Welcome '09 with a shimmy

Come January, people will party on and off the playa at The BPM Festival in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. (THE BPM FESTIVAL)

JAN. 2-11

PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico

The BPM Festival: There are many ways to welcome 2009. You could spend your post-holiday sweeping up pine needles and finishing the stale Christmas cookies, or you could stretch out by a pool in Mexico listening to some of the world's biggest DJs. A tough decision. If you choose the latter, the sunny beach town of Playa Del Carmen - known as the Mayan Riviera - is hosting the BPM Festival. DJs get the crowd in a dance music frame of mind at daytime beach parties. Then top DJs come out in the evening to help partygoers work off all those pina coladas. Headliners include Sander Kleinenberg, Victor Calderone, Lee Burridge, Pablo Ceballos, and Damian Lazarus. VIP wristbands, which provide access to all events, are $200. www.thebpmconference.com.

DEC. 31

LONDON

The Bond Ball: Fans of Ian Fleming's spy novels gather in 007's hometown every year on New Year's Eve for a casino-themed party with an endless number of martinis. James Bond lovers dress the part, showing up as everyone from Miss Moneypenny to Holly Goodhead. Entertainment features a number of Euro-pop acts such as Bimbo Jones, Frankie Foncett, AudioPimps, and Normski. Tickets are $68. The Kensington Close Hotel, Wrights Lane. 011-44-208-530-0698. www.ticketweb.co.uk.

DEC. 31

LOS ANGELES

Giant Maximus New Year's Eve: The downtown club that sits on seven acres in three adjoining mega-structures hosts a mammoth New Year's Eve celebration with DJ sets from Moby, Benny Benassi, Dirty South, and Mark Farina. The club is literally a circus, with clowns, acrobats, and contortionists wandering among the thousands of revelers. Party tickets are $65, but those with a bit more change in their pockets can reserve a private VIP cabana for $1,500, or a VIP ticket for $145. 835 Francisco St., www.giantclub.com.

FEB. 13

ST. MORITZ, Switzerland

Art on Ice: European medalist Sarah Meier and world ice dancing champions Isabelle Delobel and Olivier Schoenfelder are starring in this edition of the celebrity show, but the true novelty in this pre-Valentine pageant will be the musical entertainment. For those wondering what ever happened to 1980s crooner Paul Young, perky Katrina and the Waves front woman Katrina Leskanich, and Cutting Crew lead singer Nick van Eede, the three are singing along to skaters in Switzerland and providing the music for the show. There are also Art on Ice shows happening in Zurich and Lausanne. Tickets for the event, which includes dinner and endless cocktails, are - keep smiling - $1,000 each. www.artonice.ch.

PLAN AHEAD

APRIL 6

JACKSON, Wyo.

All Stars of Rock and Roll: When the ski season draws to a close, resorts do anything and everything to keep skiers and snowboarders coming back to the slopes, including staging big free concerts. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is throwing an all-star concert with some of the best musicians from Boston, Steely Dan, the Doobie Brothers, Smashing Pumpkins, and Jane's Addiction. There will also be appearances and performances from John Mellencamp, Barry Goudreau, Fran Sheehan, Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, Kenny Aronoff, James Montgomery, and Chris Chaney. 307-733-2292, www.jacksonhole.com.

CHRISTOPHER MUTHER

Events are sometimes canceled, rescheduled, or sold out; check online to confirm. Christopher Muther can be reached at muther@globe.com.