Ring in 2017 with the whole family at one of these family-friendly New Year’s Eve parties!
New Year’s Eve celebration at Austin’s Park ‘N Pizza
Free Events in Austin
Noon Year’s Eve Party
December 31 at 11 a.m. | Lake Travis Community Library, 1938 Lohmans Crossing, Austin
Can’t stay awake for the midnight hour? Then celebrate the new year at noon! Make party hats and noise makers starting at 11 a.m. Children’s musician Joe McDermott will perform at 11:30 a.m. Snack on goodies and toast to the 12 o’ clock hour! Happy Noon Year! FREE!
Noon Year’s Eve Storytime
December 31 from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Westbank Library, 1309 Westbank Dr, Austin
Special storytime and party, count down to noon in celebration of the New Year!
Austin’s New Year 2017
December 31 at 3 p.m. | Vic Mathias Shores, 900 W Riverside Dr, Austin
Bring in the New Year with a FREE, fun and family-friendly celebration. Austin’s New Year will transform Vic Mathias Shores into a wonderland of music, art, special performances and of course, Austin’s legendary food favorites. The 2016 event will include three stages, 15 local and regional bands, food trucks, kid’s activities, and multiple art installations. The Lake Stage will showcase: Shinyribs, an American country-soul; swamp funk band, singer-songwriter Ray Wyllie Hubbard; and the young talented blues men, The Peterson Brothers. Get ready to jump up and down with a CAPYAC dance party headlining at the Oak stage; Harvest Thieves bringing Americana and Folk-Rock; and Roxy Roca, an Austin-based, six-piece, southern soul band driven by a horn section and powerful vocals. Capping off the festive evening, the traditional fireworks finale will start at 10 p.m.
Events With Paid Admission
Noon Year’s Eve at Pinballz (RSVP)
December 31 from 10:30 a.m. – noon | Pinballz, three locations,
New Year’s Eve… for kiddos! Parent and kids 10 and under, join the Noon Year’s Eve event complete with a make-and-take crafting experience, snacks, $5 in tokens, and a 12 p.m. prize-filled balloon drop! $10 entry per child. 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Sign up at this link today. Limited space available.
Noon Year’s Eve at Pump It Up
Noon Year’s Eve Jump
December 31 from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. | Pump It Up of Austin, 9330 United Dr Ste 180, Austin
Bounce and play, then ring in the New Year at Noon! They will have a count down at 12 p.m. and celebrate the coming year with glow lights, noise makers, hats and tons of fun. A signed safety waiver and socks are required to play. Cost: $10 + tax per child.
Noon Year’s Eve Jump (Round Rock)
December 31 from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. | Pump It Up of Round Rock, 3918 Gattis School Rd Ste 100, Round Rock
Come bounce and play and then ring in the New Year at Noon! They will have a count down at 12 p.m. and celebrate the coming year with glow lights, noise makers, hats and tons of fun. A signed safety waiver and socks are required to play. Cost: $10 + tax per child.
Thinkery’s Noon Year’s Eve Balloon Drop & Bubble Wrap Stomp
December 31 at noon and 2 p.m. | Thinkery, 1830 Simond Ave, Austin
On New Year’s Eve, head to Thinkery for the first-ever, family-friendly Noon Year’s Eve Balloon Drop & Bubble Wrap Stomp! Ring in 2017 a wee bit early with winter crafts, “snowball” fights, special performances and TWO separate balloon drops (12 p.m. and 2 p.m.). Why wait until midnight? The countdown to noon is on! General Admission tickets are required to experience the Noon Year’s Eve Balloon Drop & Bubble Wrap Stomp. Space is limited, and is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Latex balloons will be used in both balloon drops. Reserve your December 31 General Admission tickets today!
Noon Year’s Eve at Austin’s Park ‘N Pizza
Noon Year’s Eve at Austin’s Park & Pizza (Pflugerville)
December 31 from noon – 6 p.m. | Austin’s Park, 16231 IH-35, Pflugerville
Austin’s Park N Pizza is throwing a kids’ Noon Year’s Eve extravaganza! The festivities will include face painting, prize-filled balloon drops, NYE activities, and plenty of sparkling, kid-friendly refreshments. Plus, a NYE Weekend Combo Special on December 31st and January 1st:$19.95 for unlimited attractions, and a $5 Fun Card. Bring your kids for an afternoon of revelry before your evening festivities begin. 2017 is on the way, so celebrate, bowl, race, and play! Balloon drops are at 2 and 6 p.m.
Family New Years Eve Celebration at Mel’s (Georgetown)
December 31 from 5-8 p.m. | Mel’s Lonestar Lanes, 1010 N Austin Ave, Georgetown
Unlimited bowling and shoe rental, Mel’s souvenir champagne glass, full dinner buffet, kids arcade play time and raffle prizes, and party favors. Make reservations here. Cost: $125 per lane (valid for up to 6 bowlers per lane).
Austin Saengerrunde NYE Gala
December 31 at 8 p.m. | Saengerrunde Hall, 1607 San Jacinto Blvd, Austin
Austin Saengerrunde’s most distinguished holiday event, full of wholesome entertainment, live music, and dancing. Put on your dancing shoes, Czech Melody Masters will play an array of music that will fill the air with music that will make you waltz into 2017. Ticket includes: bier, wine, champagne toast and German breakfast at Midnight. Feel free to bring your own snacks! Parking available in government lots. Tickets available here. Cost: $20; kids 12 and under are FREE.
More New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day Events
Black Eyed Pea Run
December 31 from 6-10 a.m. | Rogue Running, 410 Pressler St, Austin
Bid farewell to 2016 in the best way: with a long run, great people and plenty of post-run festivities! The Black Eyed Pea Run is a true Austin tradition, and as always it is FREE and everyone is welcome to join. There are plenty of route options to choose from, each with a map and water stops provided along the way. When you finish, grab a dish of black eyed peas and a mimosa (the bar will also have coffee, juice and beer), then stick around awhile – this is a great chance to hang and connect with much of Austin running community! Unlike previous BEP runs, this one will take place on New Year’s Eve rather than New Year’s Day (so no need to hold back in your celebrations!). Those who are enrolled in Rogue training groups should show up for their normal long run start time, while guests should pick their start time based on how far they would like to run: 6 a.m. start: up to 24 miles; 7 a.m. start: up to 14 miles. Spread the word, then come close out the year – and kick off the next – the right way! Please RSVP here (choose “Going” rather than “Interested”) so that they can ensure enough refreshments for all!
Mozart’s Annual Light Show
Through January 8 | Mozart’s Coffee Roasters, 3825 Lake Austin Blvd., Austin
Starting at 6 p.m. each evening, and replaying at the top of every hour until closing, enjoy dazzling lights set to music! The lights show will happen every night. Don’t miss out on all the FREE holiday fun!
Ice Skating on the Whole Foods Plaza
Through January 7 from 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. | Whole Foods, Plaza Rooftop, 525 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin
$10, includes skates. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays are always open to the public, but please check the website or call Lamar Guest Services at (512) 476-1206 during the week to confirm public skating hours on weekdays. On Saturday, December 31 (New Year’s Eve), the ice rink will close at 7 p.m. On Sunday, January 1, 2017 (New Year’s Day), the ice rink will be open from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Zilker Holiday Tree
Through December 31 from 6 p.m. – midnight | Zilker Park, 2100 Barton Springs Rd, Austin
Take a spin under the tree and buy some treats from one of the onsite vendors. Tree on display nightly. Cost: FREE!
Barton Springs Polar Bear Splash
January 1 from 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Barton Springs Pool, Zilker Park, Austin
Save Our Springs (SOS) Alliance hosts this annual event at Barton Springs Pool. Commemorative shirts, coffee, and donuts all on a first come basis. Everyone is welcome to come, jump, and go throughout the day. Don’t forget your warm clothes for when you get out. FREE!
Pfreeze Pflop (Pflugerville)
January 1 at 10 a.m. | Scott Mentzer Pool, 901 Old Austin Hutto Rd, Pflugerville
Are you brave enough to slide into the pfrigid water at Scott Mentzer Pool to kick off your new year? The event lasts until the last brave soul goes down the slide! No, the pool isn’t heated. Admission is FREE with donation of a canned food item to benefit local food banks.
Polar Bear Splash (Kyle)
January 1 at 1 p.m. | Kyle Pool, Gregg-Clarke Park, 1100 W Center St, Kyle
Take part in the Kyle tradition and make a splash at the Kyle Pool. FREE!
