Nothing signifies the passing of time quite like the end of a calendar year, and whether you want to give cheers for making it through this past year, or you want to celebrate all the fun that the new one will surely be serving up, a great place to find plenty of social interaction is a friendly, neighborhood bar. If your neighborhood happens to be in the state of Iowa, you don’t have to look very far to find a drinking establishment to celebrate in. Spread across the state, these 10 excellent Iowa bars will help you close out the year with a bang!
Serving as a great bar to catch live shows, meet new friends, and have a good time during any season of the year, the Mill of Iowa City really comes to life for New Year’s Eve. Throughout the entire last weekend of 2017, the Mill is packed with fun shows to check out, and on the last day of the year itself, an epic dance party is set to take place. To really put a fun finish to the year, the Mill is serving up the excitement all night long.
Throughout the last weekend of 2017, the Vaudeville Mews of Des Moines is hosting live shows that pay tribute to your favorite performances of the year. Hitting the stage on Saturday, Rockinfreakapotamus rocks the house and covers the Red Hot Chili Peppers with high energy. On Sunday, the last day of the year, Pale Blue Erf channels the Grateful Dead with a heady performance that will end the year on a high note.
It should come as no surprise that the Social Club of Des Moines provides a pretty good shindig when it comes to the end of the year in the capital city. For 2017, the Des Moines Social Club is going throwback with a 1990s-themed “Saved by the Bash” filled with live performances and art experiences, plus over 700 people in attendance. For one of the biggest and best ends to the old year, and beginnings for the new one, the Des Moines Social Club will be serving up all the fun.
The collegiate-inspired city of Ames knows how to celebrate the new year right, and if you happen to be a student at Iowa State University, or a fun-loving community member, DG’s Tap House is the bar where you’ll want to be. DG’s throws down on some of the best live music and parties throughout the year in Ames, and come the end of the year, this local Tap House pulls out all the stops with multiple bands, cash prizes and a high-volume party throughout the night.
For a great taste of the local flavor of fun in Cedar Rapids this New Year’s Eve, the Dublin City Pub will be serving up great libations and ambiance all night long. Irish heritage or not, all are welcome at the Dublin City Pub, and come the end of the year, this community staple pub will be sure to provide a great time to catch up with old friends and make some new acquaintances.
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Come the new year in Sioux City, few establishments throw as big of a party as the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. Featuring great drink specials, a lively crowd of people and a special performance by the electric and entertaining “Spazmatics,” the Hard Rock Hotel will be throwing a bash to always remember. Book your stay now, and you won’t even have to worry about getting back home after the big party.
To game the last night of the year away, a hip place to be is the Analog Arcade Bar of Davenport. Featuring dozens of classic pinball machines, electronic and classic video games, plus skee-ball lanes, the Analog Arcade Bar not only provides plenty of reasons to play, but also comes complete with a fun atmosphere to share with friends. Come the end of the year, you can expect all the arcade games to be plugged in and ready for some fun.
As one of the best bars to celebrate anything in Cedar Falls, the Octopus College Hill, sometimes better known simply as The Hill, has a long-standing reputation for serving up the fun come New Year’s Eve. For 2018, the Hill is packing the night with plenty of live music, great drink selections and plenty of good cheer amongst the crowd. If you enjoy live music, friendly people and a collegiate atmosphere that likes to stay up late, The Hill is the spot you’ll want to check out this New Year’s Eve.
With an ability to provide a wide assortment of entertainment throughout the year, the Ameristar Casino Hotel in Council Bluffs will be sure to be packed with fun for the end of the year. Whether your ticket for excitement includes gambling, dining or listening to live music, you’ll find it at the Ameristar Casino Hotel, and best yet, at the end of the night you can simply take an elevator ride upstairs to get your first good sleep of the new year.
Slightly hidden off Lower Main Street in Dubuque, The Lift is a TV-free basement pub that is primed for social interaction. The Lift served up a proper Irish wake for 2016 last year, and for the end of 2017, you can expect a similar style of fun to bring in the new year. A great place to meet friends new and old, The Lift is all about sharing the fun, and will surely provide a great place to begin the new year in 2018.