Editor’s note: This list has been updated to reflect 2014/2015 events.
Some people prefer to spend New Year’s Eve quietly contemplating the year that’s passed, making plans for the one in front of them. Others surround themselves with family and friends, holed up at home, watching a faraway ball drop on their television screens. Others want to be in the middle of it all, soaking up all the nightlife their city has to offer, sending the old year off, and welcoming the new one in, with a bang.
For those folks, here’s our guide the best New Year’s happenings in Oklahoma.
Tulsa Crystal Ball. A New Year’s Eve masquerade party at the IDL Ballroom in downtown Tulsa. Local DJs, complimentary masks. More about the Tulsa Crystal Ball.
New Year’s Eve Winter White Party. Dinner theater at OKC’s The Boom Boom Room, New Year’s Eve style. Dinner is at 8 p.m.; pre-show at 9:30 p.m.; “A Winter Wonderland” at 10:30 p.m. More about the Winter White Party.
Brady Theater New Year’s Eve Party. Live music galore (Imzadi, Bradio, The Fabulous Mid Life Crisis Band) at this third annual event at the historic Brady Theater in Tulsa. More about the Brady New Year’s Eve Party.
Opening Night. Ring in the New Year in downtown Oklahoma City with music, dancing, theater, and fireworks. 7 p.m. More about Opening Night.
Adele Wolf’s Variety Show. Belly dancing, burlesque, aerial, and cabaret performances to celebrate dance through the decades. Costumes welcome. Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, 9 p.m. More about Adele Wolf’s Variety Show.
New Year’s Eve Yoga. Looking to avoid the crowds? Parties not your thing? Inner Peace Yoga in Tulsa is ringing in the New Year with a class that begins at 7 p.m. More about New Year’s Eve Yoga.
Noon Year’s Eve Party. The Tulsa Children’s Museum hosts a miniature version of New Year’s Eve for the little bits in your life. Music, dancing, entertainment, and a balloon drop at noon. More about the Noon Year’s Eve Party.
Take a hike. Oklahoma state parks plan to offer free, guided hikes on New Year’s Day. Participating parks include Lake Eufaula State Park, Lake Murray State Park, Foss State Park, Osage Hills State Park and Keystone State Park. Hikes are about one miles to three miles long. More about the hikes.
14th Annual New Year’s Eve Sobriety Powwow. Traditional Native American dancing at the Cox Business Center in Tulsa. More about the powwow.
Oxley Nature Center New Year’s Eve Celebration. Take an evening walk to welcome the new year, then warm up with new friends around a bonfire with hot chocolate, apple cider, s’mores, and stories. More about the celebration.
GROOVY New Year’s Eve Celebration. Head out to Grand Casino Resort in Shawnee dressed in your best ’70s attire. More about the celebration.
NYE Olive Drop 2014. A tradition 11 years running, the Olive Drop is Bartlesville’s annual NYE celebration, hosted by the Price Tower Arts Center. Party favors, hors d’oeuvres, drinks, and a performance by Lennie Baker. More about the Olive Drop.
New Year’s Crawl 2014. Blue Ox Dining Group is hosting a crawl in downtown Tulsa’s Blue Dome District, featuring food, drinks, a shuttle service, mechanical bull rides, photo booths, and more. (They had us at mechanical bull rides.) More info here.
Race Into the New Year. Begin a 5K in 2013 and end in 2014. More about the race.
New Year’s Eve Family Jam.>/strong> Hosted by Paul Benjamin at Fassler Hall in Tulsa. Music begins at 9 p.m., jam after midnight. More about the Family Jam.