You might think that with New Year's Eve falling on a weekend this year, events celebrating the new year would push everything else aside. While there are plenty of options on that end, there are a lot of other events as well, including the ending of holiday events, multiple concerts, a huge college football bowl game, and more.
Still looking for New Year's Eve dinner plans? That list is here. Best New Year's Day brunches are here. Want one more weekend of Christmas light-viewing before they go dark for another year? That list is here.
Thursday, December 30
Last call for holiday events
If you somehow haven't made it out to one of the many holiday events in the area, this weekend is your last chance to do so. Among the events taking their final bow for the season are Texas Christkindl Market and The Elf On the Shelf Magical Holiday Journey, both at Choctaw Stadium in Arlington, and Radiance at the Ranch: A Holiday Light Spectacular in Weatherford.
Toadies in concert
It's always a good day when Fort Worth originals Toadies take the stage again. This concert, taking place at Billy Bob's Texas, will celebrate the 25th anniversary of their debut album, Rubberneck. The band will also surely play a bunch of songs from their other six albums, including 2017's The Lower Side of Uptown. They'll be joined by fellow Texas band Eleven Hundred Springs.
Friday, December 31
Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic: Alabama vs. Cincinnati
This year's Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic will be extra special as it serves as a semifinal game in the College Football Playoff. As long as COVID doesn't interfere, it will feature a matchup between the No. 1 (and perennial favorite) Alabama Crimson Tide and the upstart No. 4 Cincinnati Bearcats, the first team outside of the Power 5 conferences (and the independent Notre Dame) that has made the playoffs. The game will be at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
Magnolia at the Modern: The Hudsucker Proxy
The Magnolia at the Modern series will take a break from new films to show this classic Coen brothers movie. The wacky farce tells the tale of a greedy executive (Paul Newman) who hopes to take control of the company he works for by purchasing a majority share — but he must first devalue the stock. To further his plan, he convinces the board to appoint a know-nothing recent graduate (Tim Robbins), but the plot backfires when the new guy’s latest invention succeeds. There will be five screenings through Sunday at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.
Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra presents "Swing is the Thing"
In lieu of a traditional New Year's Eve concert, the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra will present "Swing is the Thing." Four world-champion swing dancers will take the stage to strut their stuff in a show that captures the swing era of the '40s and '50s. The concert at Bass Performance Hall will feature favorites by Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller, Bill Haley and the Comets, and Jerry Lee Lewis in an acrobatic homage to one of America's most popular and enduring styles of dance music.
Parker McCollum in concert
Fort Worth audiences have been witnesses to the rise of country singer Parker McCollum, who's played at Billy Bob's Texas and area festivals since his debut album in 2015. He scored a top 5 hit with "Pretty Heart" in 2019, kicking his career into high gear. This return to Fort Worth will be his most high-profile yet, a concert at Dickies Arena in support of his 2021 album, Gold Chain Cowboy.
William Lee Martin's New Year's Eve Special
Downtown Cowtown at the Isis will celebrate New Year’s Eve with Fort Worth native, William Lee Martin. The comedian is a self-proclaimed All-American mutt, a mixed breed who doesn’t fit neatly into any single box physically, politically, or philosophically. With fresh material and hilarious new stories, he's not afraid to step on toes but still connects with folks who share his everyday problems in always changing America.
Tracy Lawrence in concert
Country singer Tracy Lawrence notched seven No. 1 hits over the course of five years in the 1990s, including "Sticks and Stones," "Alibis," "If the Good Die Young," and "Time Marches On," yet somehow never had a No. 1 album. He's been a steady presence in the genre for almost 30 years, releasing a new album every few years, including two new albums in 2021 alone. He'll play at Billy Bob's Texas.
Saturday, January 1
Vogel Alcove presents Day 1 DFW
Day 1 DFW is being hosted by Main Event at all seven Dallas-Fort Worth locations. Tickets grant all-access to Main Event activities from 9 am to 2 am on New Year’s Day, plus bowling shoe rental and a $10 fun card for games. Each location also features its own extra activities like magic shows, balloon artists, animal shows, and more. Participants can end the evening at 7 pm at one of two fireworks shows set to children's music at Toyota Stadium in Frisco or Dickies Arena in Fort Worth. Proceeds benefit Vogel Alcove, a nonprofit serving homeless families.
Swing dancers will take the stage as part of FWSO's "Swing is the Thing" New Year's Eve concert.
Hoisting of a nearly century-old tree in Sundance Square.
Sundance Square