Things have been quiet around Waco after Christmas, but that ends on Sunday when New Year’s Eve arrives. Almost every venue in town is celebrating the arrival of the new year, so you’ve got plenty to choose from, including a Studio 54–themed party at Cricket’s, a Swiftie New Year’s Eve at Freight Bar, Rock the Clock at the Backyard, and just a whole… lot… more.
Check out all your New Year’s Eve options.
With great partying comes great responsibility. Waco Transit’s Safe Ride Home program offers free transportation to and from your New Year’s Eve destinations from 6 pm to 3 am. Call (254) 750-1620 now to book your trip, which must be within the Waco urbanized area. Reservations are preferred, but same-day requests will also be accepted, based on availability.
(Tow King is also offering free vehicle tows home from 6 pm to 3 am for those who need them. Free tows can be arranged by calling Tow King at (254) 666-5484. Plus, The Zimmerman Law Firm is once again reimbursing people who take an Uber, Lyft, or cab ride home.)
Need to keep the kids busy next week before school starts up? Art Center Waco is hosting a Winter Art Camp next Tuesday through Friday. The 9 am to noon class is for kindergartners through second graders while the 1 pm to 4 pm class is for third graders through fifth graders. Each day features a different theme: sewing, food art, and more.
(Other options next week include Cultivate 7twelve’s winter break art camp and Skate World Waco’s holiday skate camp.)
Upcoming Events
Events subject to change. Visit Waco Insider for complete event and ticket details, venue info, and newly added/updated listings.
Have an event you’d like listed? Visit our event submissions page.
Thursday, December 28
Thirsty Thursday | Pivovar | 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
Lights of West Christmas Light Park | Lights of West | 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Wild Lights | Cameron Park Zoo | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Season of Smiles: Lights of Love | WM Dentistry | 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
$20 Steak Night | Barnett’s Whiskey House | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Equal Parts Brewing Pint Night | Dancing Bear Pub | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Trivia Night | Fuzzy’s Taco Shop | 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Trivia Night | Brotherwell Brewing | 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
$3 Thursday College Night with DJ Euby | Freight Bar | 7:00 pm – 2:00 am
Throwback Thursday with DJ Suavesito | JRG’s Bar & Grill | 8:00 pm – 12:00 am
Friday, December 29
Lights of West Christmas Light Park | Lights of West | 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Wild Lights | Cameron Park Zoo | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Season of Smiles: Lights of Love | WM Dentistry | 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Darrell "D-Rail" Ray | Uncle Worm’s Smoke House | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Brazos Brothers | Fuzzy’s Taco Shop (Hewitt) | 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Joel Wood | Mynar’s Bar | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Jared Pool | Camp Fimfo | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Bird & Friends Cosmic Unity Improv | Brazos Theatre | 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm
DJ Celly Cel | JRG’s Bar & Grill | 8:00 pm – 12:00 am
Karaoke | Chapter 11 | 9:00 pm – 2:00 am
EDM Sessions with Flex Aces | Waco Hippodrome Theatre | 9:00 pm – 2:00 am
Saturday, December 30
Waco Downtown Farmers Market | 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Wine Tasting | La Bottega | 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm
Lights of West Christmas Light Park | Lights of West | 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Wild Lights | Cameron Park Zoo | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Season of Smiles: Lights of Love | WM Dentistry | 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
CaCean Ballou & Rodney Pyeatt | Slow Rise on the Brazos | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Dr Pepper Paranormal Experience | Dr Pepper Museum & Free Enterprise Institute | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
DJ Danny Diaz | JRG’s Bar & Grill | 7:00 pm – 12:00 am
5th Saturday Karaoke | Papa Joe’s Texas Saloon | 8:00 pm – 11:59 pm
Last Show of the Year with Einstein the Mastermind | Private Hip-Hop HQ | 8:00 pm – 12:00 am
Pre-NYE Party with Holly Tucker | The Tipsy Lion Bar & Grill | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Karaoke | Chapter 11 | 9:00 pm – 2:00 am
AJ Castillo | Waco Missions | 9:00 pm – 12:00 am
New Year's Lock-In | Nexus Waco | 10:00 pm – 8:00 am
Sunday, December 31
New Year's Eve Brunch | Oak & Ivy Wine Bar Bistro | 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
New Year's Eve Brunch | Lounge ’93 | 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Disc Golf Tournament | Lakeside Park | 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
New Year's Eve Brunch with Bruce Carbonara | Baylor Club | 10:30 am – 1:30 pm
Seafood Sunday | The Brazos Landing | 11:00 am – 10:00 pm
Family New Year's Skate Party! | Skate World Waco | 1:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Family New Year's Skate Party! | Skate Waco Bellmead | 1:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Countdown to 2024 | Mayborn Museum Complex | 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
New Year's Eve Celebration | Hemingway’s Watering Hole | 5:00 pm – 2:00 am
Free Uber, Lyft & Cab Rides | The Zimmerman Law Firm | 5:00 pm – 10:00 am
Chip Tournament | Clicks Billiards | 5:00 pm – 2:00 am
Johnnie Bradshaw & The Out of The Blue Band | Geneva Hall | 5:00 pm – 12:00 am
New Year's Eve Dinner | Oak & Ivy Wine Bar Bistro | 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Wild Lights | Cameron Park Zoo | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Rock the Clock New Year’s Eve Party | Backyard Bar Stage & Grill | 6:00 pm – 12:00 am
Safe Ride Home 2024 | Waco Transit System | 6:00 pm – 3:00 am
New Year's Eve Bash with The Bill & Phil Show | Twisted Sisters Patio Bar | 7:00 pm – 2:00 am
New Year's Eve Party | Z’s at the Curry | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
New Year’s Eve Celebration Dinner & Patio Party | Barnett’s Whiskey House | 7:00 pm – 1:00 am
2023 Barkin' Ball | BASE at Extraco Events Center | 7:30 pm – 12:00 am
New Year’s Eve Black & Gold Party | The Palladium | 7:30 pm – 12:15 am
Live Oak Moonshiners | 308 Tavern | 8:00 pm – 12:00 am
Shawn Lee Stamps | Papa Joe’s Texas Saloon | 8:00 pm – 12:00 am
New Year's Eve Celebration | Pivovar | 8:00 pm – 12:00 am
The Ballou's Cats | American Legion Post 273 | 8:00 pm – 12:00 am
Bertie's Roaring NYE Bash (SOLD OUT) | Hotel 1928 | 8:00 pm – 1:00 am
Huser Brother Band | Melody Ranch | 8:00 pm – 2:00 am
Zamora County Line | MOJO Event Center | 8:00 pm – 1:00 am
NYE Party 2024 | Austin’s on the Avenue | 8:00 pm – 2:00 am
New Year's Eve Party with Strix | Last Chance Bar | 8:30 pm – 12:30 am
Joe Parker Band | Elk Hall | 8:30 pm – 12:30 am
Time Warp: Journey through the Decades | Southern Roots Brewing Co. | 9:00 pm – 12:00 am
New Year's Eve Masquerade Ball | Waco Hippodrome Theatre | 9:00 pm – 12:00 am
New Year 2024 Party with DJ Mito | The Warehouse | 9:00 pm – 2:00 am
All White New Year's Eve Affair with DJ Adeezy | 5IVE | 9:00 pm – 1:45 am
Studio 54 Disco Night with DJ Eddie Rose | Cricket’s Grill & Draft House | 9:00 pm – 1:00 am
New Year's 2023 | One Day Bar | 9:00 pm – 1:00 am
Countdown to 2024 | Meyer Center | 9:00 pm – 1:00 am
Meet Me at Midnight: Swiftie New Year's Eve Party | Freight Bar | 10:00 pm – 2:00 am
Monday, January 1
Winter Break Art Camp | Cultivate 7twelve | 8:00 am – 4:30 pm
New Year's Skate Camp | Skate World Waco | 8:30 am – 1:00 pm
Acoustic Open Mic | Taqueria Mexicano Grill 15 | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Waco Roller Derby Open Practice | Skate Waco Bellmead | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Karaoke Mondays | The Crying Shame | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Tuesday, January 2
Winter Break Art Camp | Cultivate 7twelve | 8:00 am – 4:30 pm
New Year's Skate Camp | Skate World Waco | 8:30 am – 1:00 pm
Winter Art Camp! (Kinder to 2nd grade) | Art Center Waco | 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Winter Art Camp! (3rd to 5th grade) | Art Center Waco | 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Cocktails with Jen | Hemingway’s Watering Hole | 5:00 pm – 12:00 am
CTHCC Family Skate Night Fundraiser | Skate World Waco | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Taco Tuesday Open Mic & Karaoke | Fuzzy’s Taco Shop (Hewitt) | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Beer Garden Yoga | Brotherwell Brewing | 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Towne Tuesday Open Mic | The Crying Shame | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Baylor Men's Basketball vs. Cornell | Foster Pavilion | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Wednesday, January 3
Winter Break Art Camp | Cultivate 7twelve | 8:00 am – 4:30 pm
New Year's Skate Camp | Skate World Waco | 8:30 am – 1:00 pm
The Meetup | Startup Waco | 9:00 am – 10:00 am
Winter Art Camp! (Kinder to 2nd grade) | Art Center Waco | 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Winter Art Camp! (3rd to 5th grade) | Art Center Waco | 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Trivia Night | Bare Arms Brewing | 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Waco Roller Derby Open Practice | Skate Waco Bellmead | 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Music Bingo | Brotherwell Brewing | 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Open Mic Night | Last Chance Bar | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Baylor Women's Basketball vs. TCU | Foster Pavilion | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Need to know when to staff up for large events? Click here to view business and social events that may not be listed above.
Coming Next Week
Alchemy of Light Opening Reception, Mid-Tex Farm & Ranch Show, and Chipping of the Green.
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