New Year’s Eve celebration is returning to OKC, Mayor David Holt says
Oklahoma City is one of the 20 largest cities that does not offer a public New Year’s Eve celebration for citizens, but that will change as 2025 turns to 2026.
Ready or not, it’s almost time to bid farewell to 2025 and ring in 2026.
In downtown Oklahoma City, a free, new family-friendly celebration, the inaugural NYE Party in the Park, is debuting at 9:30 p.m. Dec. 31 in Scissortail Park. It will be the first time downtown OKC has hosted a large-scale New Year’s Eve gathering since 2022, the last year Arts Council Oklahoma City hosted its long-running Opening Night NYE celebration.
Celebrants can find plenty of other fun options across Oklahoma for welcoming the New Year, from high-energy New Year’s Eve concerts at venues statewide to First Day Hikes in more than 20 parks spread across the Sooner State.
Here are 20+ New Year’s events across Oklahoma where partygoers can celebrate the end of 2025 and the start of 2026
Noon Year’s Eve at Science Museum Oklahoma, OKC
Families can ring in 2026 on the morning of Dec. 31. The festivities start at 9 a.m., with attendees making their own cardboard floats. It ends with a homemade float parade at 11:45 a.m. and a countdown to noon.
Plus, the museum is hosting through Jan. 18 the traveling exhibit “Animation Academy,” which explores the world of animation and features familiar characters like Looney Tunes, Gumby and Kung Fu Panda.
Metro Library Noon Year’s Eve Celebrations, Oklahoma County
Several Metro Library System locations will celebrate New Year’s at midday with activities, crafts, music, dancing, games and more.
OKC Thunder vs. Portland Trail Blazers, OKC
The Thunder continue the long-running tradition of playing a New Year’s Eve game in front of an always raucous home crowd.Â
NYE Party in the Park, OKC
The inaugural event will include a performance by Oklahoma City-based party band Drive, along with food and beverage trucks, holiday vendors, a drone light show and the official downtown OKC New Year’s Eve countdown. Celebrants can walk over after the OKC Thunder game or go to Scissortail Park just for the party.
Opolis NYE, Norman
The Norman micro venue welcomes 2026 with a lineup of local acts, including Psychic Baths, Cherry Laurel and the Ugly Cowboys.
Uptown Get Down NYE, OKC
Austin, Texas-based electro-funk rock duo Ghostland Observatory will headline the 21-and-older NYE celebration that includes local talents Husbands and DJ Isis Payne.
New Year’s Eve with Waxie Dargles, Stillwater
The Oklahoma Celtic band rings in 2026 in festive Irish style at the downtown Stillwater pub.
Fourth Annual Bison Ball Drop New Year’s Eve, Medicine Park
Several businesses in the historic Oklahoma resort town are planning live music, food and drink and other festivities to ring in the New Year. The InnHabit tiny house resort is hosting the Bison Ball Drop, plus fireworks and Champagne at midnight.
Ole Red New Year’s Eve Party, Tishomingo
Blake Shelton’s hometown restaurant, bar and venue is featuring a live performance by J’s Dueling Pianos and a special scratch-made NYE dinner. The menu will include a shrimp cocktail and caprese skewers appetizer, smoked pork topped with cinnamon apples and paired with cheddar smashed potatoes, salad, cornbread and bourbon pecan cobbler. A midnight Champagne toast is included.
Doors open at 7:30 p.m., with dinner served at 8 p.m. and music beginning at 9 p.m.
Mike Hosty’s New Year’s Eve Show, Norman Â
- When: 8 p.m. Dec. 31.  Â
- Where: The Deli, 309 White St., Norman.  Â
- Information: http://www.hosty.com.
The beloved Oklahoma one-man band will play his signature stage: The Deli, a 21-and-older, nonsmoking bar on Campus Corner, where he routinely serves up his original songs and free Pizza Shuttle slices.
Ponyboy NYE, OKC
Gold Lincoln and Cozy Boys are playing the “Stranger Things”-theme 21-and-older celebration including a costume contest and midnight toast.
OKANA New Year’s Eve Celebration, OKC
The sprawling $400 million resort opened in February in downtown OKC, and its ringing in Year 2 with two celebrations. Youngsters can kick off the New Year early with a special Noon Year’s Eve Celebration from 11:30 a.m. to noon Dec. 31. Free to resort guests, the family event includes a mock ball drop at noon.
The resort is offering a more grown-up celebration with its NYE Buffet Dinner in the Sunset Ballroom. With seatings available from 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 31, and diners can pick from a wide selection of soups, salads, seafood, carving stations and desserts in festive atmosphere. Dinner reservations also grant access to the private Countdown to Midnight Party in the Sunrise Ballroom, where the Gatsby-themed celebration from 10:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. includes a live DJ, photo booth, dessert station and a Champagne toast to ring in 2026.
Over the outdoor OKANA Beach, which is closed for the season, a drone show countdown will incorporate ball drops, beach waves and Champagne sparkles across the sky.
New Year’s Eve at The Jones with My So Called Band, OKC
Partygoers can dance the night away to the popular Oklahoma tribute band’s covers of 1990s and early 2000s hits. DJ Litebrite is on the lineup for the 21-and-older event, too.
All NYE party tickets include a midnight Champagne toast, but not dinner. Booth guests will be able to order from the walk-up window concert menu, with table service at their booths, and the walk-up patio window will be open for general admission and mezzanine attendees.
Adèle Wolf’s New Year’s Eve Follies, OKC
The internationally renowned Oklahoma performer and producer will ring in 2025 with her annual world-class, Las Vegas-style revue. The show is for attendees ages 18 and older.
Riverwind Casino’s In The Mix In 2026, Norman
Two of OKC’s most popular party bands perform a high-energy doubleheader: Souled Out kicks off the night, delivering a mix of Motown classics, party favorites and modern hits backed by an entertaining horn section. Superfreak takes over at 10 p.m. with a disco funk-fueled performance with choreography, smoke machines and nonstop energy.
Hard Rock Tulsa’s Tulsa’s Biggest NYE Bash
The casino-resort is ringing in 2026 with five live entertainment stages and two balloon drops. The event is free and open to the public, and celebrants must be 21 or older to attend.
The party officially kicks off with DJ T-Nice taking over the turntables in the Grand Lobby starting at 5 p.m. Dec. 31. Riff’s kicks off with DJ Oreo at 6 p.m., followed by Time Machine at 8 p.m. DJ Kelevra keeps the party alive at 7 p.m. at Amp Bar.
Track 5. ramps up at 6 p.m. with a set by DJ Morgan Ganem. At 8 p.m., Paul Bogart will take the stage, followed by a special performance at 10 p.m. by the Swon Brothers, a country music duo from Muskogee. The countdown to midnight culminates in the venue’s inaugural balloon drop on the dance floor.
The doors at Hard Rock Live open at 9 p.m., with DJ 2Legit and 80’s Mixtape. At 11:30 p.m., 1990s hip-hop icon Tone Loc takes the stage, leading up to the 16,000-balloon drop at midnight inside the venue.
The Imaginaries New Years Eve Dinner & Concert, Guthrie
The busy Oklahoma husband-and-wife Americana duo plays their final show of 2025.
Renaissance Masquerade: Sinners and Saints, OKC
OKC’s Spring Family Circus will host this grown-up New Year’s Eve party featuring burlesque circus acts, cabaret singers, interactive fun and more.
The group also will host at Anthem a Kids Noon Year’s Eve Party from noon to 2:30 p.m. Dec. 31, with activities that include cookie decorating, games, a dance party and a 2 p.m. ball drop.
First Day Hikes at Oklahoma State Parks, statewide
More than 20 state parks across Oklahoma are participating in America’s State Parks First Day Hikes initiative, which takes place in all 50 states and encourages people to start the New Year staying active by taking a hike outdoors. Â
From Black Mesa to Lake Eufaula, people are urged to dress for the weather, put on sturdy shoes, explore the diverse natural wonders of Oklahoma’s state parks — and, hopefully, start on the path to a healthy habit.Â
New Year, New Jokes, OKC
The comedy club starts off 2026 with a free open mic showcase of local comedians.
Scissortail Park’s First Day Walk and Happy Noon Year, OKC
Start off 2025 with a walk in the downtown OKC park, presented by the Greater Oklahoma City Parks and Trails Foundation and National Park Service.
The Hangover Open Pickleball Tournament, OKC
The family-friendly entertainment venue and restaurant invites people to “recoop” from the previous night’s partying with lighthearted New Year’s Day pickleball tournament where pajamas are welcome.