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New Year's Eve Celebrations in the Southwest
Parties, Events and New Year's Fun

By Elizabeth R. Rose, About.com

New Year's Eve in San Antonio

New Year's Eve in San Antonio

San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau
Dec 29 2008
Whether you are looking for a warmer climate for your New Year's celebration or just want to find out what's happening in town on December 31st, you will find some great New Year's ideas in the Southwest.

Arizona

New Year's Eve at the Grand Canyon

Big band music and celebration at the historic El Tovar hotel right on the rim of the Grand Canyon.

The Flagstaff, Arizona Pinecone Drop

New York City drops the glittering ball but in Arizona's high country they have a pinecone drop!

December 31 New Year’s Eve Block Party (Free Outdoor Block Party), Heritage Square, 6 E. Aspen Ave., 8:00 p.m.-midnight; Weatherford Hotel Pine Cone Drop at 10:00 p.m. & midnight. Visit www.flagdba.com for details as they become available.

December 31 The Great Pine Cone Drop, Weatherford Hotel, 23 N. Leroux St., 10:00 p.m. and midnight, www.weatherford.com. It is a free family event that was created for the community of Flagstaff. They lower the Pine Cone for families at 10:00 p.m. and midnight for the adults.

Scottsdale's Ultimate Block Party

Head to Scottsdale for an open-air adult party.

Insight Fiesta Bowl Block Party in Tempe

Tempe Beach Park and Mill Avenue in downtown Tempe will be the place to be on New Year's Eve, when the Insight Fiesta Bowl Block Party As Arizona’s biggest and most exciting New Year’s Eve bash, the Insight Fiesta Bowl Block Party is a jam-packed evening of fun and entertainment for everyone. More than 100,000 party-goers annually celebrate in Tempe’s Beach Park and Mill Avenue District amidst spectacular fireworks displays and an official midnight countdown drop. With legendary rock band Styx headlining the event, more than 40 local bands and entertainers, beer gardens, dueling pianos, freestyle motocross jumpers and more, this is one fantastic celebration you won’t want to miss!

Westgate Rocks Out Glendale

Find details about this year's Westgate New Years Celebration on the website. I went the first year and had a great time. Article and Photos.

Phoenix

This looks like fun. Spend New Year's with the Phoenix Symphony and Ride the METRO light rail for free. More on the Evening with the Phoenix Symphony.

All About a Phoenix New Year's Eve.

Tucson

There's always something going on in Tucson. Click on December 31st on the events calendar for up to the minute activities.

Nevada

A Wild New Year's in Vegas

The Las Vegas strip has the big party this year with a few hundred thousand people celebrating the New Year right on the street. Is it fun? It is definitely an experience as you can expect to see wall to wall people that have each decided that starting the night at noon meant drinking way too much all day. There is a huge fireworks display planned for midnight and the electricity in the air is really difficult to comprehend.

New Years in Reno

Stan provides a great list of things for both adults and families to do on New Years in the Reno area.

Colorado

New Year's in Denver

Celebrate New Year's Eve in style this year with this guide to ringing in 2009 in Denver. The Mile High City provides a free fireworks display downtown at 9 p.m. and 12 midnight.

Texas

Ring in the New Year San Antonio Style

Ring in the New Year with San Antonio’s biggest New Year’s Eve party downtown when fireworks pop, flash, and sparkle at midnight from the 750-foot-tall Tower of the Americas at Celebrate San Antonio! Musical entertainment, 50 food and beverage booths, an HEB children’s area in La Villita, carnival games and more make a memorable start of another year of fun, San Antonio-style!

New Year's Even in Dallas

Ring in the New Year Texas style with these celebrations. Some are elegant sit-down dinners and some are on-your-feet-dancing parties. Many are some combination of the two. All these events are on New Year's Eve.

New Year's in Houston

Houston is the nation's fourth-largest city and the largest in the Lone Star State. As one might expect, a city that size has plenty to offer over New Year's weekend.

New Year's in Austin, Texas

Visitors hoping to spend New Year's in Texas should strongly consider Austin in their travel plans. Not only is Austin the State Capitol of Texas, it is also one of the Lone Star State's most notorious party towns. The combination of history, importance and revelry ensures anyone can have a complete vacation experience in Austin over New Year's weekend.

Top Texas Towns for New Year's Revelers

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