Need a place to ring in the New Year? Here are six events in Denton that provide a variety of activities for families, couples or groups of friends.

This list is not comprehensive. 

Party Like it’s 1986 (or 1996 or 2086)!
Head to Free Play Arcade off the Denton Square to ring in the New Year for a series of arcade parties. Tickets include five hours of unlimited play, midnight confetti, a midnight breakfast buffet, midnight champagne and a swag bag.

• Dec. 31-Jan. 1, 9 p.m.-2 a.m.
• Tickets start at $21
• 101 W. Hickory St., Denton

• Dec. 31, 6 p.m.
• Free (admission)
• 117 E. Oak St., Denton

Two clean-energy financial groups are investing $3.6 million into a new Denton industrial complex that will house six buildings.

Petros PACE Finance—which finances energy conservation measures for retrofits, redevelopments and new construction of commercial properties—and Lone Star PACE—which promotes Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy, or C-PACE, financing in Texas—are spearheading the effort, according to a Dec. 18 news release.

What’s happening? The 107,000-square-foot project is designed to help Denton and North Texas’s population and business growth with the large industrial space.

C-PACE financing will fund the energy-efficient buildings and their lighting systems, with the effort reducing energy by up to 37% annually, according to the release. This is designed to reduce operating costs while enhancing asset performance in the long run.

The backstory: C-PACE is a financial service that allows property owners to fund energy efficiency, water conservation and renewable energy enhancements through a voluntary assessment of the property, according to the release.

Palo Pinto Mountains State Park is not slated to open until late 2026, but guests are invited for a sneak peak of what the park has to offer with specialty day passes on New Year's Day.

In a nutshell: Rangers at the park will offer guided hikes only on Jan. 1 to explore the park before it officially opens and provide a unique way to celebrate the new year, according to a news release.

"Because we are still under construction, access is limited, and all visitors are required to have a day pass reservation," a Palo Pinto Mountains State Park representative said to Community Impact.

Zooming in: The 4,871-acre park will have a large network of trails for hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders, according to the park's website. Trails will lead to remote areas of the park with vista views, lakeside experiences and a variety of campsites, including RV sites.

As the year comes to an end, some trending stories are taking a look back at features shared throughout the year highlighting North Texas restaurants.

Other developments highlighted include a planned gas station and a Texas Department of Transportation road project in McKinney.

See details from these stories and more in this list of the top six most-read stories from Community Impact's DFW coverage areas from Dec. 22-26.

TxDOT’s $1B investment to extend Spur 399 around McKinney, connect to US 380

Check out 9 McKinney eateries featured in 2025

New Texas state park to offer sneak peak with exclusive Jan. 1 guided hikes

Pizza, sushi and more: Check out 6 Dallas-Fort Worth restaurant updates

Check out 11 Frisco dining features from 2025

QuikTrip off US 380 to open in early 2027

Dallas Fort Worth International Airport announced a request for proposal to add 14 new retail and dining locations in multiple terminals.

According to a news release, the airport concession program seeks local brands and flavors that represent North Texas tastes, character and creativity. The request for proposal is open through Feb. 2 for 11 food and beverage locations, and three specialty retail stores.

What they’re saying: “As we build new gates, reimagine existing spaces and construct a new Terminal F, DFW Airport is committed to showcasing our region through our shops and restaurants so that when people travel through our terminals, there’s no denying they have arrived in the heart of Dallas and Fort Worth,” said Ken Buchanan, DFW’s chief revenue officer.

The details: The concepts for food range from fast-food, fast-casual, grab-and-go concepts to frozen treats, popcorn, cosmetic and specialty retail, according to a news release. The locations will be in terminals A, B, E and F.

2026 is a big election year in Texas. Voters will see 18 statewide races, all congressional seats, most state legislative seats and a variety of local positions on the ballot.

The overview: The Republican and Democratic primary elections will be held March 3, and the midterm election is set for Nov. 3.

Texas holds primaries for all partisan elected positions, such as state officials; state and federal lawmakers; and county judges, commissioners and justices of the peace. Third-party candidates, including independents, Libertarian Party candidates and Green Party candidates, have separate election processes will not be listed on the primary ballots in March. Eligible candidates representing various parties will appear on the November ballot.

Looking back: All statewide offices on the ballot are currently held by Republicans, although some are not running for reelection. No Democrat or third-party candidate has won a statewide office in Texas since 1994, election records show.

Check out the full article for more details on election processes and an overview of state-level races.