Party options abound for ringing in the new year in Wichita
This isn’t the type of “roaring twenties” party planners had in mind when they were helping Wichitans ring in the new year on Dec. 31, 2019. Back then, many venues hosted ’20s themed events to play off the impending 2020 date.
After nearly two years of COVID and still amidst a pandemic, the large hotel ballroom parties are gone and nobody seems to be celebrating this decade, rather the end of another trying year. Still, there are options for those who want to go out to officially put 2021 in the rearview mirror.
Event organizer Krista Ybarra is coordinating one of the few gatherings at a private venue this year. Her company, AddisonGrace Events, is hosting “NYE in the ICT” at Odd Fellow Hall, a renovated second story space in the 1911 building at 930 W. Douglas that houses Leslie Coffee Co. on the ground level.
Her partners for the event are the popular DJ Carbon and the team at the venue, which opened earlier this year. Carbon will provide the soundtrack and in-house chef Jimmy Vo will create a menu of heavy hors d’oeuvres.
This is the third “NYE in the ICT” Ybarra and Carbon have teamed up to host. They didn’t feel Wichita had the type of upscale event they would want to personally attend, so they created one. They had two events at the now-closed Abode and one at the Hyatt Hotel before taking last year off because of COVID. She said they made the decision to go forward with this year’s event in July when pandemic numbers were improving, and they decided to keep the event on the calendar with a smaller, more exclusive event that is capped at 200 guests in the 2,700 square-foot space.
“We’ll have a smaller gathering while still giving people a chance to get out and get fancy,” she said. “Our event is for those who are comfortable getting out and don’t want to sit at home in their pjs and passively ring in the new year with Ryan Seacrest.”
Entry to the event in the Delano District is $125 per person and your ticket includes eight drink coupons for the top-shelf bar that will feature signature cocktails crafted by in-house mixologists. In addition to the hors d’oeuvres and music, there will be party favors and a midnight champagne toast while “the most intense confetti shower in the city” rains down.
Doors open at 8 p.m. and the dress code is fancy; no jeans, gym shoes or ballcaps. Buy tickets at http://oddfellowhall.com/events/. There are also VIP add-ons available that include lounge seating, reserved bistro tables, dedicated servers and bottles of champagne for a variety of group sizes. Contact Ybarra for details via text or call at (567) 868-1858 or by emailing krista@addisongraceevents.com.
Most of the other Wichita NYE events are at restaurants, bars and music venues. Here are some of the options (prices are per person unless otherwise noted):
New Year’s Eve Disco Dance Party with DJ E at Wave, 650 E. Second St., 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Tickets include a champagne toast and are $5 at https://waveict.com with add-ons available for reserved seating and parking.
New Year’s Eve at The Alley, 11413 E. 13th St., two sessions available — 5:30-8:30 p.m. or 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Prices range from $160-$180 per lane, up to six people, and include pizza, soft drinks, party favors, $5 in arcade play and unlimited bowling, go karts, laser maze and virtual reality game. Only a few lanes were still available; visit https://thealleywichita.com to reserve.
New Year’s Eve Party at Chicken N Pickle, 1240 N. Greenwich, 8 p.m.-12:30 a.m., features DJ Bearfoot playing 2000’s music battling against DJ 4th Win playing 90’s music. Come dressed representing either decade and compete for the best-dressed contest. There is no cost for this 21+ event and there will be drink specials all day. You can also make reservations for two-hour sessions on the rooftop pop-up Snowbound: Merry Ski Lodge for a fee starting at $10 and including champagne. Get details at http://chickennpickle.com/wichita.
Comedian John Wesley Austin headlines two NYE shows at Loony Bin Comedy Club, 215 N. St. Francis. Advance tickets only, from $15 for 7:30 p.m. show to $30 for the 10 p.m. show that includes snacks, party favors and champagne toast. Purchase at wichita.loonybincomedy.com.
90s New Year’s Eve Party at Barleycorn’s, 608 E. Douglas, is hosted by Air City Rock starting at 9 p.m. $10 cover; find more info at facebook.com/Barleycornswichita.
New Year’s Eve with Paul Bogart at Wichita Union Stockyards, 6425 W. MacArthur. Doors open at 7 p.m. for the Nashville recording artist. Tickets are $30 and include a breakfast buffet served right after midnight Call (316) 945-1079 or visit www.kwlsradio.com for ticket information.
2022 NYE Bash at Fever, 116 N. Mead, 9 p.m.-2 a.m. features Zeb the DJ and Marcobiotics in the main room. A balloon drop, champagne toast, party favors and cash giveaways at midnight. Tickets start at $10 general admission, with reserved VIP bottle service sections for up to 8 people for $400. Call (316) 227-9727 for reservations.
NYE Dinner, Drinks & Jazz at Public, 129 N. Rock Island, 5 p.m.-midnight, no cover, make reservations at https://publicbrickyard.com/oldtownwichitarestaurant/#live-events. They will have a tasting menu at $55 per person as well as dinner specials. Jazz music starts at 7:30 p.m.
6S Steakhouse, 6200 W. 21st St., has live music by Patz from 5 to 8 p.m. and a special four-course dinner. See the menu and make a reservation at https://www.6ssteakhouse.com/.
Chronic Audio NYE Bash at Vorshay’s Cocktail Lounge, 417 E. Douglas. The rock and cover band plays this 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. event. Cost is $15 per person at the door and includes champagne toast or $125 for a reserved table for four with a bottle of champagne and one appetizer. Call or text (316) 554-4146 for reservations.
New Year’s Eve Party & Dancers Showcase at Amira Dance Productions, 1702 W. Douglas, 9 p.m. to midnight features performances on the top of the hour and plenty of time in between for guests to do their own dancing Tickets for this 21+ event are $20 or $30 for VIP and include snacks; BYOB.
New Year’s Eve Bash featuring the band Agenda at Mortdecai’s, 330 S. Greenwich, 8:30 p.m.-1 a.m. Agenda plays rock/alt/grunge. Call (316) 440-5131 or message on Facebook by Dec. 30 for a party package reservation: $15 per person, $25 per couple or table/seat reservations. Packages will be available at the door on Dec. 31 for $20 per person.