New Year's Eve is Thursday, Dec. 31. The Government Plaza ice rink is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; City Hall is closed New Year's Day, Friday, Jan. 1, 2027.

Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address; the dates below are for New Year’s Eve 2026. Facts come from the City of Tuscaloosa’s holiday schedule and observed holidays list, the city’s Holidays on the Plaza page and its rink calendar.

New Year’s Eve is Thursday, Dec. 31, 2026. As of Oct. 17, no city fireworks show or public countdown had been announced for Tuscaloosa. The one public event on the calendar is skating: the city’s outdoor rink on Government Plaza stays open on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day and closes for the season Sunday, Jan. 3, 2027. Restaurant and bar plans are added here only as each venue announces them.

What this means for you

  • Ice rink: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 31; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Jan. 1.
  • City Hall: closed Friday, Jan. 1, 2027.
  • Trash: no pickup on city holidays; the city posts the New Year’s week route changes on its holiday schedule page. Questions: 311, or 205-248-5311.
  • Police non-emergency: 205-349-2121. Emergencies: 911.

Skating into the new year

The City of Tuscaloosa’s Holidays on the Plaza rink, next to the Tinsel Trail’s decorated trees on Government Plaza, runs on holiday hours through the end of the season:

Day Rink hours
Monday to Wednesday, Dec. 28-30 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. ($12 Family Skate Day on Tuesday)
Thursday, Dec. 31, New Year’s Eve 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 1, New Year’s Day 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 2 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 3, closing day 1 to 8 p.m., $10 skate special

A day pass, with skate rental, is $15; the military rate is $12 with ID. Payment is cashless. Park free in the Intermodal Facility parking deck at 2230 Seventh St. The rink stays open in light rain but may close in heavy rain; the city posts weather closings on its website and Facebook page.

City offices and trash

New Year’s Day, Friday, Jan. 1, 2027, is on the City of Tuscaloosa’s list of observed holidays. On those days City Hall offices are closed and there is no garbage, trash or recycling pickup, the city’s holiday schedule says. When New Year’s Day fell on a Thursday in 2026, Thursday routes were collected Friday. The city had not posted the 2027 route change as of Oct. 17; this page will add it.

Tuscaloosa City Schools are on winter break from Dec. 21 to Jan. 1, and students return Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2027, according to the district’s 2026-27 calendar.

Downtown on New Year’s Eve

The city’s downtown Arts and Entertainment District, where adults may carry one drink in an approved to-go cup, operates only Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 9:30 p.m. New Year’s Eve 2026 falls on a Thursday, so to-go cups are not allowed that night. Participating venues include Embassy Suites Downtown Tuscaloosa, Gnemi’s Top Shelf Tavern, Hotel Indigo Tuscaloosa Downtown, Jalapeños Downtown Cocina and Tequila Bar, and The 205 at Homewood Suites.

Visit Tuscaloosa lists a First Friday gallery night on Friday, Jan. 1, 2027, from 5 to 8 p.m. around the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center, 620 Greensboro Ave.; holiday hours can vary by gallery, so check First Friday Tuscaloosa first.

Fireworks

The city’s own fireworks show is Celebration on the River on the Fourth of July at the Mercedes-Benz Amphitheater; see our Fourth of July fireworks page. No city New Year’s Eve show had been announced as of Oct. 17. Before setting off fireworks at home, check the rules with Tuscaloosa 311; homes in Northport and unincorporated Tuscaloosa County fall under different governments.

Getting home safely

Tuscaloosa Transit Authority runs city bus routes; our getting around guide has the details. Report impaired drivers to 911.

More guides: holiday lights and Christmas events, Christmas parade and tree lighting and live music and nightlife.

Frequently asked questions

What is open in Tuscaloosa on New Year’s Eve?

The city’s Holidays on the Plaza ice rink on Government Plaza is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 31, 2026, and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on New Year’s Day, according to the city’s rink calendar.

Is Tuscaloosa City Hall closed on New Year’s Day 2027?

Yes. New Year’s Day, Friday, Jan. 1, 2027, is on the city’s list of observed holidays, when City Hall offices close and there is no garbage, trash or recycling pickup.

Does Tuscaloosa have New Year’s Eve fireworks?

The City of Tuscaloosa had not announced a New Year’s Eve fireworks show as of Oct. 17, 2026. Its free fireworks show is Celebration on the River on the Fourth of July.

Can you carry a drink downtown in Tuscaloosa on New Year’s Eve?

Only during the Arts and Entertainment District’s hours: Fridays and Saturdays 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sundays noon to 9:30 p.m. New Year’s Eve 2026 is a Thursday, outside those hours.