Ring in 2024

Going out? Staying in to watch the ball drop on TV? Well, you certainly have plenty of options. 

If live music is a must, most local establishments are hosting bands with acts including George Dearborne, Kendall Shaffer, Shadow Road, Crossroads, The Vibes, and others. For a detailed list of who’s playing where, view our Live Music section on Page 3. 

Two live music shows we highly recommend are Hamilton Loomis at Dylan’s and Kree Harrison at Texas Ave. Tavern. 

Born and raised in Galveston, Texas, Loomis is the son of musician parents who listened to blues, rock and soul. Music ran in his veins and, with instruments readily available around the house, he picked up drums, piano, guitar and harmonica, honing his multi-instrumental talent in addition to performing regularly as part of his family’s doo-wop group.

A protégé of Bo Diddley, Loomis met the icon backstage at the age of 16 at Houston’s famed venue Rockefeller’s. Before the night was over, Loomis was onstage playing guitar with the legend. Diddley quickly became friend, mentor, collaborator and supporter, appearing on two of Loomis’ albums and presenting a cherished red guitar that he still plays. He recently released a Christmas record, “This Season.” Music starts at 9:30 p.m. 

Dylan’s is located at 8601 9th Ave. in Port Arthur. Admission is $10. Call (409) 722-1600 for reservations.

Harrison is the Woodville, Texas native who finished second in Season 12 on “American Idol” in 2013. From rodeos to “The Rosie O’Donnell Show” and from “American Idol” to Billboard charting artist, Harrison has proven why she is an undeniable artist to watch. Now signed with One Vision Music Group, this Lone Star State native is turning a new leaf in her career by delivering a project she calls her “most personal record yet and the perfect gumbo of my influences and aspirations as an artist” with the album “Chosen Family Tree.” She’s also in an all-female trio, The Chattahoochies, alongside Audra Mae and Summer Overstreet. 

Harrison will perform at the Texas Ave. Tavern (2845 Texas Ave.) in Bridge City at 9 p.m. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased by calling (409) 313-6802. 

Pour09 Bar & Rooftop (6165 Muela Creek Drive) is hosting “A Masquerade Party” beginning at 9 p.m. featuring DJ Day Drunk and popular food truck, Rudy’s Kabobs. 

For those who chase the chance to strike it rich, the casinos in nearby Lake Charles, Louisiana, are never bad options with the Golden Nugget, L’Auberge or the Horseshoe. Golden Nugget will host live music from party bands 337 inside Blue Martini while The Fuse rocks your socks at Rush Lounge. 

It’s also become a yearly tradition to ring in the New Year on television. All the major networks will have coverage while a slew of channels host marathons.

This year’s “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest” is more than 5 1/2 hours of coverage beginning at 7 p.m. on ABC. Seacrest and co-host Rita Orta will be live in New York City while Jeannie Mai hosts from Los Angeles, California, and Dayanara Torres from Puerto Rico. Scheduled to perform are Aqua, Bebe Rexha, Ellie Goulding, Green Day, Thirty Seconds to Mars, Post Malone and others. 

CBS will counter with “New Year’s Eve: Nashville’s Big Bash” at 6:30 p.m. with performances by country music stars Lainey Wilson, Elle King, Thomas Rhett and Southern rock act, Lynyrd Skynyrd. 

For those not in the music mood, there are plenty of shows to binge including original epi¬sodes of the “Twilight Zone” on SyFy. Comedy Central is set to show Season 6 of “The Office” as well as episodes from “Chappelle’s Show” starring comedian Dave Chappelle. Get ready for hours of “Seinfeld” on TV Land. If you are into UFOs, check out a slew of “Ancient Aliens” on History. AMC has advertised “The best of the 1980s” like “The Outsiders,” “The Karate Kid,” “Sixteen Candles” and “Stand by Me.”

The 135th Rose Parade, with the theme “Celebrating a World of Music: The Universal Language,” is televised live beginning at 10 a.m., Monday, Jan. 1, on ABC.

If you’re really into setting new resolutions, then lace up your running shoes for the annual Free Resolution 5K Run/Walk hosted by the Sea Rim Striders on Monday, Jan. 1, at 9 a.m. Starting location is the Tyrrell Park Nature Center (3930 Babe Zaharias Drive) in Beaumont.  

Don’t forget to eat black-eyed peas, cabbage and cornbread for good luck and prosperity in 2024.