Coney Island/ Brighton Beach/ Sheepshead Bay

For the first time ever, you can ride the Wonder Wheel on New Year’s Day

Quite a place to say hello to 2016. via Flickr user Kilgub
Quite a place to say hello to 2016. via Flickr user Kilgub

Every day, we’re getting closer to the best holiday of the year, and if you’re anything like us, you’re very excited. No, not Thanksgiving or Christmas, we mean New Year’s Eve. And of course after New Year’s Eve is the holiday’s cousin, New Year’s Day, also known as International Hangover Day, during which you lie on the couch and recover from the previous evening’s heavy indulgence of LSD and Glug. On the other hand, you might be able to actually move around and stuff after New Year’s Eve, so if you’re up for what could be a chilly adventure, amNewYork reports that you can ride Coney Island’s Wonder Wheel on New Year’s Day for the first time in the ride’s history.

This is a mighty big deal, since it’s the first time the Wonder Wheel will be open on New Year’s Day in the 95-year history of the ride. According to amNewYork, as long as it’s not snowing or windy or apocalyptically cold, the Wonder Wheel will be up and running on January 1. Seems like a great place to watch all the lunatics run into the water for the polar bear plunge. Or a great post-plunge activity if you’re one of said lunatics. One thing to keep in mind is that the ride’s swinging cars won’t be in operation, as they’re susceptible to getting caught on ice, stranding you there without even the added benefit of catching a glimpse of Beyonce.

And sure while you contemplate your hangover, you might not love the idea of going way up in the sky in the cold and coming back down over and over. Counterpoint: it’s the first goddamn time this is ever going to happen, so drink a Coke and pop an Aspirin and get out to Coney Island.

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