A Scaled Back Bay Area New Year's Eve

By Fallon Silcox Tampa

UPDATED 6:57 PM ET Dec. 31, 2020 PUBLISHED 6:52 AM ET Dec. 31, 2020 PUBLISHED 6:52 AM EST Dec. 31, 2020

TAMPA, Fla. — If you're craving a sense of normalcy for the new year, there are a few options in the Bay area tonight.

If you already have a ticket, there’s a New Year’s Eve celebration at Armature Works near downtown Tampa.

Many other events have gone virtual this year and New Year's Eve is no exception.

What You Need To Know

There are some New Year's Eve events in the Bay area tonight

Several events have gone virtual

Bay area New Year's Events listed below

St. Pete's annual First Night celebration is trying something totally new.

“We have a three-hour program planned, online, that is open to everyone and one full hour dedicated to kids and two hours of family friendly fun,” said Jamie McWade with First Night St. Petersburg.

Normally, all the events happen downtown along the water with a fireworks show at midnight.

Ready to ring in 2021?! From virtual events to in person events, like at Armature Works, we’ve got your NYE plans covered on @BN9 this am! pic.twitter.com/rES0ZhBlsn
— Fallon Silcox (@FallonSilcox) December 31, 2020

This year, the events will go on but you'll have to watch online.

Local artists will perform from spots around town and organizers say there will be interactive components too.

In Tampa, the city canceled the annual "New Year's Eve Booty Drop" and while there are events happening, like the Noon Year’s Celebration and concert and fireworks at Armature Works, the events are all ticketed this year to limit capacity and promote social distancing.

St. Pete's First Night organizers say they started planning the virtual event in April and thought this was the best way to safely ring in 2021.

“Even though we can't be together in person, we wanted to have an opportunity for people to be a part of the community without having to be out in the community,” McWade said. “So we think we have a really wonderful event put together and a lot of people will be able to celebrate from home and ring in the new year in a very positive way and i think that's something we all need.”