Friday, Dec. 31: Celebrate the New Year with live music

It's New Year's Eve, and there's plenty to do in and around the 'Cuse. The premiere event this year is Galaxy Communications' "First Night Syracuse" at Onondaga Lake Park. The event, which starts at 5 p.m. and culminates with a ball drop at midnight, will feature live music, a walk-through of Lights on the Lake, and fireworks.

National recording artist Sean Kingston headlines the event. Other bands include Fritz's Polka Band (8:15 p.m.) and the Todd Hobin Band (9:30 p.m.). Former SU basketball star, Gerry McNamara will preside over the ball drop.

The event is being promoted as family-friendly. Tickets are $8 at the gate. No alcohol will be sold on the site.

Onondaga Lake Parkway will be closed from 4 p.m. until 2 a.m. There will be parking at the Griffin Visitor Center. Shuttles will also run from Carousel Centre.

Also tonight

• Ring in 2011 with WCNY at the Oncenter Ballroom (800 S. State St.), 8:30 p.m. Event features music by Atlas, food, open bar, and champagne toast at midnight. Tickets are $135 per person and available online.
• Donna Colton & The Troublemakers at Garden Atrium at Embassy Suites, Syracuse
• Souled Out and Disco Inferno at Events Center and Soul Mine at Winter Garden at Turning Stone Casino Resort, Verona

At the clubs

• Back On Track Again Tavern (Route 11 Brewerton) – Back Flash, 9 p.m.
• Big Kahuna’s Raw Bar 17 Columbus St., Auburn) - DJ’s Fatman & Chuckie O, 6 p.m.
• Buffalo’s (2119 Downer St., Baldwinsville) – Crimescene, 9:30 p.m.
• Cato Hotel (2517 W. Main St., Cato) – Damdog, 8:30 p.m.
• Crazy Gator (W. First St., Fulton) - Malachai, 10 p.m.
• Cross Lake Marina Restaurant (Jordan Rd., Cato) - Lonesome Crow, 9 p.m.
• Dilaj’s (Route 34, Auburn) – Matt Chase & Thunder Canyon , 8 p.m.
• Dinosaur Bar-B-Que (246 W. Willow St.) – Turnip Stampede, 9:30 p.m.
• Double Tree Hotel (Sunset On the Circle, 6301 Route 298, East Syracuse) -Brian McArdell and Mark Westers, 8 p.m.
• Drumlins Restaurant (800 Nottingham Rd.) - The Sugardaddys, 9 p.m.
• Edgewater, 2 Oswego St., Baldwinsville) – Brass, Inc., 10 p.m.
• Falcon Lanes (75 Pulaski St., Auburn) – DJ Toby Tune, 7 p.m.
• Hotch’s Sports Bar ( 8081 Brewerton Rd., Cicero) - Dave Hawthorn/ Frostbit Blue, 9:30 p.m.
• The Lost Horizon (5853 Thompson Rd.) – Los Blancos
• Mr. McGill's (2102 Route 5, Schuyler) - The Bomb, 9 p.m.
• Moondance Tavern (2512 Route 20, Marcellus) – Morris and the Hepcats, 9p.m.
• Sherwood Inn (26 W. Genesee St., Skaneateles) - Loren Barrigar and Joe Whiting , 5 p.m.
• Suzy’s Tavern (6 Lexington Ave., Auburn) – Stone Soul Foundation and Chopping Block
• Wise Guys (201 S. Salina St.) – Melvin George and Laurence Mullaney, 5 p.m.