Where To Celebrate New Year’s Eve 2024 In Frankfort

FRANKFORT, IL — Whether you're headed out to a noon year's eve event with the kids or a New Year's Eve event later in the night; there's plenty to do in and around Frankfort on Dec. 31.

Frankfort Park District is ringing in 2025 at its own New Year's Eve event for kids on Dec. 31. You must register in advance for the event, which will feature dancing, games, crafts and a balloon drop for ages 4 to 10 at the Founders Community Center, 140 Oak St., in Frankfort.

CD&ME, 23320 S. La Grange Road, in Frankfort, will hold an all-inclusive NYE Party on Dec. 31, featuring music by Motown Nation, a premium bar, buffet dinner and champagne toast. It is $125 per person.

Here is a look at some additional events happening around Frankfort:

• Haunted Trails Family Entertainment Center, 7759 S Harlem Ave., Burbank. Noon to 10 p.m. on Dec. 31. Ring in 2024 at Haunted Trails in Burbank with our New Year’s Eve Fun deal available Dec. 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.
• Clancy’s 95th Irish Tavern, 5763 W. 95th St., Oak Lawn, 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Dec. 31. The premiere Irish pub will have an Irish New Year’s Eve toast at 6 p.m. Enjoy authentic Irish music with the Ceol Bros. playing from 4 to 8 p.m.; BobKat Mutt acoustic, 9 p.m., midnight toast.
• Clancy’s Pizza Pub, 4624 W. 103rd St., Oak Lawn. Stop by for an Irish New Year’s toast at 6 p.m. Richie Z plays 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., midnight toast.
• Pat Tomasulo NYE Comedy Showcase, European Chalet Banquets, 5545 S. Harlem Ave., Chicago. WGN TV morning host, comedian and podcaster Pat Tomasulo returns to European Chalet Banquets in Chicago’s Garfield Ridge neighborhood to perform his hilarious standup act at. The evening features dinner and a premium OPEN bar, starting with a VIP meet and greet with cocktails and appetizers from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Dec. 31; cocktails and dinner from 7 to 8 p.m.; with the comedy show and more cocktails from 8 to 9:30 p.m. 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.
• Thirsty Beaver, 5599 W. 127th St., Crestwood. Groove to Dance Monkey playing 70s, 80s, 90s and current hits starting 9 p.m. on Dec. 31.
• 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 info@115bourbonstreet.com or call 708-388-8881.

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 their own versions of this celebration, such as the Peeps Chick Drop in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and the giant Potato Drop in Boise, Idaho.

The transition from one year to the next is often marked by 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 tradition of New Year’s resolutions dates back 8,000 years to ancient Babylonians, who made promises to return borrowed items and repay debts at the beginning of the new year, which was in mid-March when they planted their crops.

• Related: What New Year’s Resolution Did You Keep? How Did You Do It? [Patch Survey]

According to legend, if people kept their word, the pagan gods would grant them favor in the coming year. However, if they broke their promises, they would lose favor with the gods.

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 many 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 or a plan for coping with the stress and discomfort that comes with changing a habit or condition.