New Year’s Eve in Wichita is not canceled, it’s just modified. You’ll find restaurants and bars promoting earlier-than-usual celebrations timed with midnight in London (6 p.m.) or New York (11 p.m.) and smaller capacities in order to meet pandemic-related restrictions. While Sedgwick County’s bars, nightclubs and in-person dining currently shut down at 11 p.m. to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, there’s plenty of fun available along with creative ways to welcome in the new year with your pod.

Family-Friendly Events

• Field Station: Dinosaurs: A Family New Year's Eve as part of Holly Jolly Jurassic Holiday, 1 to 9 p.m.
• Botanica: Illuminations walk thru experience and drive thru option, reservations for start times from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
• The Alley Indoor Entertainment: New Year’s Eve at The Alley featuring bowling/go karts/laser maze/Hologate VR, reservations required for Party 1 from 3:30-6:30 p.m. or Party 2 from 7:30-10:30 p.m.
• Dave & Buster’s open from noon to 11 p.m.
• Chicken N Pickle: Skating on the ice pond, DJ and New Year's Eve Around the World starting at 4 p.m. On New Year’s Day, there’s a brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and free bingo.

^{Gabriel Rutledge}

Grown-Up Fun

• Jenny Dawn Cellars: Socially Distanced New Year’s Eve Celebration featuring live jazz, 8 to 11 p.m., table reservations required
• Dockum: Times Square in Dockum featuring ball drop and live music by Caleb Abbott Trio, 6 to 11 p.m., table reservations required
• The Loony Bin: Comedian Gabriel Rutledge, 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. shows
• Bella Vita Bistro: Dinner served 5 to 10 p.m., reservations required
• Siena Tuscan Steakhouse: Three course dinner for two crafted by Chef Josh Rathbun, live music from Thor Bonner, distanced dining room with limited seating, reservations recommended
• Ambassador Hotel and Siena Tuscan Steakhouse: Unwind & Dine Experience featuring a night in a premium guest room, private dinner for two in your room and valet parking, limited number of reservations available
• 6S Steakhouse: New Year’s Eve Four-Course Dinner featuring live music, 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. seatings, reservations required
• Axe to Grind: taking reservations for packages with start times from 3 to 8:30 p.m.
• Blade & Timber: taking reservations for start times from noon to 8:30 p.m.
• Apparition Before Christmas Pop-up Bar, 5 to 11 p.m., first come, first served

^{Them Apples, Thyme After Thyme, and Salted Caramel White Russian from Georges French Bistro}

Do It Yourself Fun

• Pick up supplies for an arts and crafts night at home. Gift shops at the Wichita Art Museum and the Mid-America All-Indian Museum, among others, offer materials and self-guided projects. Board & Brush and Paint the Towne offer take home kits to help you create your own work of art.
• Load the family in the car and take a drive to see some of these popular neighborhood light displays in Wichita that remain up through the end of the year. Make sure to swing by one of these Wichita coffee shops and enjoy a warm beverage during the tour.
• Tune your television to one of the New Year’s Eve celebration national broadcasts and enjoy a meal from a Wichita restaurant offering takeout, curbside or delivery.
• Set up game night at home and stock up with goodies from our local sweet and savory treat purveyors. You’ll find chocolates at Cocoa Dolce (downtown, west and east), nuts and candies at The Farris Wheel or Nifty Nut House as well as popcorn from Kernel’s Popcorn Express and The Popcorner (east or west).
• Toast to a healthy 2021 at home with a glass of wine, a pint of beer or your favorite cocktail from one of Wichita’s craft breweries or wineries as well as restaurants that temporarily can sell to-go drinks. Among the options, Mort’s Martini & Cigar Bar is selling holiday to-go party packs that you can customize with champagne, bloody mary mix and snacks. Georges French Bistro has Them Apples, Thyme After Thyme, and Salted Caramel White Russians available in 10 oz. bottles.

Keep an eye on our calendar of events for the latest things to do in Wichita.