If you’re looking for something fun to do on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day check out the events below happening in West Philly and elsewhere in the city. For more events, check our Events Calendar. Please note that subway trains will run all night for party-goers on New Year’s Eve.

Happy New Year, West Philly!

Wednesday, Dec. 31

Bach Christmas Oratorio
Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral, 13 S. 38 Street
4 – 8 p.m.
Choral Arts Philadelphia and the Bach Collegium present Johann Sebastian Bach’s Christmas Oratorio in its entirety on New Year’s Eve. Some Choral Arts members and artistic director, Matt Glandorf, are West Philly residents. Tickets ($45 general admission; $15 students; $30 seniors) can be purchased online or at the door.

New Year’s Eve with Philly Bloco
World Café Live, 3025 Walnut St
10:30 p.m.
Philly Bloco’s 20+ members return with their raucous mash-up of Samba, Funk and Reggae for a very special New Year’s Eve dance party at World Café Live. Get ready to dance! Doors open at 9:30 p.m. 21+. Tickets ($35) and more information are available here.

West Philadelphia Orchestra’s New Year’s Eve Blowout + Balkan Feast
Underground Arts, 1200 Callowhill St
9 p.m. – 4 a.m.
Four bands and a DJ will be performing on the main stage and at the black box theater: West Philadelphia Orchestra, Johnny Showcase & The Mystic Ticket, Mercury Radio Theater, You Do You, and Late Night DJ Set from DJ Lebeet. $30 general admission; $40 VIP. 21+. VIP tickets include Balkan Buffet prepared by WPO! Food will be served at 9 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online or at the Underground Arts box office.  Continue Reading

Don’t feel like venturing too far from home on New Year’s Eve? Here’s a sampling of things going on to send out 2010 in West Philly. This list will be continually updated so if you know of something that should be on the list, send the details to editor – at – westphillylocal.com.

Here’s information on the fireworks at Penn’s Landing. There’s an early show for the kiddos. And if you are planning on venturing out of the hood, here’s info on SEPTA’s schedule.

By the way, we had to chuckle a little at this warning we found on a prominent Philadelphia tourism website about heading to West Philly for New Year’s Eve:

“That having been said, this neighborhood is very dicey, and is on the outer fringes of University City, in fact. And it may be particularly dangerous, on New Year’s Eve – it’s not like being in Old City, or on the Avenue of the Arts.

Accordingly, if you decide to venture that far west of Broad Street on New Year’s Eve, have a heightened sense of awareness to any potential safety issues (especially if you’ve been drinking).”

The place they were talking about is at 39th and Chestnut. Our italic, their bold.

Well, we can agree with one thing: It is definitely not like being in Old City.

Anyway, here’s what we have so far:

• Gojjo • 4540 Baltimore Ave. • No cover

Free champagne toast at midnight and a DJ.

• Forrest Yoga Ceremony • Studio 34 • 4522 Baltimore Ave. • Suggested donation: $5 to $20 or books from selected list

Say farewell to the old year and hello to the new with an extended Forrest Yoga Ceremony led by Studio 34′s Morgan Andrews. Through silent and guided meditation, pranayama and asana, this will be an opportunity for you to go deeper into the playful side of your practice. All are welcome to attend, whether you’re new to yoga or ready to work with more advanced poses. Proceeds go toward building up Studio 34′s Yoga|Healing|Arts Library as a resource for students and teachers of yoga. You can contribute through a monetary donation, or by providing books from this list.

• New Year’s Eve with DJ Jazzy Jeff • The Blockley • 38th and Chestnut • Tickets: $85

Includes a 6-hour “top shelf” open bar and a buffet from 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

• Slainte Pub • 3000 Market St. • No cover

Free midnight champagne toast and drink specials and a DJ from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.

• New Year’s Eve with Slo-Mo and Steph Hayes and the Good Problems • World Cafe Live • 3025 Walnut St. • Tickets: $25 in advance  and $28 day of the show

Slo-Mo is the brainchild of Philadelphia steel guitarist Mike “Slo-Mo” Brenner. Brenner has spent time on the road and in the studio playing steel guitar with such bands as Marah, Magnolia Electric Company and Badly Drawn Boy, but Slo-Mo featuring Mic Wrecka is something totally different.