Ring in the new

There is no shortage of things to do on New Year's Eve in southeastern Minnesota.

Whether you like to dance, listen to music, get a bite to eat or take your kids out for some fun, there are plenty of available options.

Music

• The Clarion Innand Viking Lounge,1630 S. Broadway, Rochester, will host Twin Cities band Orange Whip for their 51st annual New Year's Eve event. Orange Whip plays rock 'n' roll, country and modern pop. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door, or $79.99 for a hotel room with two tickets to see the band. Ages 21 and up. Doors open at 9 p.m. In addition, karaoke, a free event, will be in the Viking Lounge starting at 9 p.m.

• If you have a song to sing, the Rochester Eagles Club, 917 15th Ave. S.E., Rochester, will start kickback karaoke at 8 p.m. on New Year's Eve. For those who just want to listen to music, from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. there will be a polka dance with The Larry J Band on stage.

• Charlie's Eatery and Pub, 1408 Second St. S.W., Rochester, will have karaoke going from 8 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. on New Year's Eve. No cover charge.

• The Sheldon Theatre, 443 W. Third St., Red Wing, will ring in the new year with some bluegrass music. Local favorites Monroe Crossing will play bluegrass music starting at 7 p.m. on New Year's Eve. Tickets are $14.50 (students) to $22.50 (adults) in advance and $17.50 to $22.50 the day of the show. The group, based in Minnesota, was named in honor of Bill Monroe, "The Father of Bluegrass Music."

• Rock band Nite Shift will play a New Year's Eve party at the North Star Bar, 503 N. Broadway, Rochester. The group plays a mix of classic and contemporary rock, with a few headbangers and eclectic tunes. No cover.

• Country music band Lost Highway will perform on New Year's Eve at the Wicked Moose Bar and Grill, 1201 Eastgate Drive S.E., Rochester. Several of Lost Highway's original songs, including "Skin" and "More Than A Song,' have been played on local radio. The group mixes their hit songs with covers of popular national acts. Doors open at 8 p.m., and tickets are $10.

• Rochester alternative rock band Betsy and the Mongrels will hit the stage at 8 p.m. Wednesday night at Kathy's Pub, 307 S. Broadway, Rochester. There is no cover charge, but fans must be 21 or older to enter. With Betsy on lead vocals, the band plays rock, alternative, funk, blues and pop.

• This Wednesday, the Paramount Theatre, 125 Fourth Ave. N.E., Austin, will not only be providing entertainment, it will also be raising money for charities Convoy Of Hope and #100MforHunger. The DC Drifters will perform at 7:30 p.m. at the Paramount Theatre. The group covers songs by such 1950s favorites as Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, Big Bopper, Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry and more. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. A portion of all ticket sales will go to help feed hungry children around the world. Tickets can be purchased at www.paramounttheatre.org .

• The Colt 45s will perform Wednesday at Events by Saker,401 Eighth St. S.E., Kasson. The country music band will play from 8:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.

• Classic rock group Foreigner will perform on New Year's Eve at Treasure Island Casino, 5734 Sturgeon Lake Road, Welch. The group will playing hits from its nearly 40-year career, including popular songs "Juke Box Hero," "Feels Like The First Time," "Urgent," "Head Games," "Say You Will," "Cold as Ice," "Hot Blooded," and "I Want To Know What Love Is." Tickets are $70 and $80 and can be purchased at www.ticasino.com .

• The Long Shot Band will play Pit Stop Bar and Grill, 236 S. Main St, Dexter, from 9 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. The band will play cover songs from popular country rock bands.

Dancing

• The Blue Moon Ballroom, 2030 U.S. 14 E., Rochester, will hold a New Year's Eve dance. A DJ will play swing, rock and roll, ballroom, Latin, blues, R&B, country and pop music. The alcohol-free event begins at 8 p.m. with dance lessons. The dancing runs from 9 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Tickets are $12 for adults and $7 for students and seniors.

Comedy

• Comedians Nathan Timmel and Chris Schlichting will perform two New Year's Eve stand-up shows at Goonies Comedy Club, 7 Second St. S.W., Rochester. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. Tickets: $25 in advance, plus tax. Timmel has performed at comedy clubs across the country, recorded several comedy CDs, two of which receive regular airplay on Sirius/XM Satellite Radio. Schlichting has been described as "hilarious" by his mom and as "not having a real job" by his dad.

Events for all ages

• Quarry Hill "Nature's New Year's Eve" celebration, Quarry Hill Nature Center, 701 Silver Creek Road N.E., Rochester. 507-328-3950. 7 p.m. $12 per person ($10 members). Open to all ages. Nature crafts, activities, a snack buffet, cross country skiing and snowshoeing on a candlelit trail. Alternate outdoor activities will be provided if snow conditions are poor.

• Noon Year's Eve at the Children's Museum, Minnesota Children's Museum of Rochester, 1643 N. Broadway, Suite A, Rochester. 507-218-3104. 10:30 a.m $7 member; $10 non-member. Rock in the New Year at the Minnesota Children's Museum of Rochester with a kid-friendly New Year's Eve celebration from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Food, music, activities, and a "ball drop" with prizes at noon. (The museum will be closed to the public on Dec. 31.)

• All movies starting between 8:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Wednesday at Wehrenberg Theatre, 340 Maine Ave. S.E., Rochester, come with a special New Year's Eve offer. For $16, a movie lover will get a ticket, refillable popcorn and soda. All guests also get a goodie bag filled with fun.

Special New Year's Eve menus

• Ring in 2015 and say goodbye to Sontesat its New Year's Eve bash. A seven-course menu featuring many Sontes menu favorites will be available. To provide some ambiance, live music will be played by the The John Sievers Trio. Complimentary champagne will be handed out and there will be a balloon drop at midnight. Cost is $75 or $60 for the vegetarian menu. The menu is available at www.sontes.com. The restaurant is at 4 Third St. S.W., Rochester. Call 507-292-1628 for more information. The restaurant will close after the celebration.

• Thyme Restaurant and Loungeat the Rochester Downtown Holiday Inn, 220 S. Broadway Ave, Rochester, will be serving at steak and lobster tail dinner. The meal costs $28.99 and comes with a glass of champagne. Call 507-252-8200 to place a reservation.

• Looking for somewhere to eat on New Year's Eve? Head over to the Rochester Golf & Country Club, 3100 Country Club Road S.W., Rochester. Executive chef Bill Eisenmann will be making a special dinner that night. The menu is available at www.rgcc.org . The meal will be served from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and costs $50 plus tax and gratuity per person. Anyone interested can RSVP to Jennifer Becker at 507-536-4466.

• Old Village Hall Restaurant,in Lanesboro, has a New Year's menu of slow-roasted prime rib, pan-seared duck breast, or pan-seared scallops, with appetizers, desserts and wine pairings on Dec. 31. Cost is $40 per person, and $20 more for optional wine pairings with each course. Call 507-467-2962 for reservations. The restaurant is at 111 Coffee St.