Best Ways To Spend New Years Day With Your Family In DFW
By Shawn S. Lealos
There isn't a better time for adults to party than on New Year's Eve every year. However, for families, the better option might be to wait until New Year's Day and then spend the first day of the New Year together enjoying family-friendly activities. In the DFW area, there are plenty of options for families including at the Stockyards in Fort Worth, taking a tour of Dallas, or even taking part in a hike or run to kick off the New Year with a healthy start. With so much to choose from, here is a look at the best ways to spend New Year's Day with your family in the DFW area for 2018.
Day 1 Dallas
1300 Robert B Cullum Boulevard
Dallas, TX 75210
(214) 670-8400
www.day1dallas.com
The biggest event happening in the DFW area on New Year's Day every year is Day 1 Dallas. This is a free event that caters to families, hosted by Vogel Alcove. Over 12,000 people showed up in 2017 and a large showing is expected on New Year's Day 2018 as well. The event takes place at Fair Park and includes outdoor entertainment, activities for the kids, food vendors and more. There is also a huge firework's show that evening to wrap up the day's festivities. The gates open at 3 p.m. CT and the firework display kicks off at 7 p.m.
First Day Hikes
1570 FM1382
Cedar Hill, TX 75104
(972) 291-3900
tpwd.texas.gov/spdest/parkinfo/first_day_hikes
Everyone likes to talk about their New Year's Resolutions and for families, there is a way to kick off 2018 in a healthy fashion by taking on one of the annual Fist Day Hikes in Dallas. These vary in length and skill from short leisurely walks to hills and mountain climbing. There is something for all ages and they take place in parks all over the state of Texas, from the DFW area to El Paso, San Antonio, Houston, and all point in between. The centralized location for the DFW area is in Cedar Hill State Park and the 2018 New Year's Day First Day Hike there is titled the "Precious Prairie" Hike. It lasts from 1 p.m. until 2 p.m. where kids can learn about the plants and animal life on a moderate skilled hike. Families should meet at the Duck Pond Trail parking lot and leashed pets are allowed.
New Year's At The Stockyards
130 East Exchange Ave.
Fort Worth, TX 76116
(800) 433-5747
www.fortworth.com/the-herd
Every day is a good day to visit the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District. On New Year's Eve, there is a ton of fun stuff happening in the Stockyards, from Pawnee Bill's Wild West Show to a Cowtown Showdown and a concert by the Randy Rogers Band at Billy Bob's Texas. On New Year's Day, there are two chances for families to come and witness the legendary Fort Worth Herd. The first takes place at 11:30 a.m. and the second at 4 p.m. at the Stockyards Visitor Center. There is also a chance for kids to see the steers up close in the pens after the cattle drives.
Related: Best Places For New Year's Day Brunch In DFW
Amazing Scavenger Hunt Adventure
2121 Flora St.
Dallas, TX 75201
(214) 744-6642
www.urbanadventurequest.com
The Dallas Arts District offers up the Amazing Scavenger Hunt Adventure, which gives families and friends a chance to run around Dallas and learn all about the entire Art's District. This costs $39.20 for a team of up to five people and runs at the pace of the individuals. There is a three-hour tour of Dallas included that takes families to some of the best known as well as overlooked areas of the city. Along the way, people can complete challenges by solving the clues of the game. Choose either to take the Dallas Arts Quest or the Downtown Dallas Quest and learn all about the DFW area.
New Years Double
701 Angel Parkway
Allen, TX 75002
www.newyearsdouble.com
Allen has a great way for families in the DFW area to both end 2017 and kickoff 2018 in style. The New Years Double is two days of running events for the health-minded families. These races started out back in 2011 on just New Year's Day in the DFW area and it was so popular that they moved it to two days as well, with one on the morning of New Year's Eve and the second on New Year's Day morning. Included are the 26.2-mile marathon, a 13.1-mile half marathon, and a 3.1-mile 5K. There iss also a Double 5K for kid's only.