Cheers to 2023!

14 cool celebrations to bring in the New Year around Dallas-Fort Worth

Reunion Tower will once again welcome the New Year with fireworks at midnight.

Photo courtesy of Reunion Tower

Everyone likes to celebrate the New Year in one way or another, and Dallas-Fort Worth offers plenty of options for doing so. The following list is by no means comprehensive, but it gives a glimpse at the variety of different events taking place on New Year's Eve. Whether you prefer low-key or all-out, you can welcome 2023 in style. (Looking for dining options? Find that list here.)

Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark presents Epic Family New Year
It may cold outside, but you can still swim to your heart's content at Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark in Grand Prairie. Their New Year’s Eve celebration will feature circus and aerial performances, hula dancing, interactive games, and more. The event will also include a special Hawaiian-themed dinner including a pig on a spit, pulled pork sliders, baby back ribs, coconut shrimp, and mini pineapple upside-down cupcakes.

Fort Worth Museum of Science and History presents Noon Year's Eve
The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History is hosting a New Year celebration fit for the whole family. New Year-themed activities will include making confetti poppers and noise makers; decorating party wear with a Noon Year's Eve hat; writing New Year’s resolutions on ribbon and adding it to the confetti pile; exploring New Year’s Eve-inspired items and animals from the History and Science Collections; and more. After the countdown to noon, guests can stay to explore the museum.

ArtPark presents New Year's Party
ArtPark, located in West Dallas just on the other side of Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge, will have 14 private bubble tents, two fire pits, and two VIP areas for rental that include champagne, a $50 gift card from Trinity Grove's newest concept Nitro Burger, and party favors. There will be a live DJ for dancing and celebrating, and an ideal view of the Reunion Tower fireworks at midnight.

Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra presents New Year’s Eve: ABBA The Concert
ABBA The Concert is considered to be one of the best ABBA tribute bands around, and they'll join the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra at this special New Year's Eve concert at Bass Performance Hall. Featuring hit songs like "Dancing Queen," "Mamma Mia," "Money, Money, Money," and more, the concert will be among the more fun ways to spend the last day of 2022.

Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents New Year's Eve
The annual New Year's Eve celebration by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra is a tribute to the Viennese tradition as they toast the New Year with lively waltzes from the Strauss dynasty, honoring the most prestigious of New Year’s musical traditions. The concert, conducted by Gemma New, will be at Meyerson Symphony Center.

Four Day Weekend present New Year's Eve Celebration
With outposts in both Dallas and Fort Worth, Four Day Weekend is an established local comedy force. They'll celebrate New Year's Eve the only way they know how, with a special show created from audience suggestions and participation. Their annual New Year's Eve celebrations, taking place in both Dallas and Fort Worth, features their signature comedy show, catering from Reata, and a champagne toast at midnight.

Pegasus City Brewery presents NYE 2023
Pegasus City Brewery will ring in the New Year and celebrate the roaring ‘23s with a night of 1920s fun and flair. There will be live music from the New Orleans-style David Washburn Jazz Band, heavy hors d'oeuvres from Southern Gentleman's Table catering, beer, wine, & cider, exclusive beer cocktails and samplings, an NYE photo booth, champagne toast at midnight, and a commemorative NYE 2023 glass.

Fort Brewery & Pizza presents New Year's Eve Celebration
Fort Brewery & Pizza in Fort Worth will present a New Year's Eve Celebration featuring an expansive dinner buffet, a complimentary Luc Belaire Champagne toast with party favors at midnight, and dancing to '90s hip-hop hits from DJ Con the Baptist.

The Statler presents New Year’s Eve: The Royal Masquerade Ball
The Statler in downtown Dallas will celebrate New Year’s Eve with an extravagant Masquerade Ball. The evening will feature an open bar, hors d'oeuvres, casino chips, an optional three-course dinner, dancing to favorite Top 40 Hip Hop mashups, and more.

Virgin Hotels Dallas presents Glitz & Glam NYE Party
Virgin Hotels Dallas' Glitz & Glam soiree will be dripping in disco balls, spanning the entire 4th floor with two parties and two DJs. Guests can reserve a table with bottle packages and reserved seating or purchase a ticket for open bar. There will be an open bar from 8:30 pm-12:30 am with premium spirits and champagne, plus complimentary bites from 8-11 pm. The party will allow guests great views of the city skyline & fireworks from the 4th floor.

Fort Worth Neon New Year's Bash
The Fort Worth Neon New Year's Bash, at the only covered and heated rooftop in Fort Worth at Texas Republic, will feature an open bar, live DJs playing hip hop, electro, top 40, and old school music, super confetti cannons, a Champagne toast, festive party favors, and late night tacos.

Legacy Hall presents New Year’s Eve Disco Party
Legacy Hall in Plano will present New Year’s Eve Disco Party, featuring three floors of live music, five craft bars, a huge midnight celebration, and more. The event will feature a performance by The Rich Girls, who will play the music of Hall & Oates, Prince, '80s classics, and more. Select eateries will be open throughout the venue for delicious late-night bites.

SĒR Steak + Spirits presents New Year's Eve Celebration
SĒR Steak + Spirits on the 27th floor of Hilton Anatole will ring in 2023 with some of the best views of the Downtown Dallas New Year's Eve fireworks show. The event will include a DJ and dance floor, a midnight toast, and gourmet food & drinks from chef-featured live-action gourmet food stations and premium bar. Guests are encouraged to dress in upscale and formal fashion.

Reunion Tower presents New Year's Eve Fireworks
As has become tradition, Reunion Tower will usher in the new year by presenting the seventh annual Texas-sized Reunion Tower “Over The Top NYE 2023” fireworks show. Although there is no viewing allowed near the tower, you can take in the show at nearby parties (including several of the above) or surrounding city streets. If you'd rather stay home, NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth / KXAS will broadcast the event from 11:30 pm-12:30 am, and KLUV (98.7 FM) will simulcast the celebration.

festivals comedy music concerts symphony beer drinks holidays

Movie Review

Michelle Pfeiffer is an unappreciated mom in Oh. What. Fun.

Photo courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios

Michelle Pfeiffer in Oh. What. Fun.

Of all the formulaic movie genres, Christmas/holiday movies are among the most predictable. No matter what the problem is that arises between family members, friends, or potential romantic partners, the stories in holiday movies are designed to give viewers a feel-good ending even if the majority of the movie makes you feel pretty bad.

That’s certainly the case in Oh. What. Fun., in which Michelle Pfeiffer plays Claire, an underappreciated mom living in Houston with her inattentive husband, Nick (Denis Leary). As the film begins, her three children are arriving back home for Christmas: The high-strung Channing (Felicity Jones) is married to the milquetoast Doug (Jason Schwartzman); the aloof Taylor (Chloë Grace Moretz) brings home yet another new girlfriend; and the perpetual child Sammy (Dominic Sessa) has just broken up with his girlfriend.

Each of the family members seems to be oblivious to everything Claire does for them, especially when it comes to what she really wants: For them to nominate her to win a trip to see a talk show in L.A. hosted by Zazzy Tims (Eva Longoria). When she accidentally gets left behind on a planned outing to see a show, Claire reaches her breaking point and — in a kind of Home Alone in reverse — she decides to drive across the country to get to the show herself.

Written and directed by Michael Showalter (The Idea of You), and co-written by Chandler Baker (who wrote the short story on which the film is based), the movie never establishes any kind of enjoyable rhythm. Each of the characters, including competitive neighbor Jeanne (Joan Chen), is assigned a character trait that becomes their entire personality, with none of them allowed to evolve into something deeper.

The filmmakers lean hard into the idea that Claire is a person who always puts her family first and receives very little in return, but the evidence presented in the story is sketchy at best. Every situation shown in the film is so superficial that tension barely exists, and the (over)reactions by Claire give her family members few opportunities to make up for their failings.

The most interesting part of the movie comes when Claire actually makes it to the Zazzy Sims show. Even though what happens there is just as unbelievable as anything else presented in the story, Showalter and Baker concoct a scene that allows Claire and others to fully express the central theme of the film, and for a few minutes the movie actually lives up to its title.

Pfeiffer, given her first leading role since 2020’s French Exit, is a somewhat manic presence, and her thick Texas accent and unnecessary voiceover don’t do her any favors. It seems weird to have such a strong supporting cast with almost nothing of substance to do, but almost all of them are wasted, including Danielle Brooks in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameo. The lone exception is Longoria, who is a blast in the few scenes she gets.

Oh. What. Fun. is far from the first movie to try and fail at becoming a new holiday classic, but the pedigree of Showalter and the cast make this dismal viewing experience extra disappointing. Ironically, overworked and underappreciated moms deserve a much better story than the one this movie delivers.

---

Oh. What. Fun. is now streaming on Prime Video.

movies film