December 30, 2021

We do not know what days of auld lang syne are, but we know a lot of people will be singing that song when the clock strikes midnight on Jan. 1, 2022. Looking for some fun things to do on New Year’s Eve? By our count there are more than 10 special events happening in our neighborhood Dec. 31. Here are some highlights.

Noon Years Eve at Discovery Center

Kids should have some New Year’s fun too! Roll into 2022 ‘90s style at Discovery Center’s glow-in-the-dark party. Your admission fee gets you in the doors for the science behind slime, the Rubik’s Cube and aliens. You can also check out classic games in ultraviolet and try your luck at POGs.

Make sure you’re there at noon to ring in the New Year with a balloon drop. Admission for Discovery Center ranges from $7-$12. Members get in free!

Here come the Bears

End the year with one of the nation’s best women’s college basketball programs. Coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton’s Missouri State Lady Bears host Loyola-Chicago at 2 p.m. in a Missouri Valley Conference showdown. Tickets for this New Year’s Eve party start at just $9. Enjoy great basketball inside JQH Arena!

Laugh your way into 2022 at the Blue Room

The Blue Room Comedy Club is continuing its tradition of hosting great comics on New Year’s Eve. This year’s feature is Donnell Rawlings. You might recognize him from his work on “Chappelle’s Show,” where he played characters like Ashy Larry and Beautiful. He’s also appeared on “Chelsea Lately,” Shaquille O’Neal All-Star Comedy Jam,” BET’s “Comic View,” “Def Comedy Jam” and more. Tickets start at $35.

It’s time to Crawl

It’s not New Year’s Eve without a pub crawl in Downtown Springfield. This year’s New Year’s Eve Pub Crawl features nine venues for just $10! Your wristband, available at each venue, gets you inside some of Downtown’s best spots for nightlife:

• Big Whiskey’s
• Civil Kitchen
• Dublin’s Pass
• Finnegan’s Wake
• Inner Circle
• Mud Lounge
• The Odyssey
• The Outland Ballroom
• Tropical Liqueurs

Need a ride home afterward? Lyft and Uber are both available in Downtown Springfield. We want everyone to get home safely and start 2022 off right.

Join The Party of the Year at the Gillioz

Our neighbors at the Historic Gillioz Theatre have pulled out all the stops for New Year’s Eve. The Party of the Year features live music from Springfield favorites The Mixtapes whie you tear up the Gillioz’s giant dance floor and enjoy a champagne toast at midnight! Tickets start at $30. A special VIP experience is available with perks like an exclusive party spread, a reserved seat and a commemorative champagne flute.

But that’s not all

There are more options for New Year’s Eve fun in Downtown Springfield, including a variety show, live music and a speakeasy celebration. Check out our event calendar for more choices. Happy New Year, neighbors!