News12 New York
N12 Originals
Numbers & Links
Local
Crime
Weather
Taxing Long Island
Homeless Youth In Crisis
Hot Toys
Fair or Mostly Sunny
49°
Local
Crime
Weather
Taxing Long Island
Homeless Youth In Crisis
Hot Toys

Long Island to ring in the New Year: Where to celebrate, safety and business boosts

Long Island's hot spots are planning events starting this evening.

Jonathan Gordon

•

Dec 31, 2025, 12:25 PM

•

Updated

Share:

More Stories

The final preparations are underway as Long Islanders get ready to ring in 2026.

Some of our busiest downtowns, such as Huntington, Patchogue, Lindenhurst and Farmingdale, are expected to see large crowds Wednesday night as people pack the streets and their favorite bars and restaurants.

Huntington village is preparing something special: Its first Spectacular New Year's Eve drone show.

The party kicks off with a live DJ before a midnight ball drop in the sky above Wall Street.

Other communities are doing family-friendly events earlier in the evening as well.

Law enforcement will have extra patrols and security measures out across the Island, including additional DWI checkpoints.

Suffolk County police said 22 people have been arrested for drunken driving since Christmas Eve, and Nassau County police said they charged 20 others for the same thing.

AAA's Robert Sinclair said safety has to be the priority on New Year's Eve.

"Even if they're planning on having one drink, you need to have arrangements in place so that you do not have to drive," he said.

Top Stories

00:47
li12pmbolhicksvilleshooting_2026-11-15-12-12-33

Yonkers man charged after accidentally shooting and killing his brother in Hicksville, prosecutors say

01:56
LONG ISLAND TODAY

A sunny forecast & mid-November warmup for Long Island

APGroundStop11142026At10pmSG001

LIVE UPDATES: Transportation head vows to find ‘root cause’ of ground stop. Trump breaks his silence on breakdown

00:50
LIworkerstillmissingkk_2026-11-15-13-44-39

Search for missing worker continues days after deadly scaffolding collapse in Point Lookout

00:39
LIriverheadmvakk_2026-11-15-09-02-10

Shirley man killed after head-on crash causes multi-vehicle wreck in Riverhead

00:20
dirt bike

17-year-old dirt bike rider seriously injured after crashing into parked vehicle in Selden

00:50
li12pmboutique_2026-11-15-12-30-01

Long Beach school district hosts free boutique event for families in need

02:03
li5pmboljskibamca_2026-11-14-17-10-35

MacArthur Airport travelers scramble after nationwide ground stop disrupts flights

01:43
RTLIPlainviewRats11142026JRGaertner10pm_2026-11-14-22-21-52

‘I have the heebie jeebies.’ Plainview residents report growing rat infestation in neighborhood

00:18
li5pmbolbaldwinshootingvo_2026-11-15-12-17-37

Baldwin shooting leaves 25-year-old man critically injured

01:07
RTLILightForACureJRGaertnerVOSOT10pm_2026-11-14-22-22-29

Deer Park family uses holiday light display to raise money for Type 1 diabetes research

00:48
li12pmbolturtle_2026-11-14-12-18-32

Push to protect turtles crossing Smithtown Boulevard

00:53
5PM LI_Burglary_ajc_2026-11-13-17-45-42

Man charged in Old Westbury burglary investigation

01:59
li5pmbolloganbridge_2026-11-13-17-45-12

Investigation underway into cause of Point Lookout scaffolding collapse, resulting in 1 worker dead, 1 still missing

01:36
Tax Hike MS 111326_2026-11-13-17-31-34

Town of Babylon proposes 5.8% tax hike; Supervisor takes pay cut amid resident backlash

01:18
1113julianoon_2026-11-13-12-04-39

Second man arrested in nearly 2-year sex trafficking investigation

00:46
SBU MS 111326_2026-11-13-17-32-03

Stony Brook University celebrates first-generation students

TURKEYPIC

Stop & Shop launches Thanksgiving meal deal with turkey, sides and pie for under $40

00:25
113bayshorecrash_2026-11-13-12-15-03

Tree falls onto box truck, blocks road in Bay Shore

00:20
riverhead fire

Family and dog escape Riverhead house fire, cat found dead

App StoreGoogle Play Store

info

Newsletter

Send Photos/Videos

Contact

About Us

News Team

News 12 New York

follow us

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

more resources

Optimum Corporate

Optimum Service

Advertise on News 12

Careers

Content Removal Policy

© 2026 N12N, LLC

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

Ad Choices