If there’s one holiday on the calendar that you can’t wing it and just show up it’s New Year’s Eve.
Unless you’re hanging at home or hitting a friend’s house party, you’ll likely need to book a reservation or buy a ticket before you pull up.
Then there’s the ‘fit; you can’t go to a fancy shindig wearing the same dress you wore to your cousin’s wedding in July or the Tucson-casual chinos and collared shirt you wore for family pictures.
You’re on your own in the fashion department, but we can offer some guidance when it comes to what to do and where to go.
We found a handful of New Year’s Eve destinations, from daytime events perfect for the kiddos to the dress-to-the-nines date-night shindigs that end in that champagne toast and stroke of midnight kiss.
This is not the end-all of New Year’s Eve events; dozens of restaurants and nearly every major resort are hosting special dinners.
We’re just hitting the highlights of events that usually attract the biggest interest. This will give you a little time to plan.
All events will take place Tuesday, Dec. 31, unless noted.
Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress St., rialtotheatre.com, 520-740-1000
These folks on the east end of Congress know how to party. They are bringing two hyper-high-energy events to their stage to send out the year that was and welcome the year that will be.
- The night starts with the 8 p.m. “Spanish Masquerade” Latin dance party with Tucson’s own Orkesta Mendoza, Ruta Verbena and Salvador Duran. Word to wise: wear comfy shoes. You won’t be sitting long. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the party starts at 8. Masks and 1940s attire is encouraged. Tickets are $29.50-$45.
- Agua de Coco will lead a salsa and cumbia party at 10:45 p.m. Again, wear comfy shoes; we highly doubt you are going to be able to resist this Mexico-based band‘s high-energy dance music. Tickets are $15.
191 Toole, 191 E. Toole Ave., rialtotheatre.com; 520-740-1000
Fluxx Productions is hosting “Queer Year’s Eve” beginning at 9 p.m. The Tucson LGBTQ+ organization hasn’t announced the headliner as yet, but they promise “an unforgettable night of connection and amazing music in a safe, vibrant space to dance and celebrate life with community.” It’s a 21-and-older event and tickets are $20.
Tucson singer-songwriter Naim Amor joins Katherine Byrnes and The Hot Club of Tucson for a jazz New Year’s Eve show at The Century Room.
Hotel Congress, 310 E. Congress St., hotelcongress.com; 520-622-8848
- Club Congress is transforming itself into an intergalactic rodeo for “A Space Cowboy New Year” beginning at 8:30 p.m. Live entertainment — acts have not been announced — art installations, a VIP Space Saloon, cosmic DJs and specialty cocktails are on tap for this 21-and-older shindig. Tickets start at $64.89.
- “Midnight In Paris” with Tucson’s own Katherine Byrnes, Paris native Naim Amor and The Hot Club of Tucson take over The Century Room at 9 and 11:30 p.m. as they turn back the clock to the early 20th century. The soundtrack will include music reminiscent of that scored by American-expat Cole Porter and the sound of Django Reinhardt and his Hot Club of France, as well as music from the 1940s echoing the voice of Edith Piaf. The early show is sold out; tickets for the 11:30 show are $45-$65 and it includes a toast at midnight.
Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress St., foxtucson.com; 520-547-3040
Los Lobos is playing a 7:30 p.m. show that we like to call a New Year’s Eve adjacent event. By the time the legendary Latin rock band and their openers Barnaby and the Butcher call it a night, the fun will be starting down the street at the Downtown Bowl Bash. Tickets are $20-$75.
Taco Bell New Year’s Eve Downtown Bowl Bash, 41 E. Congress St., courtesy the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl presented by Gin & Juice by Dre and Snoop, thearizonabowl.com.
Most of the venues downtown are hosting events that end before midnight so their audiences can catch the city’s biggest New Year’s Eve bash. New York City has its glittery ball; Tucson has its 8-foot wood and metal taco. The giant taco drop at midnight marks its 10th anniversary with this year’s ceremony.
The Downtown Bowl Bash kicks off at 6 p.m. and features live music from the California party band Lucky Devils Band. Normally, this group, which could include as many as 13 musicians, plays high-energy music for weddings and private and corporate events. Hey, you never know; there could be a newlywed couple or two among the thousands expected to turn out for the party.
Other Bowl Bash highlights include a silent disco presented by Tucson Federal Credit Union, food trucks and a fireworks display presented by O’Reilly Chevrolet following the taco drop. Admission is free.
New Year’s Eve Tucson Bar Crawl, starting at Corbett’s, 340 N. Sixth Ave.; nasstive.com/tucson/newyearseve.
This is for those folks who just can’t make up their minds. Instead of hitting one party or one bar, your NYE Bar Crawl pass (starting at $29 through eventbrite.com) takes you to 10 including Playground, Sky Bar, Bawker Bawker, O’Malley’s, Playground and HighWire. Your pass gets you special prices on specialty drinks and food beginning with the pre-party at Corbett’s at 8 p.m. Check-in is from 8-10 p.m. and this is a 21-and-older event.
For kids and families
- “Noon Year’s Eve” at Trail Dust Town, 6541 E. Tanque Verde Road, features live music from Tucson country singer Mamma Coal, crafts, photo ops and unlimited rides on the Ferris wheel, train and carousel. The fun starts at 10 a.m. and at the stroke of high noon, kids will toast with apple cider while their parents have coffee as the balloon drop counts down. $16 in advance through traildusttown.com, $20 at the door; 520-296-4551.
- Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, 2021 N. Kinney Road, is dropping a giant dinosaur egg at noon to ring in 2025. The fun includes a DJ, dancing, face-painting and more from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. It’s free with museum admission, $29.95 for 13 and older, $19.95 ages 3-12 through desertmuseum.org.
- Park Place mall, 5870 E. Broadway, is hosting a Noon Year’s Countdown for the whole family, with a fashion show and family photos, a family dance party, dozens of interactive events including games and activities for younger kids and a sparkling cider toast at noon, when the mall counts down to its balloon drop in center court. Admission is free; parkplacemall.com.
