9. NYRR Midnight Running at Central Park

Runners racing in the Central Park Midnight Run on New Year's Eve
The 2018-19 NYRR Midnight Run. Photograph courtesy of New York Road Runners.

To ring in the new year, head to Central Park for the NYRR Midnight Run. The four-mile run will begin at the stroke of midnight, taking runners on a loop around the park up Cat Hill, past the Engineer’s Gate, alongside the Reservoir, and downhill to the finish line near the Bethesda Terrace

A pre-race festival will take place at Rumsey Playfield with live music and dancing. Each runner will be allowed to bring up to one additional guest to the festival. Accompanying the start of the race and new year will be a fireworks display lighting up the night sky.