Parties & Polar Plunges: Celebrate New Year’s in Spokane Valley

Spokane Valley sets the scene for a celebratory escape—surrounded by stunning landscapes, removed from the downtown rush, and positioned perfectly for quick access to surrounding celebrations. With I-90 guiding guests seamlessly between downtown Spokane and the lake shores of Coeur d’Alene, the Valley places every festivity within effortless reach. Free parking and lower lodging rates create a stress-free home base, while nearby mountains, rivers, and trails offer dawn-to-dusk adventure. Whether you’re planning a family countdown or a couple’s night out, Spokane Valley lets you toast to 2026 and wake to winter recreation right outside your room.

NEW YEAR’S EVE 

NEARBY NIGHTLIFE

Spokane Valley’s own New Year’s Eve lineup blends style, spirit, and stress-free convenience—keeping you close to your hotel without compromising the celebration. MAX at Mirabeau provides an elevated evening complete with prix-fixe menus, polished service, and a midnight finish accented with festive party favors. From award-winning entrées to an elegant setting steps from your stay, it’s a refined way to welcome 2026 without navigating downtown noise. For revelers who prefer rhythm over refinement, Stormin Normans Shipfaced Saloon leans into a lively, late-night atmosphere with DJ One at the helm and a spirited champagne toast at midnight. Along Sprague and Trent, local restaurants and bars keep glasses filled and crowds minimal, creating convenient, close-to-home celebrations designed for couples, groups, and families seeking a relaxed revelry.

DOWNTOWN DELIGHTS

A short 15-minute drive west unlocks Spokane’s most glamorous gatherings, where gilded ballrooms and city lights stage a showstopping start to the new year. The Davenport Grand is bringing Keys to the Countdown, an unforgettable night featuring a high-energy live band followed by an epic dueling pianos showdown with crowd-favorite hits from every decade, craft cocktails, a glam photo booth, and a sparkling champagne toast at midnight as the music continues into the early hours. A couple blocks over, The Historic Davenport Hotel’s iconic New Year’s Eve Ball channels roaring-20s refinement with big-band brilliance, a decadent three-course dinner, and timeless cocktails poured beneath chandeliers. Meanwhile, music lovers can salute the season with Beethoven’s Ninth performed by the Spokane Symphony, while families glide into the new year at the Numerica Skate Ribbon’s DJ Night on Ice. As the clock strikes nine, Riverfront Park’s free fireworks erupt over the Spokane River—an early celebration perfect for little ones and anyone who likes to welcome the new year without the midnight marathon. 

LAKESIDE LIGHTS

Thirty minutes east of Spokane Valley, Coeur d’Alene delivers a lakeside celebration infused with glamour and glow. The Coeur d’Alene Resort’s “Havana Nights” party wraps live salsa music, rum-forward cocktails, and tropical flair into one vibrant evening. For a more scenic sendoff, Lake Coeur d’Alene Cruises offers two unforgettable voyages: an early-evening Family Cruise complete with Santa sightings and 9 p.m. fireworks, or a decadent Dessert Cruise at 10:30 p.m. featuring indulgent sweets and prime views of the resort’s showstopping midnight display. Whether you crave Cuban charm, shoreline sparkle, or an all-ages outing, Coeur d’Alene pairs festive fun with waterfront wonder—all easily accessed from your Spokane Valley home base. 

NEW YEAR’S DAY

POLAR PLUNGES

Start 2026 with a splash—literally—at Spokane Valley’s unofficial polar plunge spots along the Spokane River, where crisp currents and quiet coves await adventurous dippers. Boulder Beach’s stone shelves create a straightforward entry point, while the Islands Trailhead breaks the river’s current into slow-moving sloughs ideal for cautious cold-water newcomers. Downstream at Donkey Island, a pebble peninsula offers a picturesque place to take the plunge before thawing out along the Centennial Trail. For a communal cooldown, thousands gather at Sanders Beach in Coeur d’Alene for the storied noon Polar Bear Plunge. However you jump in, plunging into the new year becomes a story you’ll tell long after your toes recover. 

TRAIL TIME

After the adrenaline of a plunge—or instead of one—Spokane Valley’s trail network provides a peaceful yet invigorating way to welcome the year. The Centennial Trail stretches nearly 40 paved miles along the Spokane River, offering winter vistas and gentle gradients ideal for families, cyclists, and couples easing into the morning. For hikers seeking a scenic challenge, the Dishman Hills Conservation Area’s Iller Creek loop climbs to the striking Rocks of Sharon, where granite monoliths frame panoramic views of the Valley, Palouse, and Selkirks dusted in winter white. Just east of town, Liberty Lake Regional Park’s celebrated 8.5-mile loop takes winter wanderers through quiet forests, past frozen falls, and beside wildlife tracks tucked into the snow. Whether you want a light stroll or a sweeping summit, the Valley’s trails turn New Year’s Day into a refreshing reset.

BRUNCH BLISS

When appetites rise with the morning sun, Spokane Valley delivers brunch brilliance across beloved local favorites. Cottage Café, a longtime crowd-pleaser, plates hearty comfort classics with generous portions and homemade touches that revive even the sleepiest celebrators. For elevated flavors in a refined setting, MAX at Mirabeau serves standout brunch specialties—including Eggs Benedict, Crab Benedict, and their famously restorative “The Hangover” Burger, stacked with Tillamook cheddar and a fried egg tailor-made for guests recovering from a big night. If you’re extending the party rather than ending it, the make-your-own Bloody Mary bar provides the perfect morning encore. Down the road, Crimson Door Café elevates brunch with 130-year-old Danish recipes, airy hotcakes, croissant beignets, and crème brûlée French toast that transforms the holiday into a morning of indulgent ease.

YOUR CELEBRATION AWAITS IN SPOKANE VALLEY

From fireworks to frozen waterfalls, late-night dancing to leisurely dawn strolls, Spokane Valley places you within minutes of the region’s best New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day traditions. With a variety of accommodations, the Valley pairs affordability with amenities that make overnight stays effortless. Complimentary parking, quiet surroundings, and instant freeway access keep every plan seamless—from Spokane Valley celebrations to downtown Spokane festivities and Coeur d’Alene cruises.

Start planning your New Year’s escape today—book your Spokane Valley hotel and step into 2026 with comfort, convenience, and a celebration crafted around you.