As we leave 2024 and head into 2025, it’s always memorable to look back and see all the fun we had over the last 12 months before we begin buying more concert, festival and event tickets.
It seems as if Beaumont was once again the hot spot for the top touring comedians who told their jokes in front of sellout crowds in multiple venues across the city. Performing last year were Jo Koy, Theo Von, Ali Siddiq, Chad Prather, Gabriel “Fluffly” Iglesias, Eddie Griffin, Chris D’Elia, Ralph Barbosa and Jim Gaffigan.
If you like to laugh, three comedy shows are on the 2025 slate including Rodney Carrington on Friday, Jan. 17, at the Julie Rogers Theatre, Dusty Slay on Friday, March 21, at the Jefferson Theatre and Brad Williams on Thursday, Sept. 11, at the Julie Rogers Theatre.
Also put these on your calendar – the Bellamy Brothers (Friday, Jan. 31) at the Jefferson Theatre, “Menopause 2: The Musical” on Wednesday, Feb. 5, and the Gatlin Brothers on Saturday, Aug. 16, at the Jefferson Theatre. Tickets can be purchased online at beaumonteventstx.com.
Speaking of downtown Beaumont, festivals were aplenty such as Mural Fest, Juneteenth, Viva Beaumont Hispanic Heritage Festival and Oktoberfest. All these successful, and free to attend, events are back on the calendar for 2025.
Mardi Gras of Southeast Texas battled the harsh elements of Mother Nature last February, but did give us plenty of beads and live music with Three Thirty-Seven, Marshall Tucker Band, Lil Flip and Chingy.
After four years in downtown, Mardi Gras Southeast Texas will stay in the city with its new home – Doggett Ford Park. The dates are Feb. 28-March 2.
Ford Park was filled with a plethora of concerts and events. Cirque du Soleil’s “Cortero” visited in February as did singers Willie Nelson, Dwight Yoakam, Gary Alan and TobyMac.
Upcoming events scheduled at Ford Park are Harlem Globetrotters on Friday, Feb. 7, Monster Nation monster trucks on Feb. 21-22, Blippi on Wednesday, March 5, The Price is Right on Wednesday, March 12, the 81st annual YMBL South Texas State Fair March 27-April 6, Sesame Street Live on Saturday, April 12 as well as the new indoor football team, Beaumont Renegades.
The Roxy Event Center and Music Hall was created by Sean Farshad, who was the mastermind of Red’s Icehouse and Modelos Sports Cantina, opened last March in the former home of Sawdust Saloon. That Mexican OT sold out the joint in July and the venue has multiple concerts on the upcoming schedule like Moonshine Bandits on Saturday, Jan. 11, The Hunger on Saturday, Jan. 18, Hudson Westbrook on Saturday, Jan. 25 and The Toadies on Saturday, March 1. Tickets can be purchased at theroxybeaumont.com.
How could we forget the crowned jewel of Orange? The Lutcher Theater is in the midst of their incredible 45th season and have some amazing shows forthcoming such as “Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations” on Jan. 14-15, country superstar LeAnn Rimes on Saturday, Jan. 25, “Chicago” on Thursday, Feb. 20, “Alice,” which seamlessly blends illusion, acrobatics, magic and whimsy, on Friday, March 7, “The Cher Show” on Friday, April 4, and “Hades Town” on April 21-22. Tickets can be obtained online at lutcher.org.
If you thought 2024 in the 409 was exciting, just wait until 2025 kicks in.