Disco on the Rio. Photo by J. Griffis Smith
New Year’s Eve Float Trip in Big Bend
Big Bend National Park celebrates its 75th birthday in 2019—and you can toast our state’s greatest gift to the nation with a glass of bubbly on the Rio Grande. For $525, join Far Flung Outdoor Center on a two-day float trip far away from the crowds, but still with plenty of the holiday’s usual accompaniments: live music, cocktails, and a picture-worthy memory.
Black Eyed Pea-Off
William Chris Vineyards in the Hill Country hamlet of Hye throws its annual New Year’s Day bash with the holiday’s staple food (for the unfamiliar: a plate of black-eyed peas is supposed to augur wealth and prosperity, and bring good fortune in the new year). $25 tickets include a glass of bubbly, black-eyed peas, and live music. Attendees can also sign up to compete in an eating competition. If you’d rather compete in the cookoff, the $50 entry fee includes an apron and a shot at winning a $500 grand prize.
El Cosmico’s New Year’s Eve Celebration and Brunch
With DJ dance tunes till midnight, stick and poke tattoos by Moonstone Tombstone, and food from East Side King, this free funky party in Marfa never disappoints. Get your “hair of the dog” cure the next morning with a New Year’s Day brunch from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
A Pink Armadillo New Year on Austin’s South Congress
Austin’s Hotel San José rings in the new year with a pink armadillo-themed party, a Texas twist on the dancing “Pink Elephants on Parade” in the Disney film Dumbo. Free to attend from 8 p.m. to midnight, guests can enjoy tunes by DJ Markus and complimentary bubbles from a Champagne tower for toasting at midnight. Across the street, South Congress Hotel will be hosting a free New Year’s Eve party of its own.
A Family-Friendly New Year’s at Horseshoe Bay Resort
Dance the night away to live music by The Argyles at this Hill Country resort. Admission includes party favors and a Champagne toast at midnight. While parents dance the night away, the kids get a night of fun at the New Year’s Eve Kid’s Club, where programming includes snacks, dinner, and arts and crafts activities throughout the evening. Reservations are required.
