Where to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Kansas City area (unless COVID gets in the way)
Remember the end of 2020 when people were saying things like, “Well, 2021 couldn’t possibly be this bad.” And then …
Until recently, it appeared the last day of the year would be a big improvement over 2020. Most public New Year’s Eve celebrations were wiped out by the pandemic last year. But most will return this year — barring a spate of COVID-induced cancellations.
If omicron and delta variants allow, partyers will be able to ring in 2022 in new, creative ways.
The Kansas City Renaissance Festival is combining its Knights of Lights holiday display with a late-night party including appetizers, entertainment and champagne.
Quixotic will offer a special presentation of its “Sensatia Cirque Caberet” along with guest performances throughout the evening at the Grand Theater at Crown Center.
The Prohibition New Year’s Eve Bash at Tom’s Town Distilling will include a mixology class, hors d’oeuvres and a piano bar.
As in previous years, many restaurants and nightspots — too many to mention here — will offer New Year’s Eve specials. Here are the highlights of the area’s more extensive celebrations:
Three big blowouts
▪ NYE Live! 8 p.m., KC Live! ($70-$180). powerandlightdistrict.com.
▪ NYE 2022 @ The Temple XII, 8 p.m., Scottish Rite Temple ($65-$105). nyekc.com.
▪ Black Party XVII, 8 p.m., The Truman ($75-$150). blackpartykc.com.
Three unique ways to celebrate
▪ Kansas City Mavericks New Year’s Eve (vs. Wichita) with post-game skate, charity jersey auction and more, 7:05 p.m., Cable Dahmer Arena ($12-$50). kcmavericks.com.
▪ Knights of Lights New Year’s Eve Party, 10 p.m., Kansas City Renaissance Festival ($45). kcrenfest.com.
▪ Winter Fae Ball, 10 p.m., Redux Society ($35). reduxsociety.org.
Music, comedy and more
▪ The new year comes early with New Year’s Cabaret: Musical Monday & Tuesday, 7 p.m. Dec. 27-28, MTH Theater at Crown Center ($39-$55). musicaltheaterheritage.com.
▪ Irish New Year’s Eve Celebration, 4 p.m., Irish Center of Kansas City ($40). irishcenterkc.org.
▪ A Better Off Dead New Year, 8 p.m., Aztec Shawnee Theater ($30-$35). aztecshawnee.com.
▪ NYE with KC Groove Therapy, The Instamatics and more, 8:30 p.m., Knuckleheads ($50). knuckleheadskc.com.
▪ Disco Dick’s New Year’s Eve, 8:30 p.m., VooDoo ($20-$25). caesars.com/harrahs-kansas-city.
▪ Quixotic New Year’s Eve Gala, 9:30 p.m., Grand Theater at Crown Center ($95). sensatiakc.com.
▪ Tony Rock, 9:45 p.m., Kansas City Improv ($30). improvkc.com.
▪ Gareth Reynolds, 10:15 p.m., Comedy Club of Kansas City ($27-$35). thecomedyclubkc.com.
▪ New Year’s Eve at The Bird, 11 p.m., Bird Comedy Theater ($25). thebirdkc.com.
Other events
▪ Prestige New Year’s Celebration, 5:30 p.m., Soiree and Gem Theater ($60-$150). eventbrite.com.
▪ New Year’s Eve Black and Green Ball, 6 p.m., DeLeon Event Space ($40, $70 for couple). eventbrite.com.
▪ New Year’s Eve Gala, 7 p.m., Camelot Ballroom ($120 for couple). camelot-ballroom.com.
▪ NYE 2022, 7 p.m., The View at Briarcliff ($150-$250). theviewatbriarcliff.com.
▪ New Year’s Eve 2022 Ball with Case, 7 p.m., Hilton Garden Inn Independence ($100). eventbrite.com.
▪ Countdown on the Corner, 8 p.m., Martini Corner ($65-$85). eventbrite.com.
▪ New Year’s Eve Party, 8 p.m., J. Rieger & Co. ($125). jriegerco.com/nye2022.
▪ Kansas City New Year’s Eve Bar Crawl, 8 p.m., Waldo ($20-$30; check-in at The Well). facebook.com/event.
▪ Wild West Bottoms NYE Blowout, 8 p.m., The Ship ($35-$60). theshipkc.com/music.
▪ New Year’s Eve Party, 8 p.m., Uptown ($55). uptowntheater.com.
▪ Dance into the New Year at “The Moonlight Club,” 8 p.m., Leavenworth Heritage Center ($90, $175 for couple). heritagecenter-leavenworth.com.
▪ Party Like It’s 1977, 9 p.m., RecordBar ($20-$50). therecordbar.com.
▪ Return of the Glam 2022 NYE, 9 p.m., Mod Gallery ($25). eventbrite.com.
▪ Prohibition New Year’s Eve Bash, 9 p.m., Tom’s Town Distilling ($125). eventbrite.com.
Kids’ stuff
▪ Wonder Eve, 9 a.m., Wonderscope Children’s Museum (sold out). wonderscope.org.
▪ Noon Year’s Eve Kids Disco, 10:30 a.m., Pinstripes (free). pinstripes.com.
▪ Noon Year’s Eve, noon, Science City ($14). unionstation.org.
