Where To Celebrate New Year’s Eve 2023 In Oak Lawn

OAK LAWN, IL — Don’t sit alone in your house watching Anderson Cooper on New Year’s Eve. There are plenty of parties, shows and family events planned in Chicago’s south suburbs to help you ring in 2024.

The Oak Lawn Park District is hosting an awesome balloon drop for kids at the Oak Lawn Ice Arena, 9320 S. Kenton Ave. Rent some skates and take a whirl around the ice from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The balloon drop party is $10. No advance registration required. Refreshments available for purchase on the premises.

The Racquet, Fitness and Gymnastics Center, 10444 S. Central Ave., Oak Lawn, is also offering New Year’s Eve tennis drills at the Racquet, Fitness and Gymnastics Center, 10444 S. Central Ave. Three sessions will be held Sunday, Dec. 31, from 9 to 10 a.m. (318000-01), $25; 10 a.m. to noon (318000-02) $37; and noon to 2 p.m. (318000-02), $37. Members will receive a $10 discount.

Tennis drills focus on skill development, serve and return, scored drills, consistency drills and much more. Registration is required.

Here is a look at other New Year’s Eve (or New Year’s weekend) events happening around the Oak Lawn area:

December 29

Noon Year’s Eve Countdown
Palos Heights Recreation Dept.
6601 W. 127th St., Palos Heights
10 a.m. to noon, Friday, Dec. 29
Instead of midnight, kids 10 and under can count down the time to 12 noon. The rec center will transform the gym into a mini Times Square, complete with music and a “countdown to noon” balloon drop. This is a popular event, so register now. The cost is $12 per child (residents) and $15 per child (non-resident). Registration is required.

December 30

Noon Year’s Eve Eve Countdown
Evergreen Park Public Library
9400 S. Troy Ave., Evergreen Park
11 a.m. to noon
Party like it's the day before New Year's Eve, featuring stories, snacks, noise makers, dancing and a countdown at noon for kids up to grade 5. Feel free to wear your party clothes. Registration required.

New Year’s Eve Eve Bingo
Park Lawn
10833 S. LaPorte Ave., Oak Lawn
Card sales start 4 p.m.; games start 6 p.m.
Bring your daubers and start off 2024 by winning some money. Park Lawn will host New Year’s Eve Eve bingo, featuring $500 games and three $1,000 games at Park Lawn. Must be 18 or older to play.

December 31

At the Office Sports Bar and Grill
4901 Cal Sag Road, Crestwood
Wear your craziest and/or sexy sleeping attire to a New Year’s rockn’, groovin’ pajama party. Soul Karma will play classic to current rock, pop and R&B (even some country). Prizes for the sexist and best pajamas.

115 Bourbon Street
3359 W. 111th St., Merrionette Park
9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Dec. 31 to Jan. 1; doors open at 8:30 p.m.
Come celebrate the arrival of the new year in 115 Bourbon Street’s three massive party rooms. Dance the night away to the beats of talented DJs, indulge in delicious food and drinks, and create some memories that will last a lifetime. Tickets are $85 and can be purchased in advance on Eventbrite. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door on New Year’s Eve for $100. Included is a dinner buffet and breakfast buffet, and drink (except for premium liquor). Email [email protected] or call 708-388-8881.

Clancy’s 95th Irish Tavern
5763 W. 95th St., Oak Lawn
5 p.m. to 1 a.m.
The premiere Irish pub will an Irish New Year’s Eve toast at 6 p.m. Enjoy authentic Irish music with Crousty Moore playing from 5 to 5 p.m., with Acoustics Figures playing from 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. No. cover.

Clancy’s Pizza Pub on 103rd
4624 W. 103rd St., Oak Lawn
(Jewel-Osco anchored lot)
5 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Irish New Year’s Eve toast at 6 p.m. Richie Z plays from 5 to 8 p.m., with Shannon Ward taking the stage from 9 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. No cover.

NEW! Pat Tomasulo NYE Comedy Showcase
European Chalet Banquets
5545 S. Harlem Ave., Chicago
WGN TV morning host, comedian and podcaster Pat Tomasulo will perform his hilarious standup act at European Chalet Banquets in Chicago’s Garfield Ridge neighborhood. The evening features dinner and a premium OPEN bar, starting with VIP meet and greet with cocktails and appetizers from 5:30 to 7 p.m.; cocktails and dinner from 7 to 8 p.m.; with the comedy show and cocktails from 8 to 9:30 p.m. Fresh off his first hour long comedy special, Tomasulo will dispense parenting advice despite not having children himself. Tickets are $150 for cocktails, dinner and show; $200 for the VIP meet and greet, appetizers, cocktails, dinner and the show. Buy tickets on EventBrite.

Great Lakes Beer and Bourbon
12900 S. LaGrange Road, Palos Park
8 p.m.
Celebrate New Year’s Eve with the triumphant return of Five Guys Named Moe at Great Lakes Beer and Bourbon. Featured is a midnight snack bar, champagne toast, party favors, balloon drop and photo booth. Book your VIP seating early. Every table of four booked receives a free bottle of champagne. The New Year’s Eve special is $25 and includes a delicious filet or ribeye dinner. Call 708-608-8771, or reserve online. Stay local and stay safe. Palos Park police have been known to offer rides home to revelers with no questions asked and no lectures.

Haunted Trails Family Entertainment Center
7759 S Harlem Ave, Burbank
Noon to 10 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 31
Ring in 2024 at Haunted Trails in Burbank with our New Year’s Eve Fun Deal available Sunday, December 31 only. Enjoy $35 in Game Play, 2 Laser Frenzy Challenges, plus a Mini 7” One-Topping Pizza and Large Soft Drink for only $41.95/guest.
No Reservation Required. Charmin’ Charley’s Restaurant closes 1 hour before the game room. Adult beverages are available for purchase for those 21 and over with valid ID.

Jenny’s Grill & Banquets
11041 Menard Ave., Chicago Ridge
7 to 11 p.m.
Come see that ramblin’ cowboy Tommy Joe strumming the guitar and singing songs, while strapping on the food bag for great food at Jenny’s Grill. Call 708-229-2272 for reservations.

The Lyric Theatre
12952 S. Western Ave., Blue Island
8 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Morry Sochat and The Specials 20s will swing in 2024 playing Chicago-style blues, swing and rock ‘n roll at The Lyric’s New Year’s Eve Ball Drop party. Tickets are $10. The bar and concession will be open. Guests can also pre-order Beggar’s Pizza by emailing [email protected]. Tickets are $10.

Racquet, Fitness and Gymnastics Center
10444 S. Central Ave., Oak Lawn
9 a.m., 10 a.m. and noon
New Year’s Eve tennis drills are being offered at the Oak Lawn Park District’s Racquet, Fitness and Gymnastics Center. Three sessions will be held Sunday, Dec. 31, from 9 to 10 a.m. (318000-01), $25; 10 a.m. to noon (318000-02) $37; and noon to 2 p.m. (318000-02), $37. Members will receive a $10 discount.Tennis drills focus on skill development, serve and return, scored drills, consistency drills and much more. Registration is required.

Reilly’s Daughter
4010 W. 111th St., Oak Lawn
Ring in Irish New Year with St. Stephen’s Green from 3 to 6 p.m., with a celebratory toast to the Emerald Isle at 6 p.m. Be the first brunette to walk through the door after midnight and have good luck in 2024.

Silver Lake Country Club
14700 S. 82nd Ave., Orland Park
7 p.m. Dec. 31 to 1 a.m. Jan. 1
They’re almost sold out, so get your tickets now and come celebrate New Year's Eve with Silver Lake, featuring live entertainment, dinner, and top-shelf open bar. Music by the Connexion Band and two DJs playing. Dinner includes hot and cold appetizers, shrimp cocktail, 6-oz. filet Mignon, parmesan-crusted chicken piccata, double-baked potato, and a specialty dessert. Top shelf bar from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. $150/person. Make your reservations by calling 708.349.6940 ext. 5, or emailing [email protected], or make an online reservation.

NEW! Uncle Bud’s
9700 S. Cicero Ave., Oak Lawn
11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Uncle Bud’s will be celebrating Irish New Year’s Eve throughout the day with food and drink specials. Stop by for an Irish Car Bomb ($6) and a corned beef sandwich with homemade chips and a Guiness ($15), and South Side egg rolls ($10). Irish New Year’s Eve toast at 6 p.m. (midnight in Ireland).

NEW! Wild Blossom Meadery and Winery
9030 S. Hermitage Ave., Chicago
8 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Say goodbye to your old Christmas tree in the most epic way (no artificial trees, please) and watch it transform into a mesmerizing display of flames in the South Side meadery’s midnight fireworks show. Enjoy an amazing selection of beers, wines and meals at a cash bar. The evening features DJ Jam and games for some friendly competition. No cover, but please RSVP so they know how many to plan for.

In the United States, one of the most popular New Year’s Eve traditions is the dropping of the giant ball in New York City’s Times Square. Other U.S. cities have adopted iterations of the ball drop — the Chick Drop in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and the giant Potato Drop in Boise, Idaho, for example.

Illinois' twist on the ball drop is the spectacular fireworks display in downtown Chicago and Navy Pier.

The end of one year and beginning of another is often celebrated with the singing of “Auld Lang Syne,” a Scottish folk song whose title roughly translates to “days gone by,” according to Encyclopedia Britannica and History.com.

The history of New Year’s resolutions dates back 8,000 years to ancient Babylonians, who would make promises to return borrowed objects and pay outstanding debts at the beginning of the new year, in mid-March when they planted their crops.

According to legend, if they kept their word, pagan gods would grant them favor in the coming year. If they broke the promise, they would fall out of God’s favor, according to a history of New Year’s resolutions compiled by North Hampton Community College New Center in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

Many secular New Year’s resolutions focus on imagining new, improved versions of ourselves.

The failure rate of New Year’s resolutions is about 80 percent, according to U.S. News & World Report. There are myriad reasons, but a big one is they’re made out of remorse — for gaining weight, for example — and aren’t accompanied by a shift in attitude and a plan to meet the stress and discomfort of changing a habit or condition.