Ring in the New Year Tulsa Style

Confetti, crazy hats, midnight kisses, champagne and fireworks. Put all these together on one frigid night and the only explanation is New Year's Eve. The celebration gets more extravagant every year and 2010 is no exception.

The town will light up and party hard come the stroke of midnight on December 31. Whatever your pleasure, Tulsa has it and is ringing in the New Year in style. Gather friends, family and loved ones and get out on the town to celebrate the end of a year and the beginning of the next. Whatever 2010 held for you and yours, here's to believing that 2011 will be more than you expect or hope for; but to ensure a good start to the year, make sure 2010 goes out with a bang.

For those who like a little mystery and class with their soirée, get all gussied up and go to Crystal Ball 2011: A New Year's Eve Masquerade. Presented by Skyy Vodka, this party will rotate between three venues. The IDL Ballroom, Enso and Electric Circus are opening their doors to a masked Tulsa. All located at First & Detroit, this party invites guests to beguile and intrigue into the New Year. The musical masquerade includes performances from The Panic! Crew, DJ Dilation and Jimm-ANYE with headliner, Steve Cluck. General admission is $15 and includes a club-wide countdown and a toast at the stroke of midnight. The mystery begins at 9pm, so bring the perfect mask, your best formal wear, a hot date and let the good times roll.

No, that's not all there is folks. For anyone truly wanting to brave the cold and celebrate the coming year Brookside (or New York City) style, travel down to The Party!! Hahn's Appliance New Year's Eve on Brookside. Giving a little back at the close of the year is A great way to remember the good times in 2010 and get an early start on the resolutions for 2011. Not only does The Party!! ensure a fantastic night be had by all but also benefits the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma. Tulsa based full service event production company, e2 Worldwide, Inc., has pulled out all the stops for this outdoor street party. So cuddle up with that special someone and watch the ball drop as fireworks light up the night sky. The cold night air is easily escapable as indoor activities allow partygoers to warm up amidst live entertainment from local artists. The street party is free to the public but attendees should bring a canned food item as a donation.

If you're looking for a usual Tulsa favorite with a kick, get down to the Full Moon Café, 1525 E. 15th St., for the only Dueling Piano show in town. Dinner and a show starts at 9pm and includes a champagne toast at midnight with all the party favor fixins'. Enjoy a hot bowl of tortilla soup on this chilly night, just in time to kick off that New Year's diet resolution. There is also DJ Rook spinning into 2011 at The Ivey, 3340 S. Peoria Ave. If you hurry, you can reserve a cabaña or loft to throw your own party in. The Ivey is sure to throw a good one and you can add your own private flare by calling 918-743-0600. The champagne will flow at midnight and both locations will have balloon drop. Look out above.

If you and your honey bun are looking for a special place to start the year off right, check out the New Year's Eve Package with Hilton Hotel. The shuttle between Soco's, 8161 S. Harvard Ave., and the Hilton will keep you and lover boy/girl safe and sound after a night of frolicking. This package includes rooms for $70 and a $10 cover at bar. Toast champagne at midnight as the Sweatin' Bullet light up the stage or sing your way into the New Year with a little karaoke. Spaces are going fast, so don't delay; call 918-492-5000 to reserve a space.

For those that are looking for a nonalcoholic New Year's party, get over the Clean and Sober New Year's held at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center, 621 E. 4th St. Co-sponsored by Oklahomans for Equality and Young Intelligent Mind School, this 18 and over party will include a high energy dance floor with DJ Hot Stick, food, games hors'd'oeuvres, nonalcoholic punch and smoothies and the always entertaining, karaoke. If DJ dancing isn't quite what you had in mind for a sober New Year's Eve, there is always the 10th Annual Sobriety Powwow sponsored by Circle of Friends & S.K.I.N.S. held at the Tulsa Convention Center, 100 Civic Center Dr. This is a powwow for the decades and includes a night of gourd dancing and prize winning. Check these out for a good time without the New Year's Eve booze.

We hope to see you out this New Year's Eve. Don't disappoint. For more information on any of these events, visit UTW's events section on Page 48.