To please the surprisingly diverse character of Idyllwild, local businesses will offer a potpourri of New Year’s Eve events. Festive choices include Las Vegas-style drag and burlesque at the Rustic, a Cheers-like neighborhood gathering at Idyll Awhile, prix fixe dinners and entertainment at a number of our finest eateries and a free party at the American Legion Post 800.

Whatever your choice or plans, making reservations is recommended.

According to producer Kevin Baar, “A Rustic Cabaret Evening” will provide family-friendly good humor, eye-popping headdresses, drag divas, guest vocalists and the belts and ballads of a bewitching burlesque beauty, Idyllwild’s own Betty Anderson.

A pre-show dinner at the Red Kettle is part of a New Year’s Eve package. Ticket prices are based on proximity to the stage. For ticket information see www.rustictheatre.com. Dancing for adults follows at the Lumber Mill, with dancing for those under 21 at the Rustic.

Jo’An’s will feature a New Year’s Eve dinner from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. with complimentary Champagne and party until 1:30 a.m. The featured band is Fired.

The Creek House offers a prix fixe dinner, which includes a bottle of champagne, snacks, desserts and party favors from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. Music groups Swift Pony and Tree Fingers will provide the entertainment.

The American Legion will throw a free party from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. with festivities and munchies. The Legion opens at 11 a.m. on New Year’s Day for college bowl games on multiple screens.

Idyll Awhile Wine Shoppe & Bistro, affectionately known as Idyllwild’s “Cheers,” because of its neighborly conviviality, will feature a prix fixe buffet, a wide choice of libations and Lenny Hansell on guitar. Dave Dillon, new owner of the bistro, wants to make the point that the bistro is not just for the wine elite. “We’ve got a great assortment of beers,” Dillon said. Idyll Awhile’s New Year’s event is, however, already sold out.

If you’re in the mood for Mexican food, both Arriba and La Casita are open New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Arriba has live music New Year’s Eve. Café Aroma is already booked for New Year’s Eve and is closed New Year’s Day.

Since New Year’s Day falls on Sunday, all banks, state, county and federal offices and businesses are also closed.

And while revelers may recuperate on New Year’s Day, most restaurants and food purveyors resume normal operations on Jan. 1. All four local markets — Mountain Harvest, Fairway, Pine Cove Market and Village Market — are open on the first day of 2012. Check markets for their hours.

The Town Crier staff wishes all our readers a healthy, happy, and hopeful New Year.