Oklahoma City Announces Exciting NYE Party in the Park

A new family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebration is coming to downtown Oklahoma City, as officials unveil plans for the inaugural NYE Party in the Park. Scheduled for December 31, 2025, the event will transform Scissortail Park into a vibrant gathering space for residents and visitors alike, offering an array of activities to ring in the New Year.

The NYE Party in the Park will feature live music, food and beverage trucks, holiday vendors, and a spectacular drone light show. Attendees can join the official countdown to midnight, marking the return of a citywide celebration that has not taken place since 2022. This event comes after the Arts Council Oklahoma City announced the discontinuation of its long-standing Opening Night celebration earlier in 2023.

During a press conference on October 29, Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt emphasized the significance of bringing back a large-scale, free New Year’s Eve gathering. “For 37 years, Opening Night brought the people of Oklahoma City together in downtown to celebrate the New Year,” he stated. The NYE Party in the Park aims to revive that sense of community and excitement.

Organized in collaboration with the Inasmuch Foundation, Scissortail Park Foundation, Visit OKC, and other local partners, the festivities will kick off at 9:30 p.m. and last until 12:30 a.m. on January 1, 2026. The program will be centered around Scissortail Park’s Love’s Travel Stops Stage, where the local party band Drive will perform and lead the countdown.

A highlight of the evening will be a stunning display featuring 100 drones, designed to create a captivating aerial light show. Bob Ross, CEO of the Inasmuch Foundation, expressed enthusiasm for the event, stating, “The wonderful thing about the drones is that, certainly, it’s fascinating and it’s beautiful. But it’s also safe.”

Mayor Holt noted that only four of the top 20 U.S. cities, including Oklahoma City, have not hosted New Year’s Eve celebrations in recent years. “We want to enjoy our own city,” he remarked, highlighting the importance of community events in fostering local pride and engagement.

The NYE Party in the Park is part of a larger initiative to enhance holiday festivities in the area. Alongside the New Year’s celebration, the Scissortail Park team will introduce the SPARKLE Holiday Walk, a ticketed experience featuring dazzling displays of lights and festive vignettes. This immersive event will run from November 21 through January 4, with specific hours of operation.

Zac Craig, President of Visit OKC, expressed excitement about the NYE Party’s potential to fill the void left by the previous celebrations. “There’s been this void… when you think about New Year’s Eve,” he said. He also mentioned the city’s extensive holiday offerings, such as performances of “The Nutcracker” and the Devon Ice Rink nearby.

The community’s response to these new initiatives has been overwhelmingly positive, with many eager to see the return of festive gatherings. As Oklahoma City gears up for the NYE Party in the Park, residents can look forward to a celebration that promises to be safe, inclusive, and memorable.

For more information about the NYE Party in the Park and the SPARKLE Holiday Walk, visit the official Scissortail Park website.