Here are some events we found on About.com that will be taking place on New Years in Los Angeles & Orange County Areas 

Los Angeles, with all its diversity has a New Year's Eve celebration for every taste and every budget. Here are some of the big ones. For more New Year's events, visit www.newyears.com.

This information is for December 31, 2009.

  • The annual Giant New Year's Eve celebration will be at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles. The event will take place in two huge ballrooms and on the poolside terrace. This year's lineup includes Above & Beyond, Christopher Lawrence, Cosmic Gate and more to be announced.
    When: 8 pm to 4 am.
    Where: 404 S Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90071 (Downtown)
    Tickets: General Admission tickets are $65 advance. VIP tickets: $165 include separate entrance, VIP lounge and open bar,
    Food: Drinks and food are extra for general admission.
    Parking: At the Bonaventure for a fee
    Age Limit: 21 and up
    Info: www.giantclub.com
    Hotel: Bonaventure group hotel rates starting at $169/night at this Giant Hotel Reservations link, otherwise there's a 2-night minimum for New Year's. Compare rates at other Downtown hotels.

  • The New York in LA New Year's Eve bash Gridlock will be held once again at Paramount Pictures Studio Lot. The party takes place on the studio's New York City set with 8 DJs on multiple stages and a live performances. Last year there were Free Ferris wheel rides. Dress for snow!
    When: 9 pm to 3 am
    Where: Paramount Pictures, 5555 Melrose Ave, Hollywood, CA
    Tickets: $150 general admission, $250 VIP, table and cabana packages available
    Food: Food stations throughout venue, open bar for VIP only
    Parking: included in adjacent lots on Gower and Van Ness
    Age Limit: 21 and up
    Info: www.newyears.com
    Hotel: Compare rates at hotels near Paramount Pictures

  • DASK Productions' annual New Year's Eve Ball is at the Crowne Plaza Redondo Beach and Marina Hotel this year, taking their Hollywood style to the Beach. There will be multiple rooms with many DJs, aerialists, performance artists and a midnight countdown show and balloon drop.
    When: 9 pm to 2 am.
    Where: Crowne Plaza Redondo Beach, 300 N. Harbor Drive, Redondo Beach, CA 90277
    Tickets: $40 General Admission advance $50 at the door, $100 VIP. Reserved VIP tables available.
    Food:
    Age Limit: 21 and up
    Info: www.daskproductions.com, Tickets
    Note: Rooms from $180/night at the Crowne Plaza Redondo Beach. Compare rates at other Redondo Beach hotels.

  • Together as One is an all-ages event at the LA Sports Arena. Multiple dance areas with top local and international DJs. This year's talent includes David Guetta, John Digweed, Dubfire, Sander Kleinberg and more.
    When: 7 pm to 4 am.
    Where: The LA Sports Arena, 3939 S. Figueroa, Los Angeles, CA 90037
    Tickets: $60 to $80 for General Admission depending when you buy them. VIP tickets for backstage access, free Vodka and Beer Bars and other refreshments are $125-$150.
    Food: available for purchase
    Parking: There are multiple parking lots around the venue for varying rates.
    Age Limit: All ages
    Info: www.newyearsevela.com
    Discount: with advance purchase
    Hotel: Compare rates at hotels near the LA Sports Arena

  • New Year's Eve Extravaganza at The Kress . This Hollywood hot spot will host 4 floors of fun, but only the VIP ticket will get you into the rooftop patio, which is a bargain, considering that it usually requires $1500 bottle service to gain access to the exclusive venue.
    When: 10 pm to 2 am
    Where: The Kress, 6608 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028
    Tickets: $20 general admission (3 floors, no drinks), $75 open bar (3 floors), $100 VIP (4 floors including rooftop), bottle service and table packages available
    Food: Only in restaurant
    Parking: $20 Valet
    Age Limit: 21+
    Info: http://www.newyears.com/Events/ShowEvent.aspx?eventId=6761
    Hotel: Compare rates at hotels near The Kress
    Read my Review of The Kress

  • The Queen Mary in Long Beach hosts its annual New Year's Eve all over the ship. Your ticket includes admission, fireworks and access to entertainment venues including four live music venues and a DJ dance club. This year includes Top 40s, Big Band, Dixieland jazz and dueling pianos.
    Where: The Queen Mary, 1126 Queen's Highway, Long Beach, CA 90802, at the south end of the 710 Freeway, on the water.
    Tickets: $89.99
    Food: Food is available for purchase in all restaurants from $29.95 for the Promenade Buffet to a 7 course prix fix menu at Sir Winston's for $179.50.
    Parking: $15
    Age Limit: 18 and over
    When: 8 pm to 1:30 am. (doors open at 6 pm)
    Info: www.queenmary.com
    Hotel: Hotel specials on the Queen Mary. Compare rates at nearby hotels including the Hotel Maya.
    Queen Mary Visitors Guide

  • Universal City Walk has a huge outdoor New Year's Eve Countdown Bash that's free to the public. The event features live music and DJs beginning at 9 pm, and fireworks from 2 ends of the street at midnight.
    When: 9 pm - 12:30 am
    Where: Universal City Walk, at the top of Universal Studios Blvd. off the 101 Freeway.
    Tickets: Free
    Food: Available at City Walk restaurants
    Parking: $10 general after 5 pm to $22 max for valet.
    Metro: Red Line to Universal City station
    Age Limit: All ages
    Info: www.citywalkhollywood.com
    Hotel: Hilton Universal and Sheraton Universal are walking distance. Compare rates at other nearby hotels.
    Universal CityWalk Visitors Guide

  • New Year's Eve in Downtown Long Beach is a free street party with multiple live music and DJ stages on Pine Avenue and in the East Village Arts District. A highlight will be Red Bull stunt driver Travis Pastrana's attempt to break a world record by jumping his rally car off the Pine Avenue Pier onto a floating barge anchored in Rainbow Harbor at 9 pm. At midnight, you can see fireworks off the Queen Mary from the waterfront.
    Where: Pine Ave from 1st to 3rd, Linden and 1st St
    Tickets: Free
    Food: Restaurants will be open
    Parking: various lots
    Age Limit: all ages
    When: 8 pm to 12 am (tentative)
    Info: www.dlba.org
    Hotel: Compare rates at Long Beach hotels.

Orange County partiers have only one mega-party that I could find going on this year.

  • Orange County New Year's Eve at the Hilton Hotel Costa Mesa calls itself the Official New Year's Eve Party of the OC. It includes four general admission party areas with three additional VIP zones, multiple live music stages, DJs, roaming entertainment, a fashion show and an Orange Ball Drop. After Party is across the street at the Hotel Hanford Costa Mesa.
    When: 8 pm to 2 am.
    Where: Hilton Hotel Costa Mesa, 3050 Bristol St, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
    Tickets: $60 and up advance, $100 at the door, VIP tickets are $150-$250
    Food: not included
    Parking: fee
    Age Limit: 21 and up
    Info: www.ocnye.com, Tickets
    Hotel: Special rate rooms available at the Hilton.

  • The Ambassador New Year's Eve Yacht Party is a comparatively small event for just 150 people, but I'm including it as something quintessentially Southern Californian. The four-hour luxury cruise through Newport Harbor includes premium open bar all night, a champagne greeting, appetizer buffet, multiple dancing and lounge areas.
    When: 8:30 pm to 1 am.
    Where: 2901 W. Coast Hwy, Newport Beach CA 92663
    Tickets: $155-$170
    Food: Appetizers
    Parking: fee
    Age Limit: 21 and up
    Info and Tickets: http://www.newyears.com/Events/ShowEvent.aspx?eventId=6764
    Hotel: Compare rates at Newport Beach hotels.