Informal or colossal. Free or high dollar. Live music or dance tunes. New Year’s Eve party choices in central Arkansas are seemingly endless, with a little something for every kind of New Year ringer-in. Here’s a list of some — but definitely not all — of the parties going down Monday evening into Tuesday morning. Plan accordingly.
One of the biggest Dec. 31 parties around is New Year’s Eve at The Peabody Little Rock. With the changing of The Peabody into a Marriott, this year’s bash is also the last party under the Peabody name, and Peabody is going out in style with four parties under one roof with music from Tragikly White, DJ Brandon Peck, Rodney Block and the Real Music Lovers, Tre Day and DJ G-Force. Doors open at 9 p.m., and the 21-and-up party goes on until 2 a.m. Tickets are $50 in advance and $65 day of. There will be party favors and a balloon drop at midnight.
On the west side of Little Rock, The Point 94.1 is throwing a New Year’s Eve Party at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Tickets for the 21-and-up party starting at 8 p.m. are $50 and include hors d’oeuvres served until 10 p.m., a champagne toast at midnight, party favors and music from Big John Miller Band, Taylor Nealey and a DJ.
Do animals know Dec. 31 is the party night of the year? They will at the Little Rock Zoo as Cafe Africa hosts the “wildest party in town” with its Zoo Year’s Eve. Tickets are $75 and include everything — hats and noisemakers, light hors d’oeuvres, beverages and parking. It’s a cocktail attire night for the 21-and-up party starting at 8 p.m. with music from the Shannon Boshears Band.
Flying Saucer Little Rock is throwing its New Year’s Eve Party with the doors opening at 7 p.m. Besides all the wonderful beer on tap and in bottles, the Flying Saucer is offering party favors and a champagne toast at midnight. Music will be provided by The Hi-Balls. Cover is $10 for the general public and $5 for UFO members.
Discovery is offering party fans an opportunity to ring in the new year until 5 a.m. with its Las Vegas-themed New Year’s party. The 21-and-up party starts at 9 p.m., and cover is $10. Music will be provided by DJs Joseph Huge, Playboy Steve, Lawler, Sleepy, Ewell, Platinumb and J-Dawg with two drag review shows from Dominique Sanchez and The Disco Dolls at 12:30 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. There will be a $500 balloon drop at midnight, and Discovery is giving away a trip to Las Vegas for two people for three days and two nights at Caesars Palace with club tickets to spots such as Pure and Crave.
Searching for a more grown-up party? How about The Empress of Little Rock’s New Year’s Eve Wine, Dinner, Dance Party. Tickets are $250 per couple for the party starting at 8 p.m., and the night features just what it says it does: food, wine, dancing and entertainment, including wine paired with each dish served. The party is a black-tie event, and seating is limited.
Dancing? What a great idea on New Year’s Eve, and that’s what Juanita’s is offering with its Little Rock Salsa New Year’s Eve starting at 9 p.m. Tickets for the 21-and-up party are $20 in advance and $25 day of show, and include light hors d’oeuvres and a champagne toast at midnight.
Stickyz is hosting one of the rather unique New Year’s Eve parties of the year with its Etsy Little Rock Masquerade Party. Featuring the live music of Falcon Scott and Justin Carder and the dance tunes of Poebot, the 18-and-up night starts at 9 p.m. and tickets are $15 in advance and $20 day of show. There will also be a complimentary champagne toast, noisemakers and a balloon drop at midnight. But listen: What’s important is the arts and crafts, including masquerade masks for sale created by Etsy Little Rock members and Etsy gift cards being given away. VIP booths are available, too, and include complimentary, one-of-a-kind masks and a bottle of champagne.
The Greens at North Hills is home to a New Year’s Eve Old School Style Party hosted by The Wildcat Foundation, a nonprofit assisting the young men and women of North Little Rock High School, including projects such as Boys and Girls State attendees, post prom, “Pass it On” reading event and more. Tickets to the 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. party are $50 and include food, beverages and party favors. Learn more at www.thewildcatfoundation.com.
The Rev Room is hosting two bands as the River Market club welcomes the new year: Tyrannosaurus Chicken and Cadillac Jackson. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 day of show with the party starting at 9 p.m. It’s a 18-and-up night.
Next Level Events celebrates the arrival of the new year with a party that kicks off at 9 p.m. and goes until 2 a.m. Tickets for the 21-and-up party featuring the usual New Year’s Eve goodies — music, dancing, party favors — are $30 in advance and $40 at the door.
There will be a honky-tonk, country rock throwdown at The Afterthought as the Hillcrest haunt welcomes the Good Time Ramblers for a night of music and fun. The music starts at 9 p.m. with a $10 cover. Besides the high-energy country rock of the Ramblers, the night will also include party favors.
PG 13 The Band is the musical act that will ring in the new year at Cajun’s Wharf as the Riverdale restaurant and nightclub celebrates the coming of 2013. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. with a $30 cover. Richie Johnson is the happy hour entertainment from 5-8:30 p.m. with PG 13 The Band taking the stage at 9 p.m. There’s an appetizer buffet from 7 p.m. until midnight, party favors and a champagne toast at midnight.
Across the Arkansas River in Argenta, Cregeen’s Irish Pub has the music of Chris Gulley & Co. as the pub rings in the new year. Down the street but still in Argenta, The Joint closes out 2012 with the music of The Big Dam Horns and Leta Joyner. The party starts at 9 p.m., and there’s a $10 cover which includes a champagne toast and party favors. And over at Cornerstone Pub, there’s The Captain. Plus, Reno’s Argenta Cafe should be rocking as well.
Midtown Billiards keeps the party going into the early morning hours with its New Year’s Eve Bash with the music of Catfish Jackson. Cover is $5 for the night and morning of partying.
The Jay Jackson Band is taking its music down the Arkansas River for the night as the Arkansas Queen presents New Year’s Eve on the River. The New Year’s Dinner Cruise boards at 6 p.m. and departs at 6:30 p.m. The New Year’s Party Cruise boards at 9:30 p.m. and departs at 10 p.m. Tickets start at $28.95.
Downtown Little Rock’s Miss Kitty’s Saloon hosts Miss Kitty’s Black Masquerade Ball starting at 7 p.m. with prizes and giveaways. Miss Kitty’s sister bar (or brother bar, if you will) over in Argenta, Trax, is hosting its own New Year’s Eve party, kicking it off at 9 p.m.
Out in west Little Rock, The Tavern Sports Grill offers a free night of music from Canvas which kicks off at 8:30 p.m. Just north of the Tavern, Thirst N Howl Bar & Grill has a free night of music and fun as well, with the sounds of Rip Van Shizzle starting at 9 p.m. One more west Little Rock spot for New Year’s Eve? West End Smokehouse & Tavern has Jason Greenlaw and The Groove for its party. And don’t forget Markham Street Grill & Pub.
Back to downtown Little Rock, Willy D’s New Year’s Eve party starts at 9 p.m. with a $25 cover that includes live music, party favors and a champagne toast at midnight. And Montego Cafe’s New Year’s Eve 2013 includes R&B, reggae, hip-hop and dance music from DJ Mike Blaze and the vocals of Terreigh Barnett. Doors open at 10 p.m.
Need a little bit of an Irish fix on New Year’s Eve? How about checking out Dugan’s Pub in the River Market with the music of The Karla Case Band starting up at 9 p.m.? The night is free. Over in west Little Rock, Hibernia Irish Tavern has the music of The Dead Celt Society at 8 p.m.
Down in Benton, Denton’s Trotline rings in 2013 with a little bit of a country kick from The Stephen Neeper Band. There’s a $10 cover for the party starting at 9 p.m. On up Interstate 30 a bit, the Electric Cowboy is also welcoming the new year with a country hoedown.