SALISBURY – For the first time, Salisbury will be holding a New Year’s Eve Ball Drop in continuing efforts to grow an attraction to the downtown area.
“Momentum is building in our city. A New Year’s Eve Celebration of our own, in our downtown, is just another way for the City of Salisbury to come together. We have some awesome things planned for New Year’s Eve. You will not want to miss this,” says Jamie Heater, one of the coordinators of the New Year’s Eve event, which begins at 8 p.m. on the Salisbury Downtown Plaza.
“This is the first New Year’s Eve Ball Drop in downtown Salisbury as far as I know,” Devreco partner Joey Gilkerson said. “They have had New Year’s Eve celebrations in the past but it has been for the better part of 10 years since they have a Downtown Plaza celebration.”
In conjunction with the City of Salisbury and the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce, the Salisbury Arts and Entertainment District Committee is hosting the event, which also puts on 3rd Friday every month also on the Downtown Plaza.
Live music will perform on a stage located at the intersection of St. Peters Alley and Main, with the ball-drop taking place overhead. Acts include The Bonedaddys, Test Kitchen and DJ BallDrop.
Alcohol will be available for purchase outdoors within Plaza boundaries and many downtown restaurants and businesses will be open with special events and sales.
“With it being the first year and wanting it to be a success, we decided to dive in head first,” Gilkerson said of providing live entertainment on a professional stage with lighting.
The ball drop will be no joke, Gilkerson added, as the ball is about five feet in diameter hanging about 70 feet in the air suspended from a 100-foot tall crane.
“For the community to have a chance to celebrate a New Year’s Eve in Downtown Salisbury is an incredible leap forward. A new generation of leaders is emerging that will take the downtown to even greater heights. I plan to be there for the ball drop, and will take every opportunity to invite the public to be a part of New Year’s Eve in Salisbury,” Mayor Jim Ireton said.
The New Year’s Eve Ball Drop is open and free to all ages. According to Gilkerson, the Parker Place Building will be providing kid activities and arts and crafts.
“This should be the first of many,” Gilkerson said of the inaugural ball drop. “Building off of 3rd Friday momentum it will be a good time. We’ve got booze, we’ve got good music, and we’ve got a ball. What everybody wants on New Year’s.”