Without a doubt, there is no bigger night on the annual entertainment calendar than New Year’s Eve. As we approach 2010, just about any place with a dance floor will offer those in a celebratory mood the chance to take in some music as the clock winds down. With so many options at hand, we’ve whittled down the list to come up with five of the standout end-of-the-year parties taking place downtown this year. All events are for those over 21 only. The Giant Hands down, the biggest event happening in the city is the appropriately named Big Night Out, taking place at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront. With 12 themed party areas, 10 bands and DJs, there will be something for just about everybody. While all the bands had not been confirmed at press time, the three listed so far are certainly among the city’s top party bands and cover a wide range of styles: R&B powerhouses Lady Dottie & The Diamonds, retro dance kings the Disco Pimps and jazz favorites the Craig Stephenson Trio. DJs will include Mike Czech, Edgartronic, Scotty Boy and Happee. Big Night Out at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront: $149-$219. bignightsandiego.com Large Scale Happenings Though known for its connection to live music, if a DJ-only event is your thing, one of the biggest this year will be at the Hard Rock Hotel. The party encompasses the whole venue, including three floors, four venues and 12 DJs. On hand will be Paulie P., Danny Love, Sid Viscious, Kurch and Card 1. While the DJs are the draw at this party, the option of four distinct venues in one is appealing, particularly rooftop nightspot Woodstock, the perfect place to dance under the stars with 900 of your closest friends. New Year’s Eve 2010 at The Hard Rock Café: $60. hardrockhotelsd.com The San Diego Marriott Hotel & Marina will also host a DJ party with Scooter & LaVelle as well as Hyper Crush. Spinning a mix of house, electronica and hip-hop, Scooter & Lavelle are among the most popular of San Diego’s turntablists. Extras on the night include a Nintendo Lobby Lounge and live body painting, but the 3,000 capacity dance floor is the star attraction here. New Year’s Eve at the San Diego Marriott Hotel & Marina: $60. newyearsevesd.com Smaller Events Indie rock fans’ best option this year is Smiths tribute group Sweet and Tender Hooligans at the Casbah. Devoted to the music of U.K. icon Morrissey and his ’80s-era band The Smiths, the group performs with enough accuracy that they’ve picked up a following of their own. While there will be no surprises in the set list, the chance to dance and sing along to tunes from one of the era’s most unique groups more than makes up for this. Sweet & Tender Hooligans at the Casbah: $22. casbahmusic.com Always a place for a boisterous night of fun, blues nightspot Patricks II is extra special on New Year’s Eve. The closest downtown has to a true roadhouse, the informal atmosphere is perfect for anyone wanting to avoid wearing a suit or tux this evening, though you’d be welcomed if you did. Performing will be The Dennis Jones Band, an excellent Los Angeles-based blues trio, steeped in the sounds of Hendrix and Johnny Winter. While the band includes many standards in its repertoire, frontman and guitarist Jones pens excellent songs that sound cut from the same cloth as the classic tunes they were inspired by. Topped by Jones’ incendiary guitar licks, the band promises to deliver a high octane greeting to 2010. The Dennis Jones Band at Patricks II: Cover TBD. patricksii.com