Weekend Possibilities | New Year’s Eve, Laser Lizzo and World Peace Meditation Happy New Year
Published December 29th, 2022 at 10:45 AM
Above image credit: The champagne is on ice. (Courtesy | The Fontaine)Pick a party, any party. There are plenty of options when it comes to ringing in the new year.
Friday, Dec. 30
5:30 – 9 p.m. Pawlidays, a dog-friendly pop-up from CITYDOGs and Dane Fabrications, is (still) here for the holidays, 2001 Walnut St. Reserve a 30-minute time slot for complimentary drinks, cute photo ops for you and your four-legged friend, plus a bottle of champagne and goodie bag for the pup at the end of the visit. Tickets are $20.
6 p.m. Finish 2022 feeling “good as hell” with a ticket to Laser Lizzo at the Gottlieb Planetarium at Union Station, 30 W. Pershing Road. Fans of the R&B superstar will be treated to a full length on-screen performance of Lizzo’s hits accompanied by a mesmerizing laser show. Tickets are $8.
7 p.m. How about one last rodeo? The New Year’s Rodeo Stampede is taking place Friday and Saturday at Hale Arena, 1701 American Royal Court. The fun inside the American Royal Complex starts Friday morning at 9 a.m. with roping and barrel racing. The full nine-event rodeo starts at 7 p.m. and will be followed with live music in the arena. Daily admission is $20 for those 13 and older. Children ages 6-12 get in for $10.
Saturday, Dec. 31
6 a.m. Various cultures and faith traditions are joining together at St. Mark Hope and Peace Lutheran Church, 3800 Troost Ave., for an Annual World Peace Meditation. The early morning interfaith celebration will consist of Native American smudging, Tibetan Buddhist chanting and meditation, Christian prayer, devotional music, and the Muslim “call to prayer” and more. Organizers ask that attendees arrive by 5:30 a.m. The event is free.
Noon – 6:30 p.m. There’s a full afternoon of activities, fun and games planned for Noon Year’s Eve at Science City, 30 W. Pershing Road. Families looking for a celebration before bedtime will find face painting, firework wand making, an abstract photo booth, music from Mr. Stinky Feet and a balloon drop, among other science-based activities at the party. Tickets are $14.50.
8 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. If the kids can make it to midnight, make New Year’s Eve a family affair and roll into 2023 with the Family Skate Party at Skate City Shawnee, 9800 W. 62nd Terr. The family-friendly evening will have music, $500 worth of prizes up for grabs, a countdown to midnight and balloon drop. Admission is $9. Skate rental is $3.
8:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. If leaving 2022 with live and local music sounds like you, Glitter and Gold at Drexel Hall, 3301 Baltimore Ave., should do the trick. Tunes for the New Year’s Eve party will be provided by local singer songwriters Calvin Arsenia and Jessica Paige. Tickets are $55. Entry, a toast and hors d’oeuvres are included.
9 p.m. Quite the party is shaping up at The Ship, 1221 Union Ave., for those interested in ringing in the new year out on the town. Last Dance 2024 NYE will have live sets from The Phantastics, Sheppa, L. Mohanty and more, plus an open bar. You must be 21 or older to party along. All-inclusive tickets are $80.
Sunday, Dec. 1
9 a.m. There’s a chance to start 2023 off on the right foot, quite literally, in the Hangover Half Marathon and 10K in Overland Park, 9000 W. 137 St. The relaxed runs will take participants along the Indian Creek Parkway Trail and nearby streets for a brisk morning run, followed by refreshments at the finish line. Registration is $39 for the half marathon and $33 for the 10k.
3 – 6 p.m. Cheers to the new year with an afternoon of live music and local craft beer Sunday in the West Bottoms. Stockyards Brewing Co., 1600 Genessee St., is open on New Year’s Day and welcoming Old Sound to its taproom stage as part of the brewery’s regularly scheduled Sunday Service live music series. The show is free to attend.
Clarence Dennis is audience and digital content strategist with Flatland.