Weekend Possibilities | New-Look New Year’s Celebrations, Hotel Kansas City Snow Globes and Where to Watch the Chiefs

For the last time, a holiday will “look a bit different” in 2020.

As Kansas City rings in the new year with adjusted capacities, social distancing measures and face covering requirements, we raise a glass to 2021.

Cheers from Flatland!

Thursday, Dec. 31

9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. & 2 – 5 p.m. Celebrate with the whole family at Science City’s Noon Year’s Eve at Union Station, 30 W. Pershing Road. There will be fun, interactive activities for children of all ages ranging from making your own party animal ears, to learning about floating fireworks and a fire tornado. Make sure to wear your dancing shoes for the socially distanced dance party in the science center. The event is free for members. General admission tickets are $14.

Noon – 7 p.m. New Year’s Eve will look a bit different this year at Kansas City Bier Co., 310 W. 79th St. The German-style brewery is inviting guests to bring their own blanket for low temps in the socially distanced biergarten. The good news is there will be discounted brews depending on the temperature. Look forward to live polka, a stream of the “Sylvester Show” from Germany, a toast to the (German) New Year’s at 5 p.m., plus a jelly donut toast and short film showing. Parties larger than eight are not permitted. Prost!

7:30 p.m. There’s nothing like live music to ring in the new year and live music is what Knuckleheads, 715 Rochester Ave., knows best. Get a ticket to see The Sweet Lizzy Project & The Outtakes & The Instamatics as we bid adieu to 2020. Champagne and snacks are included. Tickets are $40.

Friday, Jan. 1

10 a.m. – 2 p.m. You can test your luck at Chicken N Pickle’s New Year’s Day Brunch Bingo, 1761 Burlington St. in North Kansas City. The full brunch menu will be available with mimosas and bloody marys starting at 10 a.m. Free bingo with prizes runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

5 – 8 p.m. An evening above the skyline is now possible with Hotel Kansas City’s Starlight Snow Globe experience. A ticket includes a 90-minute reservation in a Snow Globe “bubble” on the Hotel Kansas City balcony, with dinner, drinks and a space heater included. Groups are limited to six guests. Masks are required. Tickets are $100 per person.

Saturday, Jan. 2

10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Whether you have a serious sweet tooth or consider yourself a coffee connoisseur, get down to the West Bottoms Saturday morning as Ragusa’s Italian Cafe teams up with Cafe Cà Phê for a 2021 Coffee Crepe Kickoff. Look for the pair of food trucks near 1101 Mulberry St.

7:05 p.m. Missing live sports? There’s limited capacity tickets available for the Mavericks game this weekend as the squad looks for their first win of the season at home against the Tulsa Oilers at Cable Dahmer Arena, 19100 E. Valley View Pkwy. in Independence. Tickets start at $20.

Sunday, Jan. 3

12 – 2 p.m. Raise a glass to the No. 1 seed Kansas City Chiefs this Sunday as the defending champs wrap up the 2020 campaign against the Chargers. A Chiefs Watch Party at The Sandbox, 509 N.W. Barry Road, means $6 chicken quesadillas and game day nachos, 50 cent wings, $5 Mahomes margaritas and $1 Jell-O shots. If you feel like tailgating, show up early for Sandbox brunch deals starting at 10 a.m.

Noon – 4 p.m. If there’s any game to half-watch this season, this weekend’s game against the Chargers is the one. With the top seed for the playoffs wrapped up, Mahomes and a handful of starters will likely rest against the divisional foes, so focusing on yard games at Apogee’s Tailgate Watch Party in Olathe, 670 N. Central St., will be that much easier. Grab a few friends and enjoy craft beer, cocktails and pizza on Apogee’s expansive patio.