Christmas is Over… Now What? A Guide to Fun in a New Year!

Dancing and toasting to a new year in the Texas Hill Country is much easier than you think. If you miss out on the festivities at Gruene Hall in New Braunfels, you’ve clearly not done your homework properly. Built in the late 19th century, Gruene Hall is known as the oldest continually operating (not to mention most famous) dance hall in Texas. It’s a 6K-square-foot dance hall that features a bar in the front and a small lighted stage in the back. Plenty of room is available to dance the night away with your special someone at this major music venue which has featured everything from up-and-comers to well-established artists, even those of celebrity status, whose pictures you can find on its walls. Be it a regular nightly show, or one as special as New Year’s Eve, anyone watching is guaranteed a top-of-the-line night they won’t soon forget. Texas’ oldest dance hall will host some amazing live entertainment for New Year’s Eve 2019 and always pairs the celebration nicely with free food and champagne splits available for purchase! For more details, call Gruene Hall at (830) 606-1281.

Speaking of pairing things, a New Year’s Eve party at Messina Hof Winery in Fredericksburg could be the perfect combination for a new year and new you, as you celebrate turning a new leaf. The winery is going into a new decade by going back in time with a “roaring 1920s” theme giving guests the opportunity to dance the night away by “putting on the ritz.” Flapper dresses and American gangster looks are en vogue for this one-of-a-kind event which is said to be the “bee’s knees.” General admission can be had for $35 (which includes access to the dance featuring a live D.J., as well as a midnight Texas sparkling wine toast), or premium admission can be purchased for $120. This includes admission for four at a private table, and a bottle of Texas sparkling wine. Get the full winery experience by booking to stay at one of the Messina Hof’s Manor Haus Bed & Breakfast cottages! Each one has its own private entrance, kitchenette, and living room, and makes for a wonderful way to experience the start of a new decade. For tickets to their New Year’s Eve event or for more information on accommodations, call Messina Hof at (830) 990-4653.

Photo: JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa

Those looking to experience peace, comfort, and luxury going into 2020 should look no further than the JW Marriot San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa, in San Antonio. This top-notch Texas Hill Country set of accommodations features sophisticated rooms with marble bathrooms, beautiful balconies, minifridges, and flat-screen TVs, with the option for upgraded rooms and suites. With seven dining options, including a steakhouse and a southwestern-style restaurant, a casual bar, and an onsite Starbucks, this Marriot property is also home to an adults-only pool and spa, a six-acre water park, and a gym (for those looking to get a leg up on their New Year’s resolutions!).

After the 2020 celebrations have all been said and done the business of getting down to brass tacks for the year has begun, you’ll want a few tricks up your sleeve for maintaining the love light throughout the winter. A romantic weekend with your sweetie in the Texas Hill Country, complete with a cozy fireplace, some snuggling, and perhaps a sip of some Texas wine, is in order. A visit to San Antonio for some romance is easily arranged with a stay at La Cantera Resort & Spa, or The Kendall, located in beautiful Boerne. From high-end to moderate and cozy, these accommodations will keep you and your loved one comfy, rested, and ready to share some personal attention.