Going out? Staying in to watch the ball drop on TV? Well, you certainly have plenty of options.
If live music is your thing, most local establishments have bands performing on New Year’s Eve like the Adam Leger Band, Bayou Beats with Joe Harmon and many more. For a detailed list of who’s playing where, view our Live Music section on Page 5.
For those who like to boogie on the dance floor and cut a rug, check out Al White at Charlie’s in Winnie on Dec. 31. Inspired by Kenny Rogers, White has been playing country music since 1991 and has shared the stage with many like T. Graham Brown, Willie Nelson, Eddie Raven, Rhett Atkins, Lonestar, Wayne Toups and others. Tickets are $15 per person.
We also recommend seeing Hunter Courts at Bruno’s from 6-8 p.m. Courts won the 2024 Hoboken My Way Sinatra Sing-Off in New Jersey and has been entertaining audiences with his renditions of Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Billy Joel and Elton John.
MacKenzie’s Pub in Beaumont will groove the night away with local favorite and guitar guru Scott McGill.
For those who chase the chance to strike it rich, the casinos in nearby Lake Charles, Louisiana, are never bad options with the Golden Nugget, L’Auberge or the Horseshoe. Golden Nugget will host live music from party bands Three Thirty Seven inside Blue Martini while The Fuse rocks your socks at Rush Lounge.
It’s also become a yearly tradition to watch the ball drop on TV. All the major networks will have coverage while a slew of channels host marathons.
“Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest” is more than 5 1/2 hours of coverage beginning at 7 p.m. on ABC. Seacrest returns for the 20th time in Times Square in New York City with cohost Rita Orta with an all-star roster of artists performing such as Cody Johnson, Lenny Kravitz, Megan Moroney, Jonas Brothers, Thomas Rhett, Tinashe, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, TLC, Teddy Swims, Blake Shelton, Dasha, DJ Cassidy and “Pass the Mic Live,” which includes hip-hop icons Ja Rule, Fat Joe, Slick Rick and Doug E. Fresh, Ernest, Hardy, Kesha, Laufey, T-Pain and Natasha Bedingfield.
Alanis Morissette will kick off the 30th anniversary celebration with Reneé Rapp and country star Carrie Underwood will close the show.
CBS returns with “New Year’s Eve: Nashville’s Big Bash” at 7 p.m. The star-studded entertainment special featuring high-energy performances from country music’s hottest superstars, including Keith Urban, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Chris Stapleton, Post Malone, Shaboozey, Big & Rich, Tyler Hubbard, Miranda Lambert, Brittney Spencer, Zach Top and Lainey Wilson.
Singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles will join the National Symphony Orchestra for a performance at the Kennedy Center beginning at 7 p.m. on PBS.
Over on NBC, Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager will host “A Toast to 2024” at 8 p.m. and will feature a long list of celebs like Snoop Dogg, Reba McEntire and many more.
New Year’s Eve is also a great time to chill at home and binge watch a plethora of shows. Many networks will show marathons of shows such as “Chopped” on Food Network, “Yellowstone” on Paramount,” “Modern Family” on TBS, “The Unbelievable with Dan Aykroyd” on History, “Shark Tank” on CNBC, “The Office” on E! and our personal favorite, “Twilight Zone” on SyFy.
The 136th Rose Parade, with the theme “Best Day Ever,” is televised live beginning at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 1, on ABC.
If you’re really into setting new resolutions, then lace up your running shoes for the annual Free Resolution 5K Run/Walk hosted by the Sea Rim Striders or the First Day Hikes at Village Creek State Park, both Jan. 1.
Don’t forget to eat black-eyed peas, cabbage and cornbread for good luck and prosperity in 2025.