Forget about frantically texting friends at the last minute. Instead, lock in a reservation at one of Knoxville’s top restaurants or snap up tickets for an epic party.
Are you after something fancy or more low-key for New Year’s Eve festivities? We’ve got you.
Cocktails are blended with shopping in this whimsical new bar on Market Square.Cost: Free
Reservations are already open for New Year’s Eve. Babalu is featuring several special dishes and drinks in addition to their main menu. Rent one of Babalu’s pods for dinner or a pre-NYE celebration – they accommodate up to 25 people.
The Burnin Hermans are bringing the entertainment for Barley’s annual New Year’s Eve bash. Show starts at 10 p.m.Cost: $10
This party is for EDM fans. Barrelhouse will have a DJ lineup featuring Huglife James Scott and J Mo b2b Abrakapokus. Party starts at 10 p.m. and there will also be a balloon drop, lasers and a midnight toast to ring in the new year with Gypsy Circus.Cost: $15 at the door.
Bring in the new year with some Latin flair and Andres Tapia in the second floor Quartz Room, starting at 9:30 p.m.Cost: Free before 7 p.m., door charge increases to $20 after that, but grants admission to all bars on the Market Square Bar Hop.
Old City favorite will celebrate with an energetic set by East Tennessee’s own Alex and the Animals at 9 p..m., followed by a midnight champagne toast.Cost: Free
DJ, drink specials and most importantly, a glitzy disco theme.Cost: $20 after 9 p.m., no reservations.
Celebrate the new year at Crowne Plaza with a package that includes accommodation, a prime rib and seafood buffet, dancing to Boys Night Out, party favors, champagne toast at midnight, continental breakfast following the party and complimentary parking.Cost: $399 per couple, excluding tax.
Fountain City Social is throwing an ’80s-themed party with tunes provided by an ’80s cover band. Dressing up in ’80s prom gear is encouraged, but partygoers can also come as they are.Cost: Free
How about a New Year’s Eve Masquerade Party with a live jazz band, including festive masks, half off house prosecco bottle and a champagne toast at midnight? Tickets can be reserved now; cancellation fee of $25 per person applies after Dec. 30. VIP seating is available for $200 per person and includes a bottle of Veuve Clicquotfor the table, charcuterie board and guaranteed best views of the ball drop at midnight.Cost: Free or $200 per person for VIP seating. Reserve at Resy.com
Looking for an alcohol free New Year’s Eve to remember? The new Frog Juice Kombucherie cover charge includes sparkling bevvies to ‘champagne’ toast,Old Man Ratchet DJing (of wozo radio fame) rocking the dance floor, and fires for setting intentions for the new year.Cost: $15 cover
See Morphine Drip, Rahla Abdul, Royal Disaster, Juuls, Hannah VonStevens, Beebee Alexander, Athena Sparxx, and Biggie Taters, with some surprise celebrity impersonations & live singing thrown in. Shows will be at 9, 10 and 11 p.m. Watch the countdown and ball drop at midnight. 18 years and up, only.Rent a table for 10 people for $100, including cookies and champagne.Cost: $5 in advance, $10 at the door. Ticket link: https://www.simpletix.com/e/dancing-with-the-stars-nye-drag-show-hi-wi-tickets-120150
Make reservations for a 5-course Greek dinner at Kefi between 4-10 p.m. Make reservations online through Resy. After 10 p.m. walk-ins only until midnight.Cost: $130 per person, $20 cancellation fee.
Sing in the new year at Knox Box Karaoke between 8 p.m.- 2 a.m., with a free champagne toast at midnight.Cost: $5 cover per person.
What better way to celebrate a fake countdown at the more reasonable hour of 8 p.m. than with a glass of the ‘champagne of beers’ Miller High Life, of course. Watch Auld Lang Syne and every TV showing last year’s countdown and be in bed by 10 p.m.Cost: Free
Start off with a Mediterranean dip sampler and finish with baklava for dessert. Free show by the international belly dancer Safiya Nawaar. Then a champagne toast at midnight.Cost: $49.95 per person with complimentary bottle of champagne with a party of four or more.
Kiss 2022 goodbye and say hello to 2023 at the annual New Year’s Eve Pub Crawl. Wagon Wheel, Hanna’s Old City, Southbound and Old City Sports Bar are all participating. Wristbands required for entry to any of the venues are $25 in advance, $40 if purchased on the day of the event, and there is a limited number of $60 ‘lineskipper’ passes.Cost: $25-60, https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nye-in-the-old-city-2023-tickets-453545545937?aff=ebdssbdestsearch
Executive Chef Darin has thoughtfully created a dinner menu for the 7th annual New Year’s Eve celebration. Reservations are available between 4-10 p.m. on Tock or by calling the restaurant.Cost: $129 per guest, includes complimentary champagne toast. Excludes tax and gratuity.
Choose from two seatings at 5 or 8 p.m. for Osteria Stella’s tasting menu by Chef de Cuisine John Hasentufel will prepare the tasting menu, with optional wine pairings and cocktails available from Brother Wolf.Cost: $100 per ticket
Rock ‘n rollers Marigold Thieves hit the stage from 8-10: 30 p.m., followed at 11 p.m. by Joey’s Van, a ’90s/’00s Pop Punk cover band based out of Bristol, Tennessee. Cost: $20 cover charge for access to Preservation Pub, Bernadette’s Crystal Gardens and Scruffy City Hall. Free before 7 p.m.
Get your groove on at Pretentious Beer Co. thanks to Silent Disco Knox and Born & Raised Productions. Choose from three channels of music between 9 p.m. and 1:30 a.m.Cost: $20 per person, Advance tickets at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/463725354017
Get your new year off to a great start with Printshop Beer Co.’s Hair of the Dog yoga class at 10:45 a.m. It will have an end of year theme/focus. Register at https://www.rigazzimobilewellness.com/community. Printshop will close early on New Year’s Eve to spend time with friends and family.Cost: $10 for the class, $12 for the class and a beer and $1 off ciders, seltzers and kombuchas.
Embassy Suites by Hilton Knoxville Downtown is hosting a big party on the roof from 8 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. Take in the nearly 360-degree views of the Knoxville skyline from the 14th floor and quaff a complimentary champagne toast at midnight.Cost: $30, reserve seats for an additional fee.
The Shaydes Band will be playing live music from 9 p.m.-1 a.m. and Shultz Brau will be showing Germany and the U.S. ringing in the new year for a double celebration. Expect specials on bottles of champagne and Prosecco or maybe order a cocktail.Cost: Free
A night filled with ’90s-style music, thanks to Crumbsnatchers 8:30-10:30 p.m., whose songs echo that of the Pixies, Talking Heads, and the Beastie Boys. Then Teen Spirit takes to the stage 11 p.m.-1:30 a.m.Cost: Free until 7 p.m. then door charge of $20 applies, but gets attendees into all bars on the Market Square Bar Hop.
Reserve the 6 or 8 p.m. seating and tuck into a simply delicious, gluten-free menu at Simpl. Start with a cauliflower bisque, then beef carpaccio, NY strip on a bed of butternut squash puree, chili oil and pistachio dukkah and end with a flourless chocolate torte. Vegetarian or vegan options available on request and cocktails, wine and beer are available to purchase.Cost: $70 per ticket.
NYE Dance Party with live DJs spinning from 10 p.m.-2 a.m. and free champagne for those 21 years and up at midnight.Cost: Free
Tern Club is open for their regular hours from 4 p.m.-2 a.m. with no cover charge. They are planning a featured cocktail with bubbles.Cost: Free
Token will be decorated with an abundance of white and blue winter lights, snowflakes, icicles, light up winter trees, and balloons. The staff will be dressing up in full winter fairy and fantasy costumes and guests are encouraged to do so, too.There will be a countdown at midnight complete with balloon drop, streamers and a champagne toast.Cost: Free, seating is first come first served.
Take the opportunity to reserve a table at The Vault. The extensive drinks menu is divided into Effervescent, Martini, Old Fashioned, Manhattan, Negroni, Sours, Tropical, After dinner, Luxury and group cocktails for four to six people. There is no fixed menu, so nosh on a selection of shareables, small plates and leave room for sweets. Reservations are open now through Dec. 31, with a $20 per person cancellation fee.Cost: Email [email protected] for more information
Enjoy a 5-course prix fixe dinner menu created by Chef Jon Gatlin. There is a lobster bisque or cream of mushroom soup dusted with truffles, a stone crab caesar salad, confit pork belly, Wagyu beef tartare – and that is just for starters. See the full menu online. Dinner reservation times between 5-10 p.m. are available now through Resy.Cost: $130 per person
Perhaps you would like to celebrate a little earlier with brunch from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.? Enjoy a Chef’s special menu for dinner between 3- 8 p.m. including barramundi, mussels, scallops and fillet. Then party late with a NYE DJ and an annual NYE Ball Drop Party from 8 p.m. with DJ Gann of Knoxville.Cost: call 865-392-1586 to reserve your table for one, two or three of these options.
Family fun at World’s Fair Park starts at 9 p.m. with food trucks, free activities including a silent disco, live music at 10 p.m. with K-Town, and end the night with the ball drop from the Sunsphere at midnight.Cost: Free
