Opening Night, Flaming Lips, NBA to welcome 2009 in downtown Oklahoma City
Flaming Lips fans ring in the New Year at the Lips’ 2007/2008 concert at the Cox Convention Center. The Oklahoma City-based Grammy-winning band will again play the downtown convention center on New Year’s Eve 2008/2009. (The Oklahoman Archives photo)
From Saturday’s The Oklahoman. Entertainment Editor Gene Triplett contributed to this story.
2009 will roll in with downtown fun
For the 22nd year, Opening Night will turn downtown Oklahoma City into a sprawling New Year’s Eve party complete with musicians, magicians and of course, revelers.
But snow tubing, professional basketball and a giant hamster ball also will be part of the fun for those who want to start 2009 in downtown.
“New Year’s Eve the place to be is downtown Oklahoma City, and Opening Night is just one of the fabulous layers of entertainment,” said Peter Dolese, executive director of the Arts Council of Oklahoma City, which organizes Opening Night.
For the second year, Oklahoma City-based Grammy-winning band The Flaming Lips will ring in the New Year in the Cox Convention Center with psychedelic rock, bizarrely costumed dancers and frontman Wayne Coyne’s huge plastic sphere. Last year’s show was part of Opening Night, but this year it is separate.
Dolese said the council is focusing on showcasing the community’s new or lesser-known performers rather than putting on a big concert.
“We want to bring lots of people down here to see lots of great performers who also work in Oklahoma City full time,” he said. “The Flaming Lips is an international act. … I loved working with them, but they need to go ahead and do their own thing and they’re doing it. We’re thrilled that they’re doing it.”
Coyne, a lifelong Oklahoma City resident, plans to make the concert an annual spectacle.
“The Flaming Lips welcomes everybody to get on board with this thing,” he said. “But I would say that the Flaming Lips are gonna do it anyway. As long as there’s a building and people that wanna rock, we’ll do it with just whatever.”
The city’s new NBA team, the Thunder, also will play on New Year’s Eve.
“We are thrilled to be part of the excitement and energy that is downtown Oklahoma City,” said Thunder spokesman Dan Mahoney.
Other downtown New Year’s Eve events include the Devon Ice Rink, Chesapeake Snow Tubing at the Brick, a formal gala and live country music.
Along with its family-friendly, alcohol-free slate of activities and performances, Opening Night will light up the sky with a fireworks display at midnight. About 65,000 to 75,000 people are expected to attend the event.
See the jump for a schedule of New Year’s events in downtown.
The Oklahoma City Thunder will again take on the Golden State Warriors on New Year’s Eve at the Ford Center. (The Oklahoman Archives photo)
Opening Night 2009
When: 7 p.m. to midnight Wednesday.
Where: 10 venues in downtown Oklahoma City.
Admission: Wristbands are $8 in advance, $10 the day of the event. Children 5 and younger admitted free. Wristbands are available in advance at 7-11 Stores, metro area Homeland stores, MidFirst Bank locations, Mathis Brothers Furniture, Penn Square Mall, Leadership Square and the Arts Council of Oklahoma City. They are available at the event at Stage Center, Kerr Park trailer, Leadership Square, north end of the Cox Convention Center and Kerr Auditorium.
Information: 270-4848 or http://www.artscouncilokc.com/.
New Year’s in Downtown
Other activities in downtown Oklahoma City and Bricktown on New Year’s Eve and Day:
- The Third Annual New Year’s Eve Gala: 9 p.m. Wednesday-1 a.m. Thursday at the Skirvin Hotel. The upscale event raises funds for the Arts Council of Oklahoma City. Information and tickets: 270-4848 or www.artscouncilokc.com.
- The Flaming Lips New Year’s Eve Freakout 2008/2009: 9 p.m. Wednesday, Cox Convention Center. Tickets and information: 235-8288 or www.ticketmaster.com.
- Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Golden State Warriors: 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Ford Center. Buy Thunder tickets for $26 and get a free Opening Night wristband with the team’s special New Year’s promotion. Information: 208-4667 or www.nba.com/thunder.
- Downtown in December: Chesapeake Snow Tubing at the Brick from noon to 8 p.m. through Jan. 3 and 2 to 6 p.m. Jan. 4; Devon Ice Rink at the Civic Center from noon to 11 p.m. Wednesday and noon to 10 p.m. through Jan. 4; OG&E Garden Lights illuminated through Thursday. Information: 236-3640 or www.downtownindecember.com.
- Toby Keith’s New Year’s Eve Party: The Brandon Clark Band plays at 9 p.m. Wednesday at Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill. Information: 231-0254 or www.tobykeithsbar.com.
- Wormy Dog’s New Year’s Eve Bash: No Justice plays at 11 p.m. Wednesday at the Wormy Dog Saloon. Information: 601-6276 or www.wormydog.com.
- Wormy Dog’s Fourth Annual Hangover Ball: Featuring Cody Canada, Randy Rogers, Wade Bowen, Stoney LaRue, Stephanie Briggs, Brandon Jenkins, Mike McClure, Jason Boland and Adam Hood at 8 p.m. Thursday at the Wormy Dog Saloon. Information: 601-6276 or www.wormydog.com.
- For more New Year’s events, go to www.wimgo.com.
-BAM
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