EUREKA SPRINGS — As the final hours of the year tick away, downtown Eureka Springs transforms into a glowing, music-filled celebration unlike anywhere else in the Ozarks. On New Year’s Eve, thousands will gather in and around Basin Spring Park for Arkansas’ most iconic New Year’s Eve midnight moment — the Water Drop — anchoring a night of live music, late-night dining, and festive street energy known as Bash with a Splash.
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New Year’s Eve Schedule
8:30–9:00 p.m.
Guest should gather to enjoy a Carnival style parade bringing street performances, roaming entertainers, and light displays to fill Basin Spring Park
9:00 – 11:45 p.m.
Live bands perform at the Ben E Keith Foods Bandshell and inside bars, restaurants, and historic hotel venues. Food trucks and vendors open near Basin Spring Park.
11:45 p.m
Sean Paul leads a Final countdown with music and crowd celebration.
Midnight
The iconic Water Drop Splashes into the Water Bucket, ringing in the New
After Midnight
Live music, DJ sets, and celebrations continue throughout downtown bars, clubs
Know Before You Go
Entertainment District
Downtown Eureka Springs becomes a walkable entertainment district on New Year’s Eve, with the highest concentration of activity along Spring Street from Main to Center Streets near Basin Spring Park. Expect packed venues, continuous live entertainment, and street-level energy into the start of New Year’s Day. Four public restrooms will be available near the food court area to accommodate the large crowd.
YouTube Livestream
Can’t make it to the event? Tune in beginning at 11 p.m. to the City of Eureka Springs YouTube Channel to watch the Water Drop and midnight countdown live.
Parking & Transportation
Downtown parking is limited and fills early. Visitors are encouraged to arrive early or use free Park-and-Ride trolley service operating from satellite parking areas around town, delivering guests directly to the downtown trolley depot within easy walking distance of the festivities. There will be NO PARKING on Spring Street on December 31 from Main Street to Center Street.
Street Party / Road Closures
For public safety and to accommodate the celebration, Spring Street will be closed to vehicle traffic from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., from Spring & Center Street to Spring & Main Street, creating a pedestrian-only street party zone surrounding Basin Spring Park.
Shops, Dining & Food Service
Many downtown shops remain open late, offering time to browse galleries, boutiques, and gift shops before the main event. Restaurants feature everything from casual fare to special New Year’s Eve menus, while bars and lounges stay open late to welcome revelers after midnight. New this year, two food trucks and a beverage tent will be available near Basin Spring Park to help serve the crowd throughout the evening.
Visitor Information
Complete details on parking locations, participating shops and eateries, entertainment district boundaries, schedules, and event updates can be found at visiteurekasprings.com/new-years-eve-water-drop.
A Night That Belongs to Eureka Springs
New Year’s Eve in Eureka Springs is more than a countdown — it’s a shared community moment rooted in history, creativity, and fun. As the Water Drop falls and cheers echo through the hills, the city welcomes the new year together, proving once again that no one rings it in quite like Eureka Springs — with a splash.