New year, party here

This is the week to plan early so you can start year 2011 with a bang. Whether that means fireworks, a concert, a party or even a meditative yoga session, here are 10 suggestions on how to say goodbye to ’10 and hello to ’11.

1. View the New Year’s Eve Sky Spectacular. Taking place in Old Sacramento, this annual fireworks display has a classic-rock-themed twist this year. Kid-friendly entertainment begins at 6 p.m. at Waterfront Park with the Radio Disney Rockin’ Road Crew and a youth break-dancing team called Diplomatz.

Meanwhile, classic-rock cover bands will play on the corners of Front and J streets. Fire-dance troupe Obsidian Butterfly will be performing from 9 p.m. to midnight on the corner of Front and K streets. Food and street vendors will keep you fed, while restaurants and bars will provide even more food and booze.

Between two fireworks shows, one at 9 p.m. and then another at midnight, a total of 4,000 fireworks will light up the sky to the classic tunes of Aerosmith, Twisted Sister and Bruce Springsteen, among others.

2. Head to the Hilton for the Professionals Guild’s New Year’s Eve Party. Three separate dance floors offer a plethora of options. In one room, local band Mercy Me! will be playing R&B, while in the next, the Groove Thang Band will be playing hits from the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s. DJ Ron Davis will be in a third room spinning a variety of dance music. A balloon drop, drinks and casino gaming for prizes will also add to the entertainment value of the celebration. The party begins at 8:30 p.m. New Year’s Eve and lasts until 1 a.m. on New Year’s Day. Tickets cost $75 at the door, or $65 online in advance at www.pguild.com. Hilton Hotel, Arden West, 2200 Harvard Street; (916) 922-4700.

3. Party with Tesla guitarist Frank Hannon at the Wounded Warrior Weekend concert event. The two-day event will take place at Coach’s Classic Bar and Grill inside Strikes in Rocklin. It begins New Year’s Eve at 8 p.m. with a performance by Hannon’s band playing material from his recent solo project, and Joe Getty & the Dead Flowers opening (Getty is one-half of conservative talk show Armstrong & Getty). Hors d’oeuvres and a champagne countdown will ring in the new year.

Then at 2 p.m. New Year’s Day, an all-ages family event will feature local bands from Skip’s Music’s Stairway to Stardom music program. Proceeds benefit the Wounded Warrior Project, an organization dedicated to honoring and empowering wounded veterans. Tickets for both days cost $35 in advance online at www.frankhannon.com or $40 at the door. Tickets for the New Year’s Day event only are $20. Coach’s Classic Bar and Grill, 5681 Lonetree Boulevard in Rocklin; (916) 632-8200.

4. Drive to McClellan for Menage a Trois, a three-room New Year’s Eve celebration at the McClellan Park Garden Pavilion. Hosted by EasternMpire Promotions, which primarily caters to the Southeast Asian community, the party features three unique events under one roof. It kicks off at 9 p.m. with a live fashion show put on by Studio 505, composed of American River College students.

One ballroom will have a dancing event called Clubbing 2011, with DJs Crescendo, Tasia and Elements spinning the latest club tunes. A second ballroom will have a dance party called Bollywood 2011, with DJs Rav, Ash, RKTech and Amit providing bhangra, Bollywood and Hindi mixes. The third room will be turned into a hookah lounge by Kasbah Lounge. Copious go-go dancers, booths and lasers will give the whole party a traditional club vibe. Tickets cost $40 and can be purchased at http://menageatrois2011.eventbrite.com, as well as Dimple Records and The Beat. McClellan Airforce Base Garden Pavilion, 5640 Dudley Boulevard in McClellan; (916) 387-8759.

5. Take a walk with the Sacramento Walking Sticks. The volkswalking group will hold walks at the Pioneer House at 5 p.m. on New Year’s Eve and at 9 a.m. on New Year’s Day. Both walks are free and have a 5K (3.1-mile) and a 10K (6.2-mile) option. Pioneer House, 415 P Street; (916) 481-6714.

6. Spend New Year’s Eve dancing to the Brian Setzer Orchestra at Thunder Valley Casino Resort. First rock the night away with the band, which starts playing at 10:15 p.m., then countdown to midnight with the other cool cats in attendance. Tickets cost $55 and $65 and can be purchased in advance at www.ticketmaster.com. Thunder Valley Casino Resort, 1200 Athens Avenue in Lincoln; (916) 408-7777.

7. Participate in a comedy murder mystery at Lou La Bonte’s Dinner Theatre on New Year’s Eve. Affairs to Remember, a Sacramento-based theatrical event planning company, will perform Gold Fever!, a musical production based on historical figures from the gold-rush era. Tickets for the show cost $59.95 and include a dinner buffet. Wine and alcohol is also available for purchase. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. Lou La Bonte’s Dinner Theatre, 13460 Lincoln Way in Auburn; (530) 885-7755.

8. Celebrate the new year by practicing yoga at Zuda Yoga. Get rid of the stress of the holiday season by participating in a contemplative yoga session with instructor Anne Marie Kramer. The celebration begins at 9 p.m. on New Year’s Eve with light snacks and a community celebration. Then from 10 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., people will partake in a meditative yoga session. Tickets cost $25. Zuda Yoga, 1515 19th Street, Suite 104; (916) 441-1267.

9. Join a blues dance party in Grass Valley on New Year’s Eve. Grammy-winning producer Roy Rogers and his band the Delta Rhythm Kings will headline the night at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium. The Bob Woods Trio will open. Tickets cost $25 and can be purchased at www.brownpapertickets.com. Veterans Memorial Auditorium, 255 S. Auburn Street in Grass Valley; (530) 478-1974.

10. Participate in a pajama party at the Sacramento Comedy Spot. The folks at the comedy venue will be combining stand-up, dancing and pajamas on New Year’s Eve. A $20 ticket includes drinks and snacks and the party begins at 9 p.m. Sacramento Comedy Spot, 1050 20th Street; (916) 444-3137.