We did this event to bring in 2026 and it didn't disappoint. They had two larger ballrooms, and then smaller rooms for various music. We ended up in the larger ballroom for the night exploring as it offered the most space, tables and chairs, and ample bar space which meant no long lines. We did the VIP-Food ticket, but I don't think it's worth it. So I knocked off a star. The main ballroom for general admission had so much space and the food option was only pasta. In my opinion a main event ticket is good enough and the extra price tag for VIP or food isn't worth it. Overall, it was a fun night. read more

This was my husband and I third year attending this event. We always buy the Red Velvet package. The first year we loved everything about it and couldn't wait to come back. However the second year we were so disappointed that we said we weren't going back, (I also wrote a review last year, if you're interested) but our friends convinced us to give it one more try and I can truly say with absolute certainty, we will not be going back! Now, let me begin by saying there was some improvements from last year. Last year they cut back from the year before. They cut back on the food, on the souvenirs, and on the music, it was horrible. This year however they did have great souvenirs and the music was much much better. The food was also good. So as we sat in the Red Velvet Ballroom ate our dinner and listened to the music we were thinking, ok, we're off to a good start. But after we left the Red Velvet Ballroom, that was the end of a wonderful evening. Since this was our third year, we didn't waste time visiting all the ballrooms, we already knew where we wanted to go so we went straight to it....the Pose Lounge! But within the first 10 minutes of arriving, we were greatly disappointed. We found a nice sitting area that would accommodate our group of four, however the table was covered with dirty glasses and trash from the people that were sitting there before. No problem, or so we thought, we'll just ask someone to clean it up. My husband went to find someone, he was gone for over 20 minutes so I went to see what was taking him so long. When I saw his face I could tell he was pissed! He was pissed because he was getting nothing but attitude from the employees when he asked someone to clear the table and wipe it down. No one was willing to do it. But he was determined he wasn't leaving until someone came over and cleared our table. Finally, when no one was willing to do it, he asked for a manager. The manager finally got someone to come over and clear the table. But that whole process took about 45 minutes! 45 minutes to get someone to come over and clear the nasty #@$ glasses from our table! We finally sat down had a few drinks, and danced a little. Then one of our friends suggested we go upstairs to the next level to check it out. I'd never been upstairs so I was eager to see what was up there. When I first got up there I was very impressed. It was very cozy and quaint. I thought wow, I want to stay up here. The lights were dimmer, there was more seating and it was even a little romantic. But again, every table we went to was covered with dirty glasses and trash. So off again my husband went to find someone to clear a table, but he never could get anyone to come over this time. Several other people that had been up there awhile said they gave up asking and cleared their own table. There was no way we were going to pay almost a $1,000 and bus our own dam table! At that point we just left and went back to our room! We will NEVER attend this event, or the Pose lounge again. They are nasty, rude, and very unprofessional people. I don't recommend anyone spend this much money to attend this event. It just isn't worth it. Take your money someplace else!!! read more

We've been here twice now. And we won't come back. The Gaylord is beautiful but they really over sell this event which make it ridiculously crowded. They do a great job with the lines for alcohol (I don't wait more than 5 min for a free drink). However the $109 price tag for all you can drink and some great cover bands is way too much. Tip: Go to the first floor large ballroom (to the left when you enter) and grab a table and stay put. The upstairs is way too crowded, hot and the rooms are over packed. read more

See all

This review is for New Years Eve Dec 31 2024. This was my 2nd year attending this event. I attended in 2023 and wouldn't have rated it 5 star but most definitely 4.5 to 4 stars. However in 2024 I would give it no more than 2 stars and most definitely will not be attending again! Let me start by saying there are several packages for this event. Obviously the top package cost considerably more, that is the package we bought. We had the Red Velvet package. This package included, the Private Seating in the Red Velvet Ballroom, dinner, drinks and entry to all Ballrooms. This package did not include rooms, we paid separately for the room. We always opt to stay over night because we don't like staying out late partying and drinking then having to drive home. Altogether this was well over a $1500 night for us! Last year, when we walked in the Red Velvet Ballroom we were escorted to a private table that had our name on it and there were New Year souvenirs on the table. The souvenirs included a top hat for the men and tiara's for the women. It also included party horns. Each guest at our table (4 people) had a set of souvenirs. In addition, because the Red Velvet package was the top package, our souvenirs were trimmed in gold, everyone else's was trimmed in silver. This year when we walked in the Red Velvet Ballroom, we had no table reserved. The greeter told us to pick out a table we wanted, then he escorted us to the table and put a sign on the table after we sat down. There were also a lot less souvenirs on the table. There were no top hats this year, only the tiara's and party horns. None of them were trimmed in gold, everything was silver and there were only three sets per table, for a party of 4. Some tables seated 6 but only had enough souvenirs for three people. They looked like leftovers from last year. I know some people probably say whats the big deal about not receiving a top had or souvenirs being trimmed in gold? Well all I can say is, when you spend that much money for an event, EVERYTHING matters! You want everything you paid for! The 2023 buffet included baked chicken, roast beef, salmon and a variety of vegetables and deserts. They had the same menu in 2024, but there was no salmon. This was very disappointing because I'm not a beef eater and was very much looking forward to the salmon. I could see early on that they had considerably trimmed back on everything. The Red Velvet Ballroom also had a DJ last year that was amazing. This year they had some guy up there singing that really looked and sounded like he was an employee that they threw up there on stage at the last minute and told him to sing! His singing was horrible, and you could tell this wasn't something he was comfortable doing. Finally he admitted he was filling in for the DJ name SOHO, who eventually showed up, but also was horrible. Last year we enjoyed the Red Velvet room and hung out in there for while, because this room was in large part where our money for this event went into. But we couldn't wait to get out of there this year. There's a lot more I was dissatisfied with about the 2024 event but I will stop here. In conclusion I will say. I will not be attending! And considering the cost of the Red Velvet package. Which is about $800 per couple, I cannot recommend it to anyone because after this year, I no longer feel it's worth the cost!! read more

What a DISAPPOINTMENT! I went here for NYE 2018, and had nothing but great things to say, but NYE 2020 was a different story! First... it was advertised that you guarantee no lines. I did not wait less than 10-15 mins for a drink anytime throughout the night. Let's not forget about the drink selection... did the person who decided to only offer Heineken as the beer option intentionally want to torture us??? Not only that, but the Heineken Light ran out within the first hour, so i resorted to the blue jungle juice that was being served-- i didn't know this was a frat party. It was also way too crowded this year. I don't know if there were more tickets sold than previous years, but if i wanted to bump into people all night and continuously spill my drink and wait in lines all night, i would have paid $30 to go to Whitlows instead. One thing that i love is checking into the event earlier in the day, so entry at the event is a breeze. However, for the people who don't drop hundreds of dollars for a hotel room at the Gaylord, that must be pretty inconvenient for them to check in and have to wait around for hours before the event begins. Spend your money elsewhere for NYE 2021... the Gaylord is not worth it! read more

Just got an email that basically said that they are not responsible for the coat check fiasco, someone else is responsible for it. Oh, and sorry not sorry, thanks for your money suckers. Alright, I am just bitter LOL. But really though... Guys, what is this? This is not the first Big Night DC event thrown. Scroll back on Yelp. The first review that mentions the coat check problem was back in 2013. You had five years to find a solution, an email with a fake apology is not gonna fix anything. read more

For an event labeled as a "Gala" with four of these slapped on --- $$$$, you would think, jazz band, champagne, and girls in long dresses. However... my boyfriend and I were completely duped, as we found out just what kind of event it was upon entrance. Three words: UNorganized, UNsafe, and, UNacceptable. Entrance process was a whole lot of BS...coat check was stupid, they started cutting off the coat check line, when they ran out of hangers around 10:40 PM, and my group was the lucky few who had just made the cut. No one knew what they were lined up for, people constantly trying to cut, and eventually a huge traffic jam between the hallway entrance to the main event floor. It was ridiculous. They had bars all along the main ballroom, but the service was whack. Long lines, expect a 20-30 minute wait for drinks. On top of that, my friends and I were trying to get together for the countdown. I actually had terrible luck while trying to get drinks. Some random dude tried to pry a drink out of my hand right after the bartender had just finished pouring my drink. He then attempted to walk away, and then fight with me physically over the drink... He must have been pretty drunk, but that was unacceptable. At any other clubs, security would have picked him right away and sent him home. Nope, the way this event was run, there was absolutely no supervision of any kind, people were allowed to be as drunk, as rowdy as they wanted. Bartenders clearly had a limited knowledge of drinks and sometimes ratio of alcohol to juice was off. Every bartender had a different way of making a drink, really inconsistent. You can imagine how the rest of the night was a terrible disaster. You had drunk people all trying to leave at once. Naturally, they had to keep people contained somehow... this is why I think the process of retrieving your coat at the end took so long. What I don't understand though, is why tickets were missing on a lot of the coats, that is clearly improper care for a guest's belonging. If you can't even manage a coat check, don't handle a huge event meant for thousands of people. The scene was pretty gross...leaving. Like many have said, there was vomit, and a lot of other unscenely fluids, even glass on the floor. Incredibly unsanitary and unsafe. They should be glad that people even made it out there alive, and not suing them. Word of advice, keep your $150 amongst you and your friends who spent a good amount of money to go out and have a good time. The Gaylord is a really beautiful hotel and wonderful venue, and I have attended many other great events here. But until they find someone that actually knows how to plan an NYE event, don't waste your time or money. read more

Arriving at Gaylord we were stopped by security right at the door asking if were were guest at the hotel or going to the event showing him our ticket which was dumb cause other people just walked right in without stopping them. We got to coat check around 940-950 and the line was moving fast and smooth that we were probably in and out there within 15 mins. The line at check in was also the same as well and pretty much throughout the night the lines for the bar were semi short and waiting time wasn't too long. Now, let me tell you why my rate is so low. Some of the bartenders didn't know how to make simple mixed drinks when they had all the ingredients to make it. Pieces of plastic were all over the floor and you could feel it stick to your toes while dancing. Towards the end of the night the restroom line was super long that people kept cutting and finally, When we were about to leave my bf got to coat check and the line wasn't moving for an hr. My other friends were at the front of the line and they didn't open the doors till about an hr later as well which I didn't understand. Some of the workers were asking for the actual ticket to give to them cause they didn't accept the photo we took of it when they had signs on tables saying to take a photo of it just Incase. My friend wasn't able to get her coat at all cause when my bf showed the worker her ticket, they said they didn't have a ticket with that number on the hanger which is impossible. From what my bf told me, the coat check experience was so bad that he didn't get back to our hotel room till 6am and my friend is pissed off that she wasn't able to get her jacket. read more

How do you have a party and not plan for the 5000 people that you knew were coming. You could tell that they took a lot of short cuts this year (based upon how happy people were in years past). But here is my laundry list of issues 1. Getting into the place took about 45 mins. Why - because they only had 2 people checking IDs at the door. 2. The coat check was full and stopped accepting jackets around 1040ish....how did you not plan for that. You invite 5000 people...each person has about 1.5 things (jacket + scarf) and you can quickly estimate how much room you need. 3. Last call occurred at 1:25 am....and not 3am like was advertised Really this was a disaster....Big Night DC - you are an embarrassment. read more

Horribly organized. You will wait in line for over three hours just for coat check. Absolutely unacceptable. I paid a lot of money for a VIP package with little benefit. Not nearly the "best NYE party in DC" as billed. More specifically, the check in process at the beginning of the night was not well done. The was quite a wait to check your coat that got much worse after I was already in. Then you had to jump in a different line to check into the event that was funneling thousands of people through two people checking IDs. Many of the rooms inside were fun, but they oversold VIP tickets, so there was a long wait for food and drink in the VIP sections. Then toward the end of the night the event began to close down way ahead of schedule. Some of the bars made last call as early as 1:30am and many of the rooms closed at 2am. Then the real fun began. My group decided to leave at 2am when they closed the room we were in. We headed to the coat check line that wrapped through two long hallways and through the main part of the hotel. There were thousands of people trying to get their coats from about five people, all in one line. I didn't actually get my coat until 5am (three hour wait in line), and I was one of the lucky ones. Many people weren't able to retrieve their checked items at all - they had been lost of given to the wrong people. Police officers were actually helping with coat check because the situation was a ticking time bomb. I personally witnessed three assaults and subsequent arrests, saw multiple people get sick or just the remnants left in the hallways, and two people pulled out on stretchers. All of this because of poor planning around coat check, it completely ruined an otherwise okay night. I will never recommend this event to people I like. I sincerely hope this company refunds tickets or goes out of business. read more

My group just left the gaylord for the new years eve event. The lines for drinks and food were short all night long and there were several ballrooms with different music to satisfy most people. However, the reason for the low rating is because of the line to retrieve your coat from coat check. My group decided to leave at 1am, which is 2 hours early, to avoid the rush at closing, however we where met with a massive line to retrieve our checked coats. We were told that many coats had the wrong number on them which caused a huge backup. 2 hours later we finally got our coats and left. But to add insult to injury there was extremely poor line control and many people blatantly cut everyone. It got so bad that the cops were forced to step in for the incompetence of the gaylord and deal with it themselves. FYI, the coat check line got so bad after we left people were just leaving and decided to get their coats the next morning. While the event itself is fun, the coat check experience ruined the night. You've been warned. read more

This is not a great idea for nye. I am a relatively laid back person. I bought 130 dollar tickets for my husband and I based on a friends recommendation. I spent at least 20 min per drink in line waiting to be served at open bar. The bartenders were super nice but there were just not enough bartenders. Then I thought the party would go on until 3 as advertised but they turned in SUPER bright lights at 2 am. Normally if b like whatever but I am writing this while waiting to get my coat out of coat check. It was insanely terrible. I have never posted on yelp before but I am strongly recommending against this party. read more

Big Night DC - Line to coat check and no one cares... I wrote entire rant in line. Not good. - Dance Clubs Near Me - Fort Washington, Maryland

worth it, tons of spots to get a drink fast, tons of clean bathrooms, and an overall safe/ enjoyable new year's eve experience.

--VIP is the way to go; upgraded food and booze, plenty of seating and no long lines. --I enjoyed the braised short ribs and the chicken on the stick. --Great music. --an abundance of twenty something's. Some older folks and some weirdos, but overall trendy place to be. --party favors. --restroom was easy to find an unoccupied read more

I'm writing the review for the 2018 new years bash at the Gaylord resort for the $150 all you can eat and drink ticket. a number of things went wrong that are completely unacceptable. 1.) for the $50 all you can eat ticket, you were fed chicken Alfredo, salad, and bread sticks. For $50 bucks, I was expecting a bit higher quality, especially since this was at the Gaylord for new years. 2.) And I know alot of you will not believe this, but this is extremely true. They ran out of beer at a number of bars at 10pm. Thats right 10pm! I was trying to take it easy and only drink light beers that night and they ran out of beer. How can you run out of alcohol at an all you can drink event. 3.) Extremely poor communication between bars. at first I thought the event ran out of beer at ALL bars but that was only because the staff at those bars thought the entire event ran out of beer. After switching over to hard liquor and wandering around a bit I did find some bars that had beer but this only added to my frustration because at that point I was committed to whiskey, and did not want to switch back and get sick. 4.) Staff at the event were complaining about the quality of food a limited drink availability in front of the quests. When I asked about the beer one of the bar tenders simply leaned in and said, "they provided us shit for variety and supply, sorry" The same for when I asked if there was different food at different stations, and the guy just laughed and said, "nope its just pasta at all the stations". I am extremely disappointed since this event has such a great reputation and my wife and I were expecting much better. The only highlight was the dance floor and bands were good, and there was very little wait time for the bars. I would not recommend people going to this in the future. read more

Although I have attended events for Big Night DC before at the Gaylord and had a fairly good time, this year's event has been by far one of the worst ones I have ever attended. The coat check retrieval at the end of the night was extremely uncoordinated and dangerous. I waited over 2 hours just to get to the front of the line to get my coats and they had lost one of them on top of that. While waiting in line, I had to be on high alert at all times because fights kept breaking out every 5 mins or so. Cops decided to barricade the doors with tables to prevent further guests to come in, creating a hazardous environment for everyone. The manager in charge of coat checks gave me his card to call him back the next day to see if they could find it, I called twice in the span of 3 hours and got no call back. I literally had to drive back to the hotel and go into a "lost and found" coat area, which fortunately I was able to find that lost coat in there. Looks like I won't be coming back to this ever again. read more

So the positives, they did the drinks extremely well. I never waited more than two minutes for a drink. The food was better than usual hotel fare as the chicken was actually moist and the bread wasn't stale. To drop off your coat wasn't that bad long as you were there by 9pm The negatives: The check in process was hell. The security guards were rude and you could barely understand them. The coat check was ridiculous. It took five minutes to drop off a coat, it took nearly three hours to get my coat back. The coat attendants basically rolled their eyes and said, "someone fucked up and there is no order for coats?" They let some people search for their coats and others wait with a stupid ticket and hope someone decides to take pity on them. They told people behind us that to come back at 9am. I just got home at 6:12am and typing this, worst NYE experience ever and will never go back to this event. read more

I don't enjoy dishing out 1 star reviews often, but this event was a MESS & an insult to the amount of hard earned money I paid to attend & travel to come here. I will document my night as chronologically & organized as possible (because this location obviously couldn't). Check in/Registration was confusing yet a breeze oddly enough. I was coming with about 7-9 other friends. I walked in seamlessly without question whereas one of my friends got stopped & asked for his ticket. While I didn't mind not being questioned, it's odd to have a giant mob walking in & only pick out some people to provide proof of entry. Not a big deal, didn't insult me so I kept it positive. Coat Check In was a breeze, I handed the attendant my jacket & received a number, I am always big on customer service as I work in the industry myself so I smiled, said "thank you & have a great night" as any sane person would. Pretty efficient process, moving on. The overall atmosphere & aesthetic of the Gaylord Convention Center is not debatable. It is GORGEOUS. It's beautiful, the artistry & architecture definitely made me feel like I was in a palace/hotel/exquisite event location. So kudos to that. Upon walking throughout the center in my high heels along with my bustle of friends, we noticed the vast variety of ballrooms with different genres of music. That was definitely cool, a lot of ballrooms to choose from. So +1 for that. Then it started going downhill, very fast. Throughout my whole night, I was limited to drinking either very basic liquor straight or different versions of gross margaritas because nearly every bartender I asked to make basic, regular mixed drinks that I never get questioned for, had an issue. I asked for an amaretto sour & the bartender literally asked me "What is that? How do you make that?" If I knew the answer to that question honey, I would be back behind that bar myself. I was told if I wanted any type of "sour" drink, I had to be VIP. What???? How does that even make sense.. I tried ordered an amaretto sour at a different ballroom & my man behind the bar poured whiskey & margarita mix into a cup & I have never wanted to launch a drink into the stratosphere more. I only had ONE margarita that came out savory & just how I like it due to a wonderful bartender who's name I didn't catch but did give her good tip for being the one person who managed to get my drink right with a smile & amazing personality. The amount of, excuse my french, shitty drinks I endured that night was insulting to the amount of money I paid to come here. I tried to get my moneys worth in alcohol & even that couldn't save it. The beer selections were also ridiculously limited. To add insult to injury, COAT CHECK RETRIEVAL WAS A NIGHTMARE. The line was so bad that I waited over an HOUR & THE LINE HADN'T MOVED. I had to catch a bus back to NJ early the next day so I couldn't retrieve my jacket. My friends who actually live in DC are still to this day TRYING TO GET IT & MAIL IT BACK TO ME. Screw this event, I would never come back or recommend it to anyone. I had more fun exploring DC than I did paying to come to this god forsaken event. read more

Best New Year's Party in DC!. I went last year with a group of friend's and had an amazing time. I typically don't like huge New Year's parties but this one exceeded my expectations. Even though it's a large crowd it was filled the kind of people that were there made this a great New Year's experience. From the atmosphere to the great music and delicous food it's worth every penny. Going again this year and can't wait! read more

THE BEST NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY IN THE DMV, PERIOD! Do yourself a favor and purchase the VIP or Velvet Rope VIP ticket to fully enjoy the Gaylord experience, and purchase them early! Crab cakes were filling-free, short-braised ribs were fall of the bone tender and Tandoori chicken satay were well seasoned and spicy! The VIP rum punch and VIP premium open bar were worth the cost of admission by itself! And to top it off, VIP tickets give you access to Posè Ultra Lounge and Nightclub on the 18th floor! Definitely will be attending Big Night D.C. NYE 2015! read more

Don't waste your money Bought general admission ticket and for $160 the "buffet" consisted of bowtie pasta and rolls-that was IT. No other food. Long lines for drinks-waited about 30-45 minutes. Only good thing was that the bartenders gave you as many as you asked for when you finally got up to them. Also, if you are a single lady, don't get your hopes up for meeting someone. There were WAY more ladies than men and the men that were there were usually already with someone. Only single men I encountered were of the "creeper" variety. Music was decent and bands were alright. Was better than sitting at home doing nothing, but not worth the price. read more

Finally getting around to writing a review but this was my first time attending the event and I will definitely be returning next year! The Gaylord is a beautiful hotel and they did a great job in accommodating the large crowd and providing the promised open bars. I recommend spending the extra money and booking a hotel room for the night if you can afford it! read more

Super unorganized. There are like 4 huge rooms for dancing but they're each like 5-10% full. If you buy a ticket for food, you likely wont be able to find any. Very expensive, not very fun, and honestly not something I would ever want to do again even if the tickets were $20. read more

Absolutely no organization. The coat check return at the end of the day was ridiculous. Waiting in line for hours and when finally at the front only received three of the five coats from the tags. Tags were taken and then the person gave three and seemed to disappear. When people understandably became irate they locked the coat room doors and would not let anyone in or out. This quickly became a dangerous and frightening situation filled with fighting, yelling, and chaos. No one seemed responsive when seeking out answers and trying to figure out where our missing items were. Finally found our items but was unable to leave coat check. Paid a decent sum to end the night tired, annoyed, and disturbed by the multiple fist fights breaking out around me. Appalling experience and I will never return. read more

Not sure why people complained about the long lines. My friends and I had a great time. We didn't have to wait for drink because we went to rooms that were empty to get our drinks. There were probably over 40 bars but people seem to congregate just in one area rather then leaving to find another bar. As for the food it was what I expected since it was listed on the website. My friends and I went their not for the food but the entertainments which was awesome and drinks. You just have to know that there are other bars besides the one's in the main room. If you find the other bars and walked around you will notice some bartenders are just standing around. Regardless we had an awesome time. read more

Was a fun night but not worth 150 I paid for. A good amount of the staff I encountered were jerks, but some were pretty cool. The open bar was nice but it blew my mind that they didn't have enough water supply but a ton of alcohol. I don't agree with this; I think it's dangerous for people who need the water and sober up and what not to have this essential in case of an emergency, God forbid. I had mean and rude remarks asking for water for my friend who had a bit too much to drink. Very uncool. The coat check... dear lord was horrendous! Took my group and I about almost 3 hours to get our coats and the staff ended up losing one of our coats...like what in the world? It's very unorganized and people were going at it with the security and each other. I also met someone who informed me that the food ticket if you paid an extra 30 was not worth at all. They served cheap garbage that was pretty much all microwaveable. Apparently it was also very easy to sneak in which was absurd because I paid so much! All in all I would not recommend, save the trouble and go somewhere else because the experience is not worth it at all. read more

I had an amazing time at the Big Night DC. The Gaylord makes a great venue and I could not have asked for more great bands in one location. On NYE you are going to wait anywhere for a drink and with the performers it was a great time. I would recommend the Velvet Rope or VIP as the upgraded experience was worth every penny to have a seat! read more

One hour to check my coat in, THREE HOURS to get my coat back. The event said in email and even on the ticket that it ends at 3AM, but everything closed at 2 and we were kicked out. Music was ok. Had thieves try and steal my friends phone right in front of me. Broken glass and plastic littered the floor all night which made it pretty dangerous to dance or simply walk around. I cannot believe I paid for this party, such a disappointment. Will not be going back to this event or the Gaylord in the future. read more

Worst NYE ever. Waited 60 minutes to get in. Got jostled and waited in line for beers all night. We waited to get our coats from the "complementary" coats check for OVER 2.5 HOURS!! We literally got in line at 1:15AM and left at 3:45AM!!! There were multiple fights in line and we felt very unsafe. This was not organized well at all. Never again. read more

We attended this event last night and waited in long line after long line for drinks. One of the bartenders in the Potomac ballroom was also extremely rude and was not serving patrons in order. She even rolled her eyes at guests and acted as if it were a burden to do her actual job. We chose this venue because of the great reviews. We will not be paying this much money for poor service in the future. read more

This was the absolute worst place to wait, lines were completely unorganized. Had to wait 2 hours to get my coat. I will never be back and will advise others to never come by read more

I also wrote this review under the Gaylord National Hotel page since they are at least partly responsible for the crap that Big Night DC brought us on New Year's Eve. This review is specific to Big Night DC's non-VIP admission. This was not worth the money I paid. There were long lines for everything including just getting through the hallway. Waited in line 30 min to get my first drink - only got 3 drinks all night because of the lines. Waited in line for the bathroom wasting probably about an hour total for two bathroom breaks. Waited in line for over an hour to leave the event since there were zero taxis and the valet guys didn't know what was happening at all. The food was worth maybe $5 at most - some noodles with sauce and rolls. Talk about rip off. Music was ok in some rooms. Mr. Greenegenes was the best band I heard all night. I think I would have paid maximum of $20 to hear them. They had party favors (hats/tiaras and noise makers), which they should have given each person as they entered. But instead they left them on some of the tables and everything was gone within the first 20 min of the party. I didn't get a tiara or a noise maker. Also those only cost about $1 each so some part of the $130 I spent including taxes and fees should have gotten me one of those (oh not counting the additional amount I had to tip to get drinks and to coat check). Also the casino game room was probably the best; however, the dealers didn't even know how to deal for the card games. Karaoke room had an outrageously long wait so I never got to sing. There were little to no decorations anywhere. Hanging out in a lame ass conference room with a few lights around a dj booth is not very exciting. I expected the gaylord to do better since their lobby is decorated so nicely. Instead there was basically zero ambiance. To top it all off they served warm champagne, which basically ruins a champagne toast. Worst new years eve I have ever paid money to attend. What did the money I spent go toward? I have no idea because I think that 3 drinks, some mediocre music, one round of poker, and a plate of noodles would cost about $10 at my house, maybe $50 to 75 if I was going out. Not the $100+ they charge for this crap. I will never attend this party again, not even if it was free. read more

This was my first time at Big Night DC and it did not disappoint. I went with my husband and the two of us had a fantastic time. The bands were jammin' and the DJ's were awesome. We purchased the VIP ticket as we wanted to be able to sit down and wanted an upgraded menu from the Main ticket. The food was good and we didn't go hungry. We also liked the fact that there were many break out rooms with various artists and entertainment. The main lobby area did get crowded, but being able to go into the other rooms was a great change of pace! We plan on going again this year. read more

New Year's Gala at the Gaylord Resort at National Harbor, Maryland New Year's Eve 2014 * I would like to offer my opinion of the EXPENSIVE festivities at the National Gaylord on New Year's Eve 2014. We paid $258 a PERSON for what we thought was going to be an exceptional experience: a very special treat that none of us would do on a regular basis. We paid for VIP special seating/party areas in the hotel. Our actual experience was anything BUT 'special'. * There were a few good things about the night. The other party goers, although young, were also VERY nice. All the people we met were exceptionally friendly and nice, but we were all close to/in our 60s and we thought there would be others in our age group at the party. One of the reasons we selected the waaaay over-priced VIP tickets is because we called the hotel and asked that specific question and was told the more we paid, the older the party goers would be and we would be fine because we would be in a totally separate area called the VIP PURPLE ROPLE AREA. The representative said she was in her 50s and she would feel comfortable going. If we saw ANY people over 40, it wasn't many! The drinks were included in the price and they were good. Most of us were able to find our drinks of choice but one of us is a chardonnay wine drinker only and had a hard time finding chardonnay. * First, we could find no information on where our 'special VIP areas' were. No one seems to have any idea. All we were told was 'go up there' with a finger pointing at the up escalator. Once we 'went up there' we still didn't find any 'special area'. This was before the 'party' began, so we quit looking assuming that once everything got going, someone would know where we should go. * Once the party started, we were supposed to get the special VIP PURPLE ROPE area with what we assumed would be a really good dinner for the price. What we got was a table in a HUGE room with bright lights and no atmosphere. There was a band but they played so loud that we couldn't talk to the person next to us, much less the person across the table. The food was a buffet. We knew this was going to be the case, but we still expected a top level buffet. What we got was plastic utensils, plastic plates, a limited salad bar and the main dinner. You can get a much better salad bar at Ruby Tuesday, and the VIP dinner was a small piece of meat, which was actually ok, but not 'special', cold green beans and grits! There was no desert that I ever saw. It was equivalent to a school cafeteria meal! VERY disappointing. * After dinner, we were off to find our 'special VIP party area'. We did see some signs that said VIP on one side of a huge room, but it seemed anyone could get in and it was basically in the room with everyone else and there were 6,000 to 7,000 people there according to the ticket sales. I think they were always wherever we went. There was a 'map' of sorts, but there were no 'special areas' where they said they were. A piano bar was listed as part of the VIP area, so we tried to find that. After asking MANY people and walking back and forth multiple times down hallways, we finally found it down a back hall in the back of the building. We walked in and sat down, and the piano player LEFT. It wasn't even New Year's yet, so after resting our feet for a few, we took off to find somewhere else. New Year was uneventful. They counted down, but no toasts were handed out..and nothing else. * We feel we were taken advantage of in the worst way. There were different ranges of tickets. For about $100 you could get just entry and drinks. They had entry, regular food (Wonder how bad that was if the VIP food was like a school cafeteria?) and drinks for a slightly higher price. They sold us a bill of goods telling us if we paid the most, we would get special food, separate party rooms and better drinks. We didn't. * if you are under 30 and just pay the cheapest price and don't eat there, you will not pay a bundle and will have a good time. If you are over 30, skip it. There are a LOT of places around here that if you PAY for higher quality you get it. This is NOT that place!. * In closing, I will say we DID have a wonderful time, because we were with good friends with whom we always have a good time. Our good time was provided by us...not by the high price we paid or any efforts put out in preparation for the big party. We feel we totally threw money out of a window on this one. Live and Learn!! And we've learned to say away from this party!!!! * All in all, it was run by amateurs, not a professional staff as would be expected at the Gaylord! read more

Hottest New Years Party Around!! Best choice is to purchase the VIP ticket or Velvet Rope for the ability to have First Class food, drink and more seating. It is like your own private party, where you can go to ALL of the entertainment venues, but alway come back to a more intimate setting. But also, there are more economical choices and the food and drinks were also flowing and delicious again able to enjoy all the breakout rooms and entertainment. The best of both worlds and a GREAT way to bring the New Year with your friends!! There were 14 different themed party area with world class DJ Lineup and amazing bands! Fun Midnight Celebration, party favors and a beautiful hotel to stay at after it ends so you do not have to drive home!! Safety First!! Look forward to this years party at the Gaylord Hotel, National Harbor. Come Join Us! read more

What a nightmare! Started off fun, zip through coat check-in, registration and then after 10:30 it all went downhill...long lines for drinks, ran out of food, severely drunk and rude staff and attendees, broken glass, blood and puke all over hallway floors and bathrooms, and to top it all off trying to get your coat back to leave ruined the whole night even more by waiting in line for 4 hours. Numerous safety hazards, a lot of assaults and fights, and the very dangerous situations made everyone scared. Police arrived to handle the situation and also tried to help with the coat retrieval process but only made it worse...people were desperate to get their coats which caused lots of fighting, crying, punches being thrown, threat of mace being sprayed, yelling, screaming, and begging! First and LAST time attending this event! Everyone should be refunded for such a poorly planned and dangerous event! read more

Have been for multiple years and keep coming back. Love the variety of great bands and deejays, the many different party rooms, and the fact that there are fully-stocked bars everywhere. My friends and I always run into other groups we know, and the party just keeps growing. These guys def know how to throw a bash, and the fact that it's at the Gaylord on the Potomac River is a bonus! read more

I wish the rating system had negative ratings, so I can give this a -5 stars. I have never attended such a poorly organized and, to be honest, slightly dangerous event. There was absolutely little crowd control, it took about an hour and a half to check your coats, and then it took another hour just to stand in line to get your registration wristband. And then, I was given the wrong wristband and had to go back downstairs to get the VIP band that I paid for. Speaking of VIP, by the time you got through everything there was no food left in VIP. When do you pay close to $200 for an event and they don't leave food out for the remainder of the event? At the close of the night, it took three hours! to get your coat. In the interim, multiple fights broke out in the coat check herding room & people were throwing up on the carpet. Police, real police, had to come in and actually handcuff people and take them out for the disturbances. I never have spent so much money to have such a poor time and feel so unsafe. Shame on you event organizers for providing the first rip off of 2018. read more

Big Night DC is the best party you can go to in the DMV !!!! My friends and I have been going to this party at the Gaylord in National Harbor for years. No better way to spend new years then in one of the fanciest hotels in the area. We always get super dressed up for the event!!! There are so many different party rooms with different music going on all at the same time that you feel like you are at 10 different parties all at once. I'm more of an Electric Dance kinds of person and Big Night DC has some of DCs best DJs playing that night. I always get an VIP ticket and enjoy all you can eat and drink ! Whats better then all you can drink on NYE RIGHT !!!! If you haven't been to this event its a must do for NYE !!!! My friends and I always have a blast !!!!! read more

Biggest rip off scam I have attended and at a Gaylord Convention Center that is supposed to have a great reputation. Advertising made it sound for $150.00 each, no lines, good food and free drinks with beautiful pictures indicating an attractive and exciting night out. In reality there were long lines for everything except the food, bow tie pasta with some yellow grease they called a white sauce that no one went near (talk about garbage!), huge conference rooms with the ambiance of an empty high school gym with one or 2 lights on, no tables or chairs and what was called live music with staff that didn't have a clue what was where or when. A Karoke Room, what Karoake Room, once we found someone who knew about it no one could get near it let alone get a drink there. We had already heard the gambling room was a bust so didn't even bother. Party favors? I saw some worn by a few people but I and my group never saw any available. Alchohol in the drinks was the cheapest of the cheap with one bartender making almost anything and the next one saying not available, IF you wanted to wait the 15 to 30 min to get to one. We didn't have to worry about feeling bad the next day as no one had a lot to drink! More proof of the long drink lines was that no one we saw all night looked like they had been drinking.The washrooms reminded me of LAX in the security lines, people were actually leaving the party area to go out into the main hotel only to find lines already there but at least a bit smaller. We even saw some women sneaking into the men's line as it was faster. Then the end of night champagne, plastic fluted glasses with maybe 2 shots in each one, nice and warm like Saki, the perfect touch really for a really suck night and a reminder of how we got sucked in. We were a group of 5, all over 45 from 3 different companies/government agencies and we all agreed it was pretty bad. Our combined attitude was a payback to the Gaylord that condoned the use of their name and reputation and then allowed this to happen. We will be suggesting other venues for upcoming needs if at all possible. As for attendance at another night out with Big Night DC or in any other city, not even for free. Would have used no stars to rate this but have to use at least one. read more