Usher in the new year with a bang in Iowa City.
From Gabe’s and Vue Rooftop to Mercer Park Pool and The Iowa Children’s Museum, here are 10 ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve:
Celebrate New Year’s Eve 1970s Style at the Highlander Hotel with this throwback celebration.
New Year’s Eve at The Highlander
Go to The Highlander to celebrate New Year’s Eve 1970s style. At this groovy throwback party, 1960s and 70s-themed outfits are encouraged for the costume contest. The night of dancing will be soundtracked by Iowa City band, Dogs on Skis, a cover band specializing in classic rock. The party begins at 9 p.m. and goes to 12:30 a.m.; the tickets cost $25. The Highlander also offers a dinner and party option for $50, attendees can make reservations online, and payment will be collected the day of. Dinner will be served from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
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Catch Catfish Keith performing blues acoustic hits at the Black Angel.
New Year’s Eve with Catfish Keith
Catfish Keith has been an innovator in acoustic blues since the 1980s. Renowned for his fingerpicking guitar skills and powerful and passionate vocals, Catfish Kieth is bringing his live act to the Black Angel for New Year’s Eve. Enjoy dinner at the local spot starting at 5:30 p.m. with music beginning at 8 p.m. Tickets for the evening are available online and cost $30.
New Year’s Eve at the First Avenue Club
Ring in the new year at the First Avenue Club. Starting at 9 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31, DJ Roger Elizondo will spin all the best club classics. Guests can either spend the night dancing, playing pool, or even indulging in a prime-rib dinner. Dinner for the night costs $25 per person, with group ticketing options available. The meal will be served at 8 p.m. The general admission party begins at 9 p.m. Tickets cost $10 and are available online. This New Year’s Eve celebration is a 21-and-over event.
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Big Grove is hosting its annual New Year’s Eve party that begins at 9 p.m. at the Iowa City taproom.
Big Grove’s Big New Year’s Eve Celebration
Say goodbye to 2024 at an Iowa City icon, Big Grove Brewery, for its annual New Year’s Eve party. The cost to attend is $25, and the party begins at 9 p.m. Guests can snack on hors d’oeuvres throughout the night while rocking on the dance floor with a live DJ. The brewery will host a fireworks show at the stroke of midnight.
New Year’s Eve at Elray’s
Enjoy three different parties all at one place. Elray’s Live and Dive in downtown Iowa City welcomes guests to enjoy three entertainment rooms on New Year’s Eve, with live music from Worst Impressions and Molly Shannon and hot beats from DJ Stuffin and Paimon. Entry to Elray’s gets partygoers access to all three rooms. Early bird tickets and VIP ticket packages are available in advance online. Tickets will also be available at the door, as capacity allows. Elray’s opens at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31.
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On New Year’s Eve, Tequila Cowgirl will offer no cover at the door and live DJs from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m
Country New Year’s Eve at Tequila Cowgirl
Boot-scoot your way into 2025 at Tequila Cowgirl. On New Year’s Eve, the nightclub will offer and live DJs from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Additionally, the nightclub will give free merch away to the first 20 guests. Tequila Cowgirl will also offer their signature frozen cocktails for $3.
Midnight in Paris at the Vue Rooftop
Start the new year with the best view in town at Vue Rooftop. The rooftop bar and restaurant hosts New Year’s Eve with a dinner buffet, party favors, a live performance from dueling pianos, a midnight balloon drop and champagne toast, a photo booth, and a midnight snack buffet. That’s all included in the $99 ticket. Doors for the event open at 7 p.m., and the dueling pianos begin at 10 p.m. The Vue recommends arriving early since table seating is not guaranteed.
Dance into 2025 at Gabe’s free New Year’s Eve Dance Party.
NYE Dance Party at Gabe’s
Dance away the night at Gabe’s with local DJs Ahzia and PhDJ. The free party starts at 9 p.m accompanied by a champagne toast at midnight.
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Splash into 2025 at Mercer Park Pool at Noon Year’s Eve.
Noon Year’s Eve
The Iowa City Parks and Recreation Department is hosting a family-friendly New Year’s Eve party. On Tuesday, Dec. 31, splash into the new year with a beach ball drop at Noon at Mercer Park Pool. The party starts at 11:30 a.m., and each child’s ticket costs $5.
An all-day celebration at the Iowa Children’s Museum
The Iowa Children’s Museum will host a day-long New Year’s Eve celebration with a twist. Rather than celebrating one countdown, the museum will celebrate the arrival of 2025 at 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., and just before 4 p.m., acknowledging the varying time zones worldwide. The museum will hand out noisemakers, balloons, and other celebratory items as the countdown begins over the speaker system. Guests can also make their own party hat and snap a selfie in the photo station, while a countdown-themed scavenger hunt will also be offered. All activities are included with regular museum admission, which is $10 for children and adults and $9 for people 60 and older.
Jessica Rish is an entertainment, dining and education reporter for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. She can be reached at JRish@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @rishjessica_
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Here’s how to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Iowa City
