Happy New Year

9 top New Year's Eve celebrations in Dallas to ring in 2025

The fireworks at Reunion Tower is one of a number of ways to celebrate New Year's Eve in Dallas.

Photo courtesy of Reunion Tower

As the year 2024 comes to a close, Dallas is ready with all sorts of ways to celebrate New Year's Eve: from classical music to cover bands, from rooftop parties to masquerade balls. (If you're seeking dining options, try this list, and we also have some nontraditional ways to do New Year's Eve here.) Here are the nine most interesting choices to help get 2025 off to a great start.

Gaylord Texan presents Glass Cactus New Year's Eve Bash
Gaylord Texan in Grapevine will ring in the New Year at their nightclub, Glass Cactus, with performances by cover bands Infinite Journey and Nerd Halen. General admission includes a sparkling rosé toast at midnight, while VIP admission includes a sparkling rosé toast at midnight passed hors d’oeuvres, one drink ticket, and early entrance to club that includes a private 15-20 minute acoustic set from Infinite Journey.

Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents New Year's Eve
Before the ball drops, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra will kick off New Year’s celebrations with an evening of music, conducted by Moritz Gnann. Among the selections will be four compositions from Johann Strauss II, Bernstein's Divertimento Waltz, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” from The Wizard of Oz, and more. The concert takes place at Meyerson Symphony Center.

Waterproof presents Countdown in the Sky
Waterproof, the rooftop lounge at The Statler Hotel in downtown Dallas, will present Countdown in the Sky, a night of music and spectacular views. The Couples package includes two VIP entry tickets with front-of-the-line access, one Champagne bottle, one high-top table and New Year’s Eve party favors. Additional packages are available for groups of 6 to 12 people.

Texas Live presents NYE Live!
At NYE Live! at Texas Live in Arlington, guests can welcome the New Year in style with entertainment, food and drink options, and a vibrant atmosphere. There will be live music, entertainment, decor, champagne toasts, and celebrations all night long.

Pegasus City Brewery presents NYE Bash
Pegasus City Brewery in Dallas will present a Monte Carlo/Casablanca/Gatsby style New Year's Eve Bash for their fourth annual celebration. The evening will feature casino-style games, a performance by the David Washburn Jazz Band, an old-school photo booth, a Mexican food dinner, and a choice of 18 taps with beer, cider, and seltzer, plus wine and champagne, zero-proof options, and sodas. It all ends with a toast at midnight.

Meow Wolf Grapevine presents New Year’s Eve Adultiverse
On New Year’s Eve, reality takes a backseat as Meow Wolf Grapevine presents a special edition of Adulti-Verse. Guests 21 and over can enjoy Meow Wolf’s unique experience in style as the interdimensional soirée features a full-service bar and a performance by Night Shade Burlesque, as well as a champagne toast at midnight. Food & beverage will be available for purchase at the cafe.

Catbird presents NYE Met Gala
Catbird, the restaurant and bar at Thompson Dallas, will present a Met Gala-themed New Year’s Eve party, an opportunity for guests to wear over-the-top outfits. The event will transform the lounge into a prestigious and glamorous fashion event, complete with a red carpet, paparazzi, champagne, and special guest DJ Christopher Reid.

The Statler presents Royal Masquerade Ball
While the Statler's rooftop bar will be hopping, their Grand Ballroom will transform into a Royal Masquerade Ball, complete with extravagant decorations, an open bar, casino games, and party favors. The festivities begin with DJs spinning Top 40 and hip-hop mashups. General admission tickets include access to an open bar and an evening of celebration. Kendall Washington, a fan favorite on Love Island, will serve as honorary host of the ball’s countdown to midnight.

Lone Star NYE at Reunion Tower
Reunion Tower will once again ring in the new year by presenting the annual Lone Star NYE at Reunion Tower fireworks show. The show will feature a display of over 5,000 pyrotechnic special effects, a 259 LED light display, and nearly 300 drones. There is no viewing allowed near the tower; viewing can be done at nearby parties or city streets. NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth / KXAS will broadcast the event, and The Spot (98.7 FM), will simulcast the celebration.

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#Winning

Dallas Mavericks hire NCAA champion Dusty May as new head coach

Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Head coach Dusty May of the Michigan Wolverines has been named the Dallas Mavericks' new head coach.

The Dallas Mavericks officially announced Dusty May as their new coach just a few hours before entering the NBA draft with the ninth pick on Tuesday night, June 23.

May is making the jump to the NBA less than three months after leading Michigan to its first NCAA championship since 1989. He had a 64-13 record in two years with the Wolverines, including a 34-3 season that ended with a 69-63 victory over UConn in the national title game.

The Mavericks made their choice to replace Jason Kidd official on the same day they could select the next young player who would be part of building around 2025 No. 1 pick and reigning Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg, who turns 20 in December.

Dallas also has the final pick of the first round at No. 30 and the 48th choice in the second round, which will be held Wednesday.

“Dusty has won at every stage of his career because of his ability to build,” said new president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri, who let Kidd go about two weeks after getting hired by the Mavericks. “He develops players, creates accountability and brings people together around a shared standard of excellence. His work ethic is extraordinary, and his teams consistently reflect his values.”

May's title with Michigan came three years after he led Florida Atlantic to its only Final Four appearance. The Wolverines won the Big Ten Tournament in his first season after he inherited a team that went 8-24 under Juwan Howard. It was the school’s lowest win total since going 7-20 in 1981-82.

The 49-year-old May’s record in his last four college seasons was 124-26, an .827 winning percentage that was third best in all of major college men’s basketball over that span behind Houston’s Kelvin Sampson (.861) and Duke’s Jon Scheyer (.832). His overall college record is 190-82.

May spent 21 years in the college ranks after the Indiana native first served as a student manager for the Hoosiers and coach Bob Knight while he was in school there from 1996-2000. Florida, UAB and Murray State were among his stops as an assistant before debuting as a head coach with Florida Atlantic in 2018-19.

“This is one of the most respected franchises in professional sports, with passionate fans, a talented roster, and a clear commitment to building a championship organization,” May said.

Moving on from Kidd was the last part of putting the ill-fated Luka Doncic trade behind the Dallas franchise for good.

Nico Harrison, the engineer of the trade that brought the oft-injured Anthony Davis from the Los Angeles Lakers, was fired in November after the team started slowly in 2025-26. The Mavericks ended up missing the playoffs for the second consecutive season since reaching the NBA Finals and losing to Boston in five games.

Doncic and Kyrie Irving were the key players in that deep playoff run in 2024, two years after Doncic also reached the Western Conference finals with a mostly different supporting cast.

Irving remains on the roster amid lingering questions about his future after missing all of last season. Irving tore the ACL in his left knee in March of last year, a month after the Doncic trade.

“Dusty represents the type of leader we want guiding this franchise,” Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont said. “He has demonstrated throughout his career that success is built through preparation, character, accountability, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.”

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