1 Noon Year's Eve. Start the New Year with Mei Lan at Zoo Atlanta.

Families are invited to makes reservations for one of three parties taking place in the World Studio during the day. Festivities include a visit from Curious George, dancing to a DJ, decorating party favors, raising a glass of apple juice and a ball drop. Free with zoo admission, but reservations required. 10 a.m.-noon; noon-2 p.m.; and 2-4 p.m. Dec. 31. $17.99; $12.99 ages 3-11; ages 2 and younger free. Zoo Atlanta, 800 Cherokee Ave., Grant Park. 404-624-9453, www.zooatlanta.org.

Jenni Girtman/Staff (ENLARGE)

Tiffany and Wayne Coghill were among revelers at last year's Medieval Times Extravaganza, which gets cranked up again at 9:30 p.m. Dec. 31 in Lawrenceville.

John Spink (ENLARGE)

Yes, pandas will celebrate New Year's Eve, too, as Mei Lan joins the fun at Zoo Atlanta.

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2 Peach Drop. Expect 175,000 people to show up at Underground Atlanta to watch the giant, sparkly peach drop from its tower at midnight. But festivities begin 12 hours earlier with face painting and fortune-telling for the kids. Adults can roam from club to bar, drink in hand, in Kenny's Alley, and live country music will fill the public spaces. Headliner Miranda Lambert will perform shortly before midnight. But the party doesn't end when the clock strikes 12; the bars are open until 4 a.m. Free. Noon-4 a.m. Dec. 31. Underground Atlanta, downtown Atlanta. 404-523-2311, www.peachdrop.com.

3 Medieval Times New Year's Eve Extravaganza. Rip through the roast chicken with your bare hands as armored knights battle in the arena below. Arrive early with your own fair maiden or squire, as the case may be, for the dungeon tour. Balloons will drop at midnight and dancing will commence. $84.95 VIP; $74.95, including gratuity. 9:30 p.m. Dec. 31. Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament, 5900 Sugarloaf Pkwy., Lawrenceville. 1-888-935-6878, www.medievaltimes.com.

4 International Jetsetters Ball. Travel to the islands without leaving the city limits at Trader Vic's tiki bar in Hilton Atlanta. Enjoy Polynesian-style music with Mike Geier's Tongo Hiti and the saucy moves by the burlesque beauties of Dames Aflame. Show up just for the party or buy into the special four-course dinner package. And if you fear the potency of the fruity cocktails (watch out for the mighty Mai Tai, the house special), there's an overnight special. So instead of cabbing it home, you can stumble upstairs to your own rooms. Party $20-$25; Dinner $70; Dinner and accommodations for two $296. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Dec. 31. Trader Vic's, Hilton Atlanta, 255 Courtland St., downtown Atlanta. 404-221-6339, www.ticketalternative.com.

5 Wednesday Night Drinking Club NYE Party. More than 700 people show up for the social club's monthly parties, so there will be that many and more at its New Year's Eve shindig. Expect '80s covers from the band Girlz, Girlz, Girlz, a midnight buffet and rivers of booze, natch. $125 (early-bird rate). 9 p.m.-2:30 a.m. Dec. 31. Intercontinental Hotel, Buckhead, 3315 Peachtree Road N.E., Atlanta. 678-522-6412, www.wednesdaynightdrinkingclub.com.

6 Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. If putting on your dancing shoes is not your style, spend an evening listening to the music that moved Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers around ballrooms. The concert of light classics and pop tunes will end with a champagne toast and "Auld Lang Syne." As an added bonus, the concert ends early enough for you to hit the party circuit or your own couch well before midnight. $30-465. 8 p.m. Dec. 31. $30-$65. Atlanta Symphony Hall, 1280 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta. 404-733-5000, www.atlantasymphony.org.

7 Laugh Me Deadly. Improv sketch comedy with a dose of film-noir is what to expect this evening. Pony up for the pre-show dinner or eat on your own and just come for the show. For extra fun, dress up in your best vintage dress or trench coat. For an added bonus, we suggest referring to females as "dames" and hiring "a private dick" if your champagne goes missing. $75 for 9 p.m. show, prizes, champagne toast and dessert bar; $119 for 7 p.m. dinner at Front Page News Midtown, shuttle service, 9 p.m. show, champagne toast and live music post-show. Whole World Improv Theatre, 1226 Spring St., Midtown. 404-817-7529, www.wholeworldtheatre.com.

8 The Possum Drop. Less than an hour away from Atlanta, Tallapoosa celebrates its pre-1860 name of Possum Snout. An evening of live music and family fun will culminate when a stuffed possum encased in a plastic sphere will be lowered from the top of an historic building against a background of a fireworks-filled sky. Free. 8 p.m. Dec. 31. Tallapoosa, Ga., (exit 5 off Interstate 20 and turn right.) 770-574-7193, www.tallapoosaga.gov.

9 Chick-fil-A Bowl events. Spend the day immersed in college football. Clemson and Auburn battle in a matchup of ACC vs. SEC. If you don't have a ticket to the sold-out game, you can still participate in the fun, beginning with a parade through downtown and a giant afternoon-long pep rally at the Chick-fil-A Bowl FanFest where fans can play punting, passing and kicking games, run obstacle courses climb rock walls. Parade: Free.

12:30-2 p.m., beginning at Peachtree Street and Ralph McGill Boulevard and ending at the World Congress Center. Chick-fil-A Bowl FanFest: $10, 2-6 p.m., Georgia World Congress Center, 285 Andrew Young International Blvd., downtown Atlanta. Game: $60-$100 (sold out). 7:30 p.m. Georgia Dome, 1 Georgia Dome Drive, downtown Atlanta. 404-249-6400, www.ticketmaster.com. All events Dec. 31. 404-586-8499, www.chick-fil-abowl.com.

10 NYE in the ATL 2008. Float between three ballrooms and a lounge, each one with a different vibe thanks to DJs spinning everything from jazz and reggae to R&B and hip-hop. Women Who Jam! showcase, featuring April Lockhart, Salakida, Koffe and Mindhold, will take the stage. $50 general admission; $20 open buffet from 9-11 p.m.; $80 VIP access includes open bar 9 p.m.-1 a.m. and express entrance. Doors open at 6 p.m. for a pre-party mixer. 9 p.m.-3 a.m. Dec. 31. Sheraton Buckhead, 3405 Lenox Road, Atlanta. 404-261-9250, www.nye30plus.eventbrite.com.

11 Bring in the New Year with Toni Redd. For something a little more low-key and stylish than a sweaty throng of dancing people, sway to Redd's smooth jazz and classic soul stylings. Come just for the party or make reservations for a three-course prix fixe dinner featuring choice of herb-crusted salmon; chicken breast stuffed with cheese, spinach and mushrooms; and Angus beef ribeye with burgundy mushroom sauce. Either way, count on champagne toasts and funny noisemakers. A deluxe package including hotel accommodations and breakfast at the Roswell Courtyard Marriott located less than two miles away is also available for an additional $65. $35 for midnight toast, party favors; $85 for dinner, midnight toast, party favors; $65 additional for hotel room and breakfast. Londzell?s Jazz and Blues Cafe, 2300 Holcomb Bridge Road, Roswell. 770-992-7200, www.londzellsjazzandblues.com.

12 New Year's Eve Bash 2008. Country music star Eric Church ("Guys Like Me") will perform, but don't expect the celebration to be all country and mechanical bull riding. A DJ will spin everything from rock to hip-hop, and when the balloons drop don't be surprised if "Auld Lang Syne" rings out. $35-$100. 7 p.m. Dec. 31. Wild Bill's, 2075 Market St., Duluth. 678-473-1000, www.wildbillsatlanta.com.