This Weekend in Santa Monica!

There's two big reasons to party this weekend: New Year's Eve and the Rose Bowl parade and game, and there's no shortage of venues in Santa Monica to celebrate.

See which hotels and bars are hosting bashes Saturday night to ring in 2012 by checking out Patch's .

• ROSE BOWL 

Where/When: Santa Monica Pier 1550 lot; 3-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Why go: The Santa Monica Convention and Visitors Bureau is hosting pre-Rose Bowl pep rallies for the universities of Wisconsin (Saturday) and Oregon (Sunday). Players, cheerleaders and band members are expected to make appearances. The events are free and open to the public. The Visitor's Bureau is also offering a litany of deals at local shops, restaurants and hotels. For a full list of discounts, visit its website. 
Pricing: Free

Where/When: Buses depart from City Hall parking structure; departures for the parade at 7 a.m. and for the game at 10 a.m. Monday
Why go: Take a ride on the , leaving behind the stresses of traffic and the scramble to find a sober friend on one of Los Angeles' biggest days, the Rose Bowl game and parade.
Pricing: Starts at $40

• BE ENTERTAINED

Where/When: , 1211 4th St.; 8 p.m. Friday
Why go: Jamaican born and Brooklyn bred Stogie Kenyatta will perform a solo show about African-American artist/activist Paul Robeson.
Pricing: $20

THE VIBROMETERS AT HARVELLE'S
Where/When: , 1432 4th St.; 9 p.m. Friday
Why go: The Los Angeles-based post modern Afrofunk band will groove at the downtown blue's club at 11 p.m. with an opening act at 9 p.m. by Icy Hot Club.
Pricing: $10