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Community Corner

10 Things To Do To Ring in the New Year in Greater Brandon and Beyond

Still looking for what to do on New Year's Eve? Check out Patch's list of holiday festivities in Brandon and Tampa.

The gifts have been opened and the decorations are just a few days away from heading back into the attic, but first you've got to kick off the New Year.

Whether you plan on keeping it local this New Year's Eve or heading into Tampa for a night on the town, we've got you covered with Patch's list of New Year's happenings.

Keeping it local?

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1. , 1215 W. Brandon Blvd, will observe Irish New Year's at 7 p.m. with a champagne toast and Irish dancers. At midnight, the pub will play the New Year's Eve broadcast live from New York and have another champagne toast.

2. , 1001 Oakfield Dr., invites you to join the party on the lanes from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Lane reservations cost $85 and can seat up to six people. Participants will be allowed to bring their own food. There will be door prizes and a champagne toast at midnight. Reservations must be made by the evening of Dec. 30. To make a reservation, call 813-681-4783.

Find out what's happening in Brandonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

3. , 701 W. Lumsden Rd, will celebrate New Year's Eve for the entire family by celebrating the Irish New Year at 7 p.m. Seating begins at 5:30 p.m. with free party favors for the kids and a free champagne toast for the adults. There will be a special New Year's Eve menu and live entertainment. Kids younger than 12 eat free.

You can also celebrate the American New Year at O’Brien's as well. There will be a New Year's Eve Dance Party with music from the '70s, '80s, '90s and 2000s. Dance into the morning with free champagne and a midnight buffet. New Year's Eve party favors will be provided.

4. The Dallas Bull, 3322 U.S. Highway 301, will ring in 2012 with one of the best deals in Tampa Bay. For $40 in advance or $45 at the door, have an all-you-can-drink, all-inclusive night at the Bull. Price includes cover charge, drinks and a champagne toast at midnight. The cost is $20 for patrons ages 18-20.

5. , 1025 W. Brandon Blvd., will feature different specials every hour on the hour to keep the celebration lively. There will be no cover charge. Champagne toast at midnight.

6. , 1911 W. Brandon Blvd., will have a free champagne toast and free party favors to go with the wide variety of beer at Linksters. There will be no cover charge, and the bar will be open til 2:30 a.m. Drink specials will run throughout the night.

Headed into Tampa?

7. 110 W. Gasparilla Plz. If the kids can't stay up until midnight to celebrate the New Year, don't worry — the Children's Museum will celebrate at the top of every hour on Dec. 31, noting which countries across the globe are ringing in 2012 at that moment. Enjoy making party favors such as noisemakers and masks — and balloon drops at 12 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Admission is $15. For more information, visit glazermuseum.org.

8. Aqua Eve 2011 New Year's Eve at the Florida Aquarium is a great way for adults ages 21 and older to "splash in the New Year." This elegant party, featuring live music, complimentary food, beer, and wine, plus a champagne toast at midnight and a fantastic view of the fireworks over the channel promises to loads of fun.

Multiple food stations will be located throughout the aquarium with tastes of Florida, Mexico and Asia. A cash bar will also be available. "Downtown chic" or black-tie attire is encouraged. The cost is $100, and the event will begin at 9 p.m. For more information, call 813-273-4000.

9. 615 Channelside Dr. This free event starts at 1 p.m. with live music, entertainment, dining, nightlife and, of course, fireworks. The Spectacular Fireworks show will kick off when the ball drops at midnight. Live music and DJs will play in the courtyard all night. Viewing from the wharf area is limited to 3,000 people, determined by wristbands distributed at the Garrison Street gate starting at 9.30 p.m. Channelside Cinemas will have giant screens to watch the ball drop in Times Square, New York City, and invites you to its $1,000 Balloon Drop. No coolers or personal fireworks, please. Organizers recommend taking the TECO Line Street Car from downtown Tampa or Ybor City, or parking at the garage across from the Channelside shopping complex or in open lots between Channelside and the St. Pete Times Forum. The best spots to view the Fireworks Show are from the Channelside Plaza, the Florida Aquarium, the SS Victory Ship, Harbour Island, the St. Pete Times Forum, and along Bayshore Boulevard. For more information, visit channelsidebayplaza.com.

10. at the Ritz Ybor, 1503 E. 7th Ave., starts at 9 p.m. Comedian Gary Cannon hosts this New Year's Eve party with performances by Pitbull Toddler and the Paper Stanleys. Enjoy free Budweiser beer until midnight and prizes all night. Must be age 21 or older to party. Admission is $25 in advance; $35 day of event. Buy tickets here.

If you know of any fun New Year's Eve festivities that we missed, let us know in the comments section.

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