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    The big midnight approaches

    The partier's guide to New Year's Eve in Houston

    Caroline Gallay
    Dec 26, 2010 | 3:51 pm
    • Watch the ball drop at Hudson Lounge
      Photo by Jack Thompson
    • Watch 50,000 balloons drop at the Hyatt Regency
    • Bring the kids to Gloworama
    • See red at the Red Room bar
      Photo by Daniel Ortiz
    • Grab a spot for Anvil's Bubbles and Bourbon
      Photo by Bart Everson

    Need something to do for New Year's Eve? After all, Christmas is yesterday's news.

    Want to see and be seen on the last night of the year? Well show up at one — any — of the places below to make a fashionable foray into 2011.

    The Real Red Room New Year's Eve
    Red Room | 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. | $50 pre-salel tickets
    Enter the lush red velvet interior of the Red Room for tunes by DJ X Ray and a complimentary midnight champagne toast. Various table packages are available ranging from $500 to $1,500. Individual tickets at the door are $75; call 832-594-4366 for more info or to purchase tickets.

    Veuve Clicquot Countdown at Hudson Lounge
    Hudson Lounge | 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. | $100
    Hit the Rice Village's newest hotspot for a Miami chic celebration complete with confetti cannon, a live-stream of the NYC ball-drop and downtown Houston's fireworks and complimentary passed bites. Sponsored by Ultimate Vodka and Veuve Clicquot. Call 713-523-0020 for more info.

    New Year's Eve at Vintage Lounge
    Vintage Lounge | 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. | $90 General Admission
    Ring in the new year at Vintage Lounge with an open bar until 2 a.m., the Boom Boom Room's DJ InVerse, a champagne toast and a live feed of the NYC ball drop. VIP packages are also available. Tickets and more info is available here.

    Bubbles & Bourbon Bash at Anvil Bar & Refuge
    Anvil Bar & Refuge | 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. | No reservations necessary
    Get there early for seasoned cocktails and delightful concoctions from Anvil's special "Bubbles and Bourbon" menu. Expect jazz music, party hats, a midnight balloon drop and, of course, a toast of either bubbles or bourbon.

    Champagne and birthday cake at 13 Celsius
    13 Celsius | 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. | $13 or $300 for couch seating for six
    Start your celebrating early at 13 Celsius' annual 13|31 bash celebrating both the new year and 13 Celsius' fourth birthday. This bash features two complimentary champagne toasts — at midnight and again at 1 a.m. — plus a slice of happy birthday cake.

    The Last Meal at Tony Mandola's Gulf Coast Kitchen West Gray location
    Tony Mandola's | 8 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. | Open seating
    Celebrate great memories and sample the full menu at the last night at Tony Mandola's location on West Gray. The well-loved restranteur is opening a new place on Waugh in March. Live music by the Ken Cluck Band.

    New Year's Eve at Hearsay Gastro Lounge
    Hearsay
    | 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. | No reservations necessary
    Hit Hearsay downtown and enjoy the regular menu until 10 p.m., followed by appetizers from 12 a.m. to 2 a.m. while a DJ spins. Champagne cocktails and specialty martinis are $8, Champagne is $6 with a toast and party favors at midnight.

    New Year's Eve at the Four Seasons
    Four Seasons Hotel
    lobby lounge | 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. | $500 for priority seating
    A Gloworama theme will permeate the Four Seasons lounge to play off the festivities at Discovery Green with glowing specialty cocktails, entertainment by R&B and pop duo Bubbo & Greg, and antipasti, sushi and bar menus to keep you energized and dancing all night long. Contact Libby Cagle at 713 652 6244 for VIP reservations.

    Pease Out: 2011 NYE Party at Groundhall
    Groundhall | 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. | $22 to $27
    Join Warpaint, Girl in a Coma, Ume and The Tontons, Tax the Wolf, The Handshake and Young Girls to ring in 2011 at Groundhall. The 21-and-up set can take advantage of free drinks from 8 to 10 p.m. and a complimentary meal. Save $5 if you purchase your tickets in advance at TicketFly.

    New Year's Eve at The Tasting Room at Uptown Park
    The Tasting Room | 8 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. | $40
    Enjoy a complimentary first beverage as well as live music, dancing, party favors, great Tasting Room food and a complimentary Pommery Brut Royal Champagne toast at midnight. VIP admission will run you $75 and includes a private reserve room, a Champagne upgrade and an additional carving station.

    Free Press' New Year's Eve Cataclysm
    Fitzgerald's | 8:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. | Free for 21-and-up
    With the Wild Moccasins, Weird Party, Limb, Golden Axe, B L A C K I E, Hamamatsu Tom, Hex Dispensers, Fat Tony, Delicious Milk and State vs. Judd Nelson. Try to stay alert for giveaways like passes to Free Press SummerFest 2011.

    Style, Sophistication, Glitz and Glamour: A New Year's Eve Affair to Remember
    Sullivan's Steakhouse | 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. | $20
    Come early for dinner ($69 per person) and stay late for Latin jazz music by The Brew at Sullivan's Ringside jazz lounge. Dance the night away and toast to the ball drop at midnight.

    New Year's Eve Celebration at the Hyatt Regency Downtown
    Hyatt Regency | 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. | $99 General Admission
    Four floors, two live bands, one DJ and 50,000 balloons makes for a hell of a New Year's Eve celebration. A general admission ticket also includes four drink tickets, party favors, and music by latin group Yelba, '60s hits by The Fab 5 and DJ 33-1/3 spinning party hits in the lobby. Midnight brings a toast and a balloon drop from the 33-floor atrium.

    Gloworama New Year's Eve 2011
    Discovery Green | 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. | VIP tickets are $75 and $150
    The CultureMap-sponsored Gloworama is a free, family-friendly and funky outdoor bash with live entertainment that includes a parade of illuminated art cars, fireworks and the Big Glow — a 3D light show projected against the George R. Brown. Performers include the Fire Spinners, America's Got Talent's ArcAttack, Runaway Sun and headliner Jesse Dayton. Illuminated costumes are encouraged.

    For those who need a kick to their toast, VIP tickets get you access to a pre-party and prime seats to view the parade. The Hilton Americas bar and other surrounding establishments will keep the drinks pouring as long as it's legal.

    Editor's note: Don't forget to check out Fayza Elmostehi's earlier New Year's Eve story that includes some eclectic options, including a camping party and a Ars Lyrica classical music concert.

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    festive cities

    Houston dazzles among top 10 most festive cities in America for 2025

    Amber Heckler
    Nov 26, 2025 | 12:30 pm
    Pedestrian bridge to River Oaks
    River Oaks Christmas Lights in Houston TX/Facebook
    The River Oaks Christmas Lights are a fun place to take families.

    Houston has once again landed a coveted spot on Thumbtack's annual ranking of the most festive American cities in 2025.

    Home services platform Thumbtack analyzed holiday light installation requests from customers from October 2024 to 2025 to determine the most festive U.S. cities. Rankings were based on the "relative frequency" of requests after being adjusted for the population of each state and metro area.

    Houston ranked as the 6th most festive U.S. city this year, dropping two spots from its former No. 4 rank in 2024.

    Locals searching for inspiration for their homes can find it at the many twinkly displays illuminating Houston for the holidays, from the iconic City Lights to the rustic Dewberry Farm light show. And the holiday season is beginning earlier with every passing year, according to Thumbtack.

    "Homeowners are layering their look from October through December, swapping out pumpkins for pine boughs and adding sparkle as the season unfolds," the report said.

    Other festive holiday events happening around Houston include cheery pop-up bars, holiday markets, and much more. CultureMap readers can also keep up with all of Houston's holiday happenings in our special editorial series.

    Other big Texas cities like Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio also all landed top-10 spots in the report, proving the Lone Star State is much more festive than the rest of the country.

    "From Texas to Florida, the South is setting the standard for holiday spirit, and in true Texas fashion, bigger is definitely brighter," the report said. "Mild winters and a strong sense of community keep the Lone Star State shining at the top."

    Thumbtack's top 10 most festive U.S. cities in 2024 are:

    • No. 1 – Austin, Texas
    • No. 2 – Dallas, Texas
    • No. 3 – Seattle, Washington
    • No. 4 – Las Vegas, Nevada
    • No. 5 – Sacramento, California
    • No. 6 – Houston, Texas
    • No. 7 – San Francisco, California
    • No. 8 – Charlotte, North Carolina
    • No. 9 – San Antonio, Texas
    • No. 10 – Atlanta, Georgia
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