NYE Party Planner

The 12 best ways to celebrate New Year's Eve around Dallas-Fort Worth

Unlike many other things in 2020, New Year's Eve has not been canceled.

Photo courtesy of Reunion Tower

It has been one mighty strange year, and even though it wouldn't have seemed possible even a few months ago, there will be actual in-person New Year's Eve celebrations to attend if you're so inclined. Each of them promise to keep attendees safe by adhering to the latest COVID-19 protocols, including limited capacity, but each person should weigh the risks associated with gathering in groups.

Below are some of the best options being offered around Dallas-Fort Worth.

Reunion Tower Over The Top NYE
The absolute best way to celebrate safely — aside from staying at home — is to view the annual fireworks at Reunion Tower from a vehicle somewhere near the downtown Dallas area. Reunion Tower’s 10-minute show features pyrotechnics fired from 560 feet above ground, along with LED lighting effects visible for miles around. Prime locations include downtown Dallas and along the Trinity River, but there is no on-site viewing allowed.

Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark presents Epic New Year - Cruise Around the World
Epic Waters in Grand Prairie is setting sail to welcome in the New Year with an evening full of socially distanced, family-friendly fun. Guests can ring in the New Year throughout the day as the park will lower a giant rubber duck several times throughout the day for a number of different time zones, beginning at 3 pm CST, with the biggest drop being at midnight. There will be socially distant zones so everyone can enjoy the "ball" drop. There will also be a variety of food served from around the world to go along with the different countries.

New Year's at the Symphony
Both the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra will put on concerts on New Year's Eve. New Year's Eve with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra at Meyerson Symphony Center will toast the New Year with lively waltzes from the Strauss dynasty honoring the most prestigious of New Year’s musical traditions. The audience can stay afterward to ring in the New Year at the exclusive Meyerson ‘Til Midnight after-party. Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra presents Prohibition: A New Year’s Eve Celebrationat Will Rogers Memorial Center will feature performers Madison Claire Parks, Myra Maud, and Bronson Norris Murphy as the orchestra takes a trip back in time to ring in 2021 in roaring '20s style.

W Dallas New Year's Eve Party 2021- The Hideout Roaring '20s
The Hideout Roaring '20s at the W Dallas Hotel will be a speakeasy-style party where guests will enjoy hours of prepaid drinks, a roaring '20s theme, and a trio of DJs to help them ring in the New Year at Cook Hall & Great Room. Guests can opt for VIP in the Great Room and get two extra hours of prepaid drinks. There are also VIP upgrades like premium seating near the dance floor, Veuve Champagne and bottle/s of premium liquor, assorted mixers, and a personal cocktail waitress.

Legacy Hall presents NYE 2021 Mask-erade Party
Legacy Hall in Plano will present a glamorous New Year's Eve with the party band Graceland Ninjaz, mixes by DJ Yuna & DJ Cantu on the 2nd and 3rd floor, two huge balloon drops at midnight, a champagne toast, and more. Guests are encouraged to slip on their fanciest mask and grab a bite from any of the 20 artisanal eateries.

Texas Live presents New Year's Eve 2021 NYE Live
Texas Live in Arlington will ring in the New Year with help from the party band Emerald City All Stars, multiple DJs, confetti cannons, party favors, and a Midnight Ball Drop. The Emerald Package includes a reserved table, access to all venues inside Texas Live!, and a bottle of Champagne, while the Gold Package includes access to Sports & Social, Rangers Republic, Lockhart's & Ram Backyard, free game play inside Sports & Social, and four drink tickets to any venue.

NYElectric W Dallas Rooftop New Year's Eve Party 2021
The second party at the W Dallas Hotel will take place upstairs at Altitude, where guests will dance to beats of three DJs, enjoy a prepaid premium bar, and witness the glitzy Dallas skyline and fireworks.

AC Hotel Fort Worth presents Great Gatsby Themed NYE Party
This Great Gatsby-themed party at AC Hotel Fort Worth includes an open wine & beer bar, live music from the Latin Express Band, and a champagne toast at midnight. All packages also include an overnight room, 2 pm late checkout, and two tickets to the party. Guests are required to wear masks when not eating or drinking. Social distancing will be encouraged, and room capacity limitations observed.

The Statler presents The Royal Masquerade Ball
The Stater Dallas is hosting a regal evening of celebration in The Statler Ballroom to ring in the New Year. In addition to complimentary Champagne, hors d’oeuvres, and an open bar, there will be a full casino experience. Each guest will receive $10,000 worth of casino chips to play the night away. Tickets can be purchased individually or by tables of 10 and include discounted hotel room rates, party favors, and more. Guests can also select a dinner ticket that includes a three-course meal.

Canvas Hotel Dallas presents Time Traveler’s Ball
This time-bending event at Canvas Hotel in Dallas offers attendees two floors of the hotel to explore, a celebratory champagne toast, party favors, and midnight snacks. Guests are encouraged to come dressed in theme as any decade of their choosing. Tying into the ball motif, the property is asking that guests mask up in style. The property’s Gallery Rooftop Lounge will be ideal to enjoy the fireworks as the clock strikes midnight. The event will also feature live music from local favorites DJVsViolin, DJVsDrummer, and Sonia Kilo.

The Beeman Hotel presents Happy Nue Year (UPDATE: This event has been canceled.)
The Beeman Hotel in Dallas will celebrates the “Nue” year in collaboration with Texas’ Nue Vodka & Chandon. This celebration offers attendees one welcome drink, a champagne toast at midnight, and party favors. The event will also feature live music by local favorite DJ Prophesy all night long.

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Holiday attractions

All the cool new ice rinks skating into Dallas for 2024 holiday fun

Photo courtesy of Omni Dallas Hotel

The Omni Dallas Hotel is channeling Rockefeller Center with its ice rink this season.

The coolest new holiday attractions of 2024 will have Dallas-Fort Worth jumping, spinning, and gliding through the season: Ice skating rinks are being installed as part of winter festivities all over North Texas. From a downtown Dallas ice rink channeling Rockefeller Center to community rinks that look like Hallmark movie settings, here are the best new places to skate through the holidays, along with some favorites making their limited returns for the season.

Omni Dallas Hotel, downtown Dallas, November 22-January 5
The downtown Dallas hotel known for its trademark sculpture of giant-sized Christmas-tree red ball ornaments is upping the ante this year. As part of its seasonal celebration called "Ice, Lights & City Nights," the hotel is introducing downtown's only outdoor ice skating rink on Pegasus Lawn. Visitors of all ages can twirl and spin beneath the glow of holiday lights, then warm up with at a hot chocolate bar, kids can ride the Elf Express train, and adults can make spirits bright at Blitzen's Bar. Every night at 7:30 pm, Omni Dallas will host holiday light shows with 4.1 miles of LED lights wrapped around the building’s exterior.

Details: The rink is open to the public and hotel guests alike, 10 am-10 pm daily. Tickets (starting at $18) can be purchased online or at the ice rink, for 60-minute sessions; skate rental included. A helpful FAQ about the ice rink can be found here.

Coca-Cola’s Classic Christmas, Choctaw Stadium in Arlington, November 22-December 29
A new immersive holiday event from the creators of the popular "Enchant" light maze turns Choctaw Stadium into a winter wonderland, and it includes an ice skating rink. Adults and kids will glide on real ice underneath dazzling lights. The event illuminates 55,000 square feet of holiday light sculptures featuring larger-than-life, interactive Coca-Cola-inspired vignettes to walk through and explore; plus a snow slide, falling snow, visits with Santa, caroling, seasonal treats, special themed nights, and more.

Details: Open select nights, as early as 4:30 pm and as late as 11:30 pm; check the calendar for specific dates and times. Ice skating tickets (including skate rental) are $9 for juniors and $13 for adults, in addition to event admission, $14-$35; free for kids up to 3. Skating session times are unlimited. Note: If bringing your own skates, make sure they have blade guards on at all times; skate bags must meet a Clear Bag Policy; more info here.

Skate under the twinkling lights at Coca-Cola's Classic Christmas in Arlington.Photo courtesy of Coca-Cola's Classic Christmas

Home for the Holidays: Christmastime in Southlake, November 27-January 1
The 25th-anniversary Southlake holiday celebration will include an outdoor ice rink for the first time. Although the city's Christmas tree will be lit at the big Home for the Holidays event on November 23, the ice rink will not open until November 27. The rink is in the heart of Southlake Town Square, and includes a spot for gourmet hot cocoa, a nearby Santa's Village, carriage rides, and more.

Details: Open 3-10 pm Sunday-Thursday and 12-10 pm Saturday-Sunday outside City Hall, 1400 E. Southlake Blvd. Tickets, timed every 15 minutes, are $15 for one-hour sessions and include skate rentals; walkups will be welcome, but reservations are recommended through the Geoji app.

Christmas Tyme in Aledo on Ice, December 6-January 5
The city of Aledo is debuting its first-ever outdoor ice rink, open for 30 days as part of the holiday festivities. Located in the city's downtown, the Aledo Ice Rink will be adorned with twinkling lights and festive decorations, with music piped in under winter skies and seasonal refreshments to refuel. The annual Christmas Tyme in Aledo event on December 7 will feature the city's tree lighting ceremony, vendors, visits with Santa, live music, food trucks, and more.

Details: The ice rink is at Aledo City Hall, 104 Maverick St. Open 4-9 pm Monday-Thursday, 4-10 pm Friday, and 12-10 pm Sunday. Tickets for one-hour sessions are $15 (plus service fee), and include skate rental.

Skate the Square, Frisco, November 22-January 6
Now 14 years strong, Frisco's Christmas in the Square event boasts the city's only real ice outdoor ice rink. "Skate the Square" is but one of the highlights of the holiday extravaganza, which includes one of the largest free choreographed lights and music displays in North Texas: nightly shows of over 180,000 lights, 200 dancing snowflakes, and festive music. There's also a Christmas tree lot, carriage rides, visits with Santa, and more.

Details: The Skate the Square rink is located along Main and Coleman. Open daily, but times vary (as early as 12:15 pm and as late as 10 pm); check the calendar for specific dates and times. Ice skating tickets are $20, with or without skate rentals. Private group bookings are available. Christmas in the Square runs nightly, 6-10 pm; the light show is free to attend.

Stockyards Rodeo Rink, Fort Worth Stockyards, November 21-January 5
For the third year, visitors to the historic Fort Worth district can "giddy up and glide" as part of the Stockyards' holiday festivities. The 4,000-square-foot professional ice skating rink has taken over the lawn of the Livestock Exchange Building (131 E Exchange Ave.) and includes a snack and beverage bar, fire pits, music, picnic seating, and more. The Stockyards will also host visits with Cowboy Santa, a tree lighting at Hotel Drover, rides on the North Pole Express train, a "Christmas in the Stockyards" event, and more throughout the season.

Details: Open at 11 am most days through the season. Five 90-minute skating sessions are offered Monday-Thursday, with an extra 9 pm session Friday-Sunday. Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for kids ages 3-12, and include skate rental. A family four-pack is available for $80.

Fort Worth Stockyards Rodeo Rink, ice skating, ice rink The Stockyards Rodeo Rink returns to Fort Worth for the holiday season.Photo courtesy of Fort Worth Stockyards

Peace Plaza Ice Rink, Grapevine, November 23-January 27
The 4,500-square-foot outdoor ice skating rink on Historic Main Street has become a favorite tradition in the "Christmas Capital of Texas." Skaters can jump and spin in the festive surroundings, including the 60-foot live Christmas tree, and the entire street decked out with Christmas lights. The ice rink's grand opening on November 23 will feature a performance by Olympic figure skater Ashley Cain, Team USA pair team Nick Traxler and Kristen Nardozzi, and more, beginning at 6:15 pm.

Details: Open daily, times vary (opening as early as 11 am with last entry as late as 9 pm); check the calendar for exact dates and times. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Location is Grapevine Main Peace Plaza, 815 S. Main St., at the train station outside Hotel Vin. Tickets are $20 for a one-hour session at 15-minute timed intervals; skate rentals included. Group ice rentals are available by the hour. (UPDATE 11-22-2024: "Unfortunately, Peace Plaza Ice Rink will not be open this weekend due to the warm temperatures," a spokeswoman says. New opening date TBA.)

Of course, no Dallas ice-skating list would be complete without the most famous rink of all ....

Galleria Dallas, November 22-January 5
The nation's tallest indoor Christmas tree (at 95 feet) will sparkle in the middle of the ice rink throughout the season. Public skating is available every day, but as usual, holiday festivities will really rev up on at 12 pm Black Friday (November 29) with the Grand Tree Lighting Celebration on the ice rink, featuring Olympic figure skaters and a fireworks finale starring Missile Toes, the famed ice-skating Santa. (The celebration will repeat at 12 pm November 30.) A Grand Holiday Ice Show, starring some of the best figure skaters and ice dancers in the world (Ashley Cain, Mariah Bell, Keegan Messing, Kaitlin Hawayek and Jean-Luc Baker, Ryan Bradley, and Kim Navarro and Brent Bommentre) will take place at 9 am December 8 and benefit Broadway Dallas; tickets are $150.

Details: Public skating hours are 10 am-9:30 pm Monday, Wednesday-Thursday; 10 am-9 pm Tuesday & Friday; 12-9 pm Saturday; 12-6 pm Sunday. Admission is $13, plus $5 for skate rental. Public skating is first-come, first serve; no reservations permitted. A full list of holiday events at the ice rink is here.

Mariah Bell, figure skating, Olympian Olympic figure skater Mariah Bell will be one of the featured performers at Galleria Dallas' Grand Holiday Ice Show. Getty Images

christmas capital of texas downtown dallas families family friendly galleria dallas holiday attractions ice skating rinks omni dallas hotel stockyards rodeo rink winter festivities holidays