With two New Year’s Eve parties serving up contrasting vibes but the same high-energy joy, St. Louis didn’t just close out 2025 — it lit it up. From a Havana-soaked ballroom to an AfroSexy dance floor in The Grove, partygoers found the perfect blend of ambience and abandon to welcome the new year.
“Midnight in Havana” took over the Live by Loews Ballroom and whisked guests to Cuba. The party featured Spanish-inspired bites like Beef Brochettes and Tostones Rellenos — a savory seafood dish nestled in a crispy plantain boat. The open bar poured Cuban-inspired cocktails, with the standout being the Smoked Pineapple Mojito, a citrus-and-smoke blend that surprised guests in the best way.
Most attendees arrived shimmering in sequins — elegant floor-length gowns that glimmered as they moved through the room. One guest took it further with a slim-fit sequin pantsuit that dazzled with every step. Others opted for sultry cocktail dresses, including a velvet asymmetrical one-shoulder look that created a striking, curvy silhouette.
The evening opened with The Boogaloo Crew, a band blending Latin rhythms and American soul into their signature Boogaloo sound. Their set transported the room straight to Havana with songs like “Para Ti” and a Boogaloo-style cover of Coldplay’s “Clocks.” Guests twirled to the trumpets, heels be damned, shaking their hips to the congas with the carefree spirit Havana is known for.
Then the DJ took over, transforming the ballroom into an ’80s dance party. He spun classics like “Raspberry Beret” and “Don’t Stop ’til You Get Enough,” sliding seamlessly into “Give It to Me Baby.” Guests abandoned their plates and rushed to the dance floor, ready to show off their funky stuff.
From line dancing and the “Electric Slide” to belting out “Livin’ on a Prayer,” joy and bliss filled the room as the elegantly dressed crowd rang in the new year in luxury.
An AfroSexy groove
The celebration continued in The Grove with AFROSEXYCOOL, a dance party that packed Atomic by Jamo with a rotation of DJs — with Biko FKA Needles taking over just before midnight. Guests arrived in alternative, glam-grunge looks, with black lace and leather boots anchoring many outfits.
As midnight struck and balloons rained from the ceiling, Biko dropped “All of the Lights,” sliding straight into “Not Like Us.” Partygoers screamed the chorus like it was a New Year’s resolution, declaring community and authenticity in the year to come.
Dancers moved freely among the fallen balloons as Biko blended “MUTT” by Leon Thomas and “Boo’d Up” by Ella Mai over a New Orleans bounce beat. With the vibe locked in, he hit the crowd with “Choppa Style” and “U Don’t Have to Call.” Then came a moment: Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep” layered over “Lights, Camera, Action” by Mr. Cheeks — a mashup that had the room singing and bouncing in unison.
Biko flexed even more range when he mixed Kendrick Lamar’s “squabble up” into “Never Too Much.” The crowd erupted, grooving to his seamless blend of old-school and new-school hits.
New Year’s Eve is one of those nights St. Louis always gets right. Whether you lean glam-grunge or high fashion, there’s always a scene waiting — and always a way to step into the new year feeling blissful, bold, and beautifully alive.
Living It content is produced with funding by the ARPA for the Arts grants program in partnership with the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis and the Community Development Administration.
