Taipei 101 prepares six minutes of fireworks for New Year's Eve. Taipei 101 prepares six minutes of fireworks for New Year's Eve. (CNA photo)

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – With New Year’s Eve just around the corner, Taipei offers a host of activities to ring in the new year and beyond.

New Year’s Eve



(Image by Flickr user: Kyleme)

The annual midnight fireworks at Taipei 101 will bring in the New Year again, and it is a spectacle which everyone must see first-hand at least once. This year’s event will also include a free countdown party outside of the Taipei City Government building in Xinyi District, featuring artists from Taiwan and abroad.

As the area immediately surrounding Taipei 101 is expected to be busy, the Hydraulic Engineering Office of Taipei recommends a select few riverside parks to enjoy the six-minute firework show, for those wanting a quieter affair.



(Image from Grand Hyatt Taipei)

The Grand Hyatt Taipei will hold their annual New Year’s Eve Countdown Party with spectacular views of the Taipei 101 fireworks. The event includes sensational food and unlimited drinks. Tickets are selling fast at NT$3,580 per person, and can be bought online.



(Image from The Thali)

If you would prefer to celebrate the New Year with superb Indian food, The Thali in Neihu District will hold a grand buffet on Dec. 31. A wide selection of courses and dishes are available. Reservations must be made in advance by contacting The Thali, with dinner costing NT$700 per person.



(Image from Red House Square Taipei’s Facebook)

LGBT-friendly Red House Square will hold a free New Year’s Eve Countdown Party in Ximending, hosting a number of DJs, drinks specials, and other revelry. The party will kick off at 8:00 p.m. and will continue on into the morning.

Festivals and Exhibitions



(Image from 最強伊斯蘭市集! 一日穆斯林體驗! Facebook)

The 2018 Islamic Cultural and Halal Food Festival will be held at Da’an Forest Park on Dec. 29 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The event will offer something for everything including art, crafts, food, and celebration of Islamic culture.



(Image from Taipei Fine Arts Museum)

The Taipei Biennial 2018, which began in mid-November, is still running until March 2019. Hosted by the Taipei Fine Arts Museum and the Goethe Institut Taipei, this year’s theme is “Post Nature: the Museum as an Ecosystem.”



(Image from Top Shelf Games Co)

The regular BBQ, beer, and board games event will be held at Top Shelf Games Co. in Taipei’s Datong District. The event offers a great opportunity to meet new people, play new games, and even introduce your favorite game to others. The event costs NT$200, and includes a food/drink voucher worth NT$100.



(Image from Winter Textile Market Facebook event page)

The annual Winter Textile Market featuring fabrics, crafts, and utensils will take place at Mica (雲母) in Da’an District on Dec. 29-30. The free event includes workshops and lectures to help you produce a warm piece of clothing, just in time for the worst of winter.

Music and Entertainment



(Image from SaludSalsaParty’s Facebook event page)

Taipei’s first and only Salsa club and bar, Salud Salsa Party, will hold their last party for the year on Dec. 29. The event will feature salsa and Afro-Latin music, dancing, and great cocktails. The night kicks off at 9:00 p.m. in Zhongshan District, with one ticket costing NT$300, and includes one cocktail.



(Image from Airhead Records)

Taiwanese indie record label Airhead Records will hold their 7th anniversary party at the Wall Live House in Gongguan on Jan. 6. Taiwanese bands Wayne's so sad (傷心欲絕) and Midnight Ping Pong (午夜乒乓) headline the event, with doors opening at 7:15 p.m. Advanced tickets are available online for NT$600, and tickets will also be available at the door for NT$800.

National Concert Hall and Theater



(Image from Taipei Public Symphony Orchestra)

The 2018 Rotary International Charity Concert will feature the Taipei Public Symphony Orchestra at the National Concert Hall on Dec. 29, showcasing works by Nicolo Paganini and Gustav Mahler. The widely-popular event has limited tickets remaining, which can be bought online.



(Image from ibon)

The official concert of the Japanese animated series Dragon Ball will take center stage at the National Concert Hall on Jan. 4. The event is part of a world tour, and will recite some of the most iconic scores of Dragon Ball. Tickets begin at NT$1,200, and are available for purchase online, and via the ibon machines in some convenience stores.

Regular Hangouts

If you want to put your English to use and enjoy an open forum to discuss different topics and hear presentations in English, check out the iEnglish Club English Gathering every Saturday.

If you're looking for a family friendly group to practice your English or your Chinese, consider checking out events with Language Exchange Taipei. They are having a free language exchange on Sunday afternoon at Lifehouse Taipei.

The LEIT Language Exchange group regularly hosts a huge number of activities. Check their events page for friendly hangouts and language exchange opportunities.

For the begining of 2019, Taiwan's Bobwundaye bar on Heping Rd. in the Da'an District will be hosting Wednesday Open Mic Nights for anyone who wants to share a little bit of their musical or artistic talent with an audience. The floor is opened for performances beginning at 10:00 p.m.

Everyone’s favorite Irish bar in Gongguan near NTU, James Joyce, is also hosting live music every weekend.

If you have a love of Indian food and culture, then you can always stop by the Mayur Indian Kitchen location on Songjiang Road, where they have regular dance performances or Indian music for dining customers on Saturday nights.

For those new to Taipei, or those who have been here a while but still haven't seen all the city has to offer, consider taking a walking tour with "Like it Formosa." Tours happen regularly every week, with four different types of tours to choose from, depending on what you want to see.

And depending on your interests, check this list of meet up groups regularly to see if there is anything up your alley.