What to Do for New Year’s Eve in Knoxville
Emilie Stooksbury
New Year's Eve in the Scruffy City 2024!
You can only imagine our surprise when people started asking our opinion on what to do for New Year’s Eve in Knoxville. New Year’s Eve?! Are you sure? Again? Turns out, yes, January is following December again this year. I know! It shocks me every time too. But we powered through the astonishment and compiled a list so that all you planners out there have a chance to get your lives in order ahead of time. All we ask if that you save us a seat when we inevitably forget to make reservations. (Honestly, who can think about NYE when there are still so many Christmas festivities to be had?! 😉) Without further ado, here is what to do in Knoxville for New Year’s Eve 2025!
TIME TO EAT
⭐️ The Kennedy is serving a classic steakhouse dinner, complete with a complimentary champagne toast and live entertainment! After all, a little party never killed nobody 😉 get your tickets here!
⭐️ Speaking of partyyyy, Chismoso has never let us down when it comes to a good time. They’re teaming up with Alebrije over in Nashville for a special NYE dinner annnnd an after party with DJ VOLTAGE ⚡️
⭐️ If you don’t want to start your year by muttering angrily amidst downtown traffic, head over to Sequoyah Hill in West Knoxville instead!The Plaid Apron is hosting their own NYE prixe fixe “locally minded” dinner. Snag your tickets here!
⭐️ It may be in South Knoxville, but Ancient Lore Village is baaasically a magical, mystical land. They are hosting a New Year’s Eve dinner that will launch you into a truly magical 2026. Snag your ticket here!
TIME TO PARTY
ON A ROOFTOP:
🌟 Radius Rooftop Lounge is hosting a rooftop party again this year! Tickets are $50/person and you can snag ’em right here. BUT THAT’S NOT ALL. Across the street, the Five Thirty Lounge will be hosting a swanky night of their own complete with jazz, champagne, etc. Learn more here!
IN THE OLD CITY:
⭐️ The Old City clubs are coming together to host an NYE Pub Crawl again this year! Your wristband will get you into Hanna’s, Old City Sports Bar, Wagon Wheel, Cowboy Cantina and Southbound. Grab yours in advance here.
⭐️ If clubs aren’t exactly up your alley, join the “club” 😉 Thankfully, just down the street Pretentious Beer Co. is hosting their annual silent disco! They’ll have three different DJs, delicious beer (obvi), and the chance to welcome in the new year while shout-singing your favorite tunes with zero judment. Tickets are $23/person (pssst they usually sell out) and can be bought right here.
⭐️ Just across the railroad tracks, Monkey’s Bar is hosting a Disco NYE Party! We’ve ushered in many a new year from this spot & can confirm the vibes are impeccable (PS. no cover for this bad boy 👀).
⭐️ And Regas Square may be a block down the street, but you’re about to be transported to Hogwarts. That’s right, there’s a Harry Potter New Year’s Eve Yule Ball on the scene complete with DJ RUMBLEDORE, food, cocktails, and a “spellbinding celebration.” Snag your tickets here!
ON THE NORTH SIDE:
⭐️ If you want to side step the more intense crowds, North Knox may just be your cup of tea (or more thematically, your glass of champagne 😉). Schulz Brau Brewing is just a few blocks from downtown, but you can preteeend you’re a whole ocean away! They’ll be livestreaming Germany’s countdown (6pm) before hosting one on the home turf (12am) with champagne specials, live music, igloos, & plenty of good vibes in between.
⭐️ Want to try somewhere neeew for New Year’s? I mean, it’s only fitting 😏 Well, grab your girlies because Mother Bar is hosting a Midnight @ Mother NYE Party and it’s sure to be faaabulous 🙌
TIME FOR WELLNESS
If you’re looking for the literal opposite of a party, Sage Sauna has you covered. Welcome in a new year with a slow, unplugged, intentional time in their sauna on the south side. They’ve got some special perks for New Year’s Eve & New Year’s Day so reserve your spot right here!
TIME FOR THE MAIN EVENT
🌟 Worlds Fair Park is truly the place to be in the Scruffy City on New Year’s Eve. They’ll have food trucks, free activities, DJs, a silent disco, live music, and most importantly – a ball drop from the Sunsphere at midnight!
PLEASE, NO, IT'S TIME TO SLEEP:
⭐️ If your bedtime is at 10pm whether or not there are shenanigans goin’ down in Times Square, Fred’s Around the Corner (literally right around the corner from Market Square in Downtown Knoxville) has you covered. They host a “Fake New Year’s Eve Countdown” that wraps up at the sweet, sweet time of 8pm. Laughter, joy, and a champagne of beers toast all await you riiiiiight before your pillow does 😂
⭐️ For you parents out there, The Muse is hosting a New Year’s Eve party at, hear me out, NINE THIRTY IN THE LITERAL MORNING. Their countdown to NOON will include catered breakfast, activity stations, sparkling juice toast, New Years’ swag bags, and, rumor has it, a ball drop 👀
That's all for now, folks!
We’ll try to keep updating as we hear about more fun things 😊 In the meantime, you can find more events in Knoxville right here or every Monday on our “This Week in Knoxville” post on Instagram. In the meantime, make sure to add sparkly heels to your Christmas list so you can ring in the new year in Knoxville in style! 😉 PS. Discover our Local Knoxville Gift Guide right here!)