Just when I’ve gotten used to saying “1996,” here we are ready to launch into 2024. Time really does seem to move faster as we age — just at the time we’d like it to slow down a bit. We’ve covered a lot of territory through this year, and most of the news has been good for downtown. The secret is out and growth continues exponentially. By this time next year we should be able to get a good look at our new stadium (though it won’t open until spring 2025) and the development around it.
But before we get into all that, we need to raise a glass to the past year and celebrate the dawn of a new one. I hope each of you had a good 2023 and that your 2024 is even better. Thank you for sharing a bit of the ride with me. As for bringing in the new year, you have lots of great options. I’ve listed below the celebrations we included in the Ten Day Planner. There’s a little something for everyone, from the free to the pricey, from the wander-up sort to the reservations required. You can party like a pirate, Salsa the night away, or dance to a dj, or oldies, jazz, current rock and roll or silent disco to tunes of your own choosing.
The biggest celebration, of course, is sponsored by the City of Knoxville: New Year’s Eve at the Sunsphere. Previously on Market Square, the celebration and ball drop moved to the World’s Fair Park two years ago. It makes sense. As with so many things, it had outgrown the square and, with the skating rink taking up a large chunk of space, the crowds made it a bit miserable. As an aside, Urban Woman and I had the best seat in the house for the launch last year: an upper floor hospital room at UT Medical Center! I do not recommend it. 🙂
For those of you (and us, this year!) who can get reserved seating in UT Medical Center, the city recommends that you bring chairs and come early. The fun will start several hours early, of course, and you’ll want to dress warmly since game-time temps (as of this writing) are projected to be around 34°. No alcohol is allowed at the family-friendly event. 😉
But lots of fun will be allowed with most everything starting about 9:00 pm. Food Trucks will line up to keep the kids from starving or to provide a midnight snack for the grownups. Silent disco will be in the house, as will a DJ who will take the stage at 9:00 pm. At 10:00 pm, the stage will give way to the WIMZ Garage Band who will play you right up to the countdown.
Of course, you can come downtown early, have a nice dinner, hit the ice for a few rounds, and stroll to the WFP when the time approaches. Expect lasers, fireworks, and, of course, a ball drop at midnight. Check out the video below for a look at the fun from last year and have a great time, however you bring in the New Year!
- New Year’s Eve Party: Crafty After Dark, Crafty Brewery – Emory Place, 2:00 pm
- New Year’s Eve 2023, Mirage Knoxville, 5:00 pm, $49.95, RSVP
- New Years Eve Bar Crawl, Downtown Knoxville, 5:00 pm – 2:00 am, from $27.64, RSVP
- New Year’s Eve with Von Sutherland at Hilton Downtown, 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
- Early NYE’s Countdown @ The Hub, Knox Brew Hub, 7:00 pm
- New Year’s Eve Party with Boys Night Out, Crowne Plaza Knoxville Downtown, 7:00 pm – 2:00 am, starting at $429 per couple
- New Year’s Eve in the Old City Knoxville, 8:00 pm, starting at $30
- GREEN & GOLD New Years Eve Party, Last Days of Autumn Brewing, 8:00 pm
- NYE NOSTALGIA with The Analog Kids / Joey’s Van @ Preservation Pub, 8:00 pm / 11:00 pm, $5
- New Year’s Eve – Moongate 54 Discotek, Pour Taproom, 8:00 pm, $31.16, RSVP
- NYE Party at Central Cinema ft. Will King! Central Cinema, 8:00 pm – 12:30 am, $19.50, RSVP
- New Years Eve Salsa Party @ Marble City Market, 8:30 pm – 12:30 am, $20
- New Year’s Eve Pirate Party, The Pirate Tavern, 9:00 pm
- New Year Eve’s Party, Radius Rooftop Lounge, 9:00 pm, starting at $40, RSVP
- New Year’s Eve at the Sunsphere / City of Knoxville New Year’s Eve Ball Drop with WIMZ Garage Band, World’s Fair Park, 9:00 pm / 10:00 pm, FREE!
- New Year’s Eve with Frog & Toad Quartet at Maker Exchange, 9:00 pm – midnight, free admission, RSVP
- NYE Show with Evie Andrus and the Paper Flowers, Live at Boyd’s Jig & Reel, 9:00 pm – midnight, FREE!
- New Year’s Eve Silent Disco at Pretentious Beer Co., 9:00 pm – 1:30 am, $23.85, RSVP
- Momentum NYE @ Barrelhouse, 9:00 pm – 3:00 am, $15
- NYE @ Brother Wolf, 9:30 pm
- DJ Old Skööl – All your favs chosen by you! Preservation Pub, 9:30 pm
- New Year’s Eve Fundraiser Party by Matthew Park for Knox County Commission, Alliance Brewing Co, 9:30 pm – 1:00 am, $100 – $250, RSVP
- Connor Kelly and the Time Warp, Scruffy City Hall, 10:00 pm – 1:30 am, $5