai to downtown Willemstad is laid out with a very long firecracker strip – perhaps the length of a football field – which is then lit around 5:00 PM. There are booths set up along the street serving drinks and bites, and DJs are perched along the historical balconies ensuring the music keeps people dancing.

Restaurants along the strip join in on the New Years Eve festivities as well, offering special menus and beverages for the day. The streets surrounding Pietermaai will be full of cheery islanders throwing their own firecrackers and poppers on the streets. The feeling of being in Pietermaai on this day is nothing but wholesome and joyful.

Dutch New Year’s

The first of the three New Year’s I celebrated was Dutch New Year on December 31st. Everyone on the island celebrates when the clock strikes midnight in the Netherlands, which is typically 7 PM island time. You’ll know it’s 7:00 PM when a slew of fireworks from all across the island start firing off for the next 30 minutes. Restaurants, beach clubs, and local homes will be shooting off fireworks and wishing everyone a Happy Dutch New Year.

Curacao New Year’s

The second of the three New Year’s I celebrated was Curacao New Year. This takes place at midnight island time with the entire island seemingly joining in with their own fireworks. The best place to be for the local experience is on the Queen Emma Floating Bridge, or nearby. Starting in the late afternoon families will be rolling their coolers and carrying their chairs to the perfect spot downtown to enjoy the fireworks. You’ll find happy families with their own speakers dancing to their music and popping the champagne they brought. It’s a great time!

If you want to celebrate Curacao New Years in a more elevated way, there are several restaurants (noted above) that offer their own course menus, entertainment, and fireworks. My partner and I attended the NYE Party at Cascada Rooftop Bar and we thoroughly enjoyed all of the fireworks surrounding us. Though there was a bit of rain, which is bound to happen on an island, the vibe was still wonderful.

Finally, another great way to experience Curacao New Year’s is by going to your friend’s or family’s house. While we were partying it up at Cascada, we took a break and went downstairs to walk around and ran into a small group of local ladies. They said my partner looked like the son of a well known doctor on the island and they invited us to their friend’s hilltop house to view the fireworks. We exchanged Whatsapp numbers and thanked them for the invite. Though we stayed at Cascada, we were delighted at that random interaction and it’s a perfect example of the friendliness of everyone, especially during the holidays.

NYC Ball Drop

The third and final New Year’s I celebrated was for the Eastern US. Fun fact that Curacao does not participate in daylight savings so we are one hour ahead of NYC on the island. We left Cascada at 12:30 AM and got home just in time to catch the ball drop at Times Square at 12:55 AM (our time). I even had a chance to speak with my family in the US as if I was there for the official countdown.

Well after midnight the fireworks continued. We heard them all through the night until around 5:00 AM, and then the following nights. The New Years celebration is a weeklong party with the fireworks eventually dying down around the 3rd or 4th of January. There are strict regulations on the sale of fireworks on the island, so when the firework stalls open on December 26th people will stock up on their supplies in preparation for the New Year.

New Year’s Plunge at Zanzibar Beach Club

After an evening of enjoying the fireworks and cheers, I highly recommend going to Zanzibar Beach Club in Jan Thiel the next morning. Zanzibar is host to the only New Year’s Plunge on the island, and it’s a big event. Hundreds of islanders decked out in orange to honor the Netherlands will jump/walk into the ocean. While the water won’t be cold like it would be in the Netherlands, the atmosphere will be similar and there will be live music, dancing, and a good time.

Take a boat out for Fuikdag

While not technically on New Year’s, this event takes place on the first Sunday of the year at Fuik Bay. On this day, hundreds of boats and floaties will be lining the waters in one big ocean party. The history of this event stems from the Curacao Yacht Club which used to have a small celebration turned island-wide party. Renting a boat in advance is a must as people plan for this event early. The boat companies like BlueFinn and Mermaid will typically sell tickets for access to their boat including open bar and tapas, but you’ll have to commit to being on the boat for many hours.

Final Thoughts

Finally, between Christmas and New Year’s, the end of the year is one non-stop party. If you want to make the most out of what the island has to offer, I highly recommend planning in advance. If you’re the type to play it by ear, you’ll still have plenty of fun and you may meet people who will invite you for a good time.

The start of the year is just the start of the celebrations! Starting January is the infamous Carnival, a months long series of parades, festivals, and competitions where the island comes together in celebration. There’s no better time to be on Curacao!

How did you celebrate your New Years? Are there any special traditions in your country? Let me know in the comments below!