Gathering In Gratitude 2025
Artist-led Mega Party

Ring in the New Year with an Artist-Led Mega-Party Like No Other!

Join us for an unforgettable night of celebration, creativity, and community as we concoct the brightest New Year – together with you! Dance the night away with the electrifying sounds of Sitar Power and MaMuse, contribute your memories and dreams to our mesmerizing collective constellation sculpture, and indulge in delicious Chai or cocktails at our vibrant bars. Be captivated by an open mic, and experience the thrill of midnight aerial dance and spoken word as we welcome in 2025. Want to feel like a VIP? Treat yourself to a VIP table for the ultimate experience, or grab a general admission ticket — either way, you're supporting working artists and helping bring to life The 418 Project’s vision: a world where everyone can feel safe, connected, and celebrated.

Our Star-Studded Line-Up:

This year’s Gathering in Gratitude we are excited to present a combination of musical mastery that will uplift you, body and soul:

Large Theater Mega-Dance Party:

Get ready to dance like never before at our high-energy mega-dance bash! Featuring pop-up dance performances, an exclusive VIP lounge, spoken word poetry, a breathtaking midnight aerial performance, and so much more.

8:30 MaMuse:

Get your groove on with MaMuse, the soulful folk revival duo who will bring their full band to the stage, delivering powerful lyrics and rollicking rhythms that will have you singing, dancing, and feeling the good vibes.

9:45 Sitar Power:

Prepare for a musical journey with Ashwin Batish, master sitar player, who blends traditional Indian music with electrifying rock fusion. Featuring Meena and Keshav Batish, plus legendary players like Myron Dove (Santana) and more, this high-energy set will have you moving and grooving until the roof is shaking!

11:45 Ring in Midnight with MaMuse:

Say goodbye to 2024 and welcome in 2025 with MaMuse’s late-night prayerformance and dance set, an unmissable moment to usher in the New Year with love and joy.

Aerialists Cloud Mirage Circus will delight you with their lighter-than-air antics.

Shekinah Tribal Belly Dance is a Santa Cruz based troupe, directed by Inna Dagman, devoted to expression through the internationally known language of belly dance known as American Tribal Style. This style of dance allows women to improvise in the moment, while dancing together, relying on a common language of moves. As women of diverse ages, shapes, and backgrounds come together to share in this dance, we are reunited in sisterhood and an ancient appreciation of the Sacred Feminine.
Shekinah Tribal Belly Dance members are women local to the Santa Cruz area, of diverse ages, occupations, and backgrounds, united by the vision to come together in dance that truly brings to life the Divine Feminine essence. Our performances always aim to bring the audience into the presence where the multifaceted and healing energies of the Goddess may be experienced.

Spoken Word virtuosos Lex Is Word, Julian Blackmon and Mic Drop! host Jessie-Marie: share their poetic perspectives.

Small Theater Chill and Art Play Zone with Liminal Space Collective:

Step away from the dance floor and into our cozy, relaxed space. Take in some downtempo live music, explore visual art, and add your personal expression to our Constellation of Memories and Dreams for the Future. The Liminal Space Collective’s friendly docents will provide everything you need to express your hopes for 2025 and your reflections on 2024. Your creations will become part of a floating sculpture, displayed at The 418 Project through June 2025.

Oasis Lobby

Sip on custom cocktails from Movin and Shakin and Chai from India Joze, take a selfie in our Photo Casbah, groove to our soundscape by DJ Electric Tomcat, and discover the unexpected, as wandering artists spark new connections throughout the night.

The Party Continues Indoors: While it might be rainy and chilly outside, inside our warm and inviting multi-theater arts center, you'll feel the heat as you celebrate in your finest NYE attire—feel free to wear that festive little number and those high heels!

Arrive early, get your drink tickets, and take advantage of our free coat and bag check — all conveniently located in one easy spot. And don’t worry about parking—we’re next to a 500- space garage for hassle-free access.

If the weather turns unpredictable, we’ve got you covered with generators to keep the party going without a hitch.

This New Year’s Eve, come be part of something truly special, where music, art, and community collide in an unforgettable celebration. Join us to ring in 2025 with warmth, creativity, and joy!

The 418 Project complies with local health ordinances.

This project was made possible with support from California Humanities, a non-profit partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Visit their website here.

155 S. River St. Santa Cruz CA, 95060

(831) 466-9770

community@the418project.org