By Gari Voss
Sunday, December 31, 2023, brings celebrations of all sizes and shapes. In Allegan, it means time with family and friends mingling along the Riverfront, enjoying the fire pit, listening to live music, dancing to a silent disco, eating favorite food from Allegan establishments and food trucks, and imbibing hot or specialty drinks obtained from Social District businesses. The evening culminates with the dropping of the 10’6” that contains 30,000 synchronized LED lights.
From 8pm-Midnight, the largest New Year’s Eve ball in Michigan will hang high over guests on the Riverfront. PROJECT 90 will be on Mainstage filling the air with 90’s Rock hits.
For those not familiar with PROJECT 90, for six years the band has been voted one of the top three Cover Bands in West Michigan during the Revue Magazine’s poll of West Michigan readers.
With the completion of Streetscape, visitors can the downtown restaurants. Schaendorf Brewery on Water St., Heronmark on Trowbridge St., or Sherwood Cove and Tilt 118 on Brady St. are as simple to access as Tantrick Brewing that backs up to Riverfront Plaza. Social District beverages can be carried down to Riverfront Plaza.
In addition to local food establishments, food trucks will offer their specialties.
The immense glowing ball came to the Riverfront in 2017 with the assistance of Ropes Course, Inc. (RCI). Technicians created the ball that measures 10 ft. 6 inches then RCI employees and volunteers added 30,000 multi-colored LED lights. It took over 200 hours to ensure that each light would be controlled by music and crowd noises.
In an interview with Sean Horihan, an engineer with RCI, he shared, “We felt like Santa’s little elves assembling all the fixtures and placing each of the 750 wire connections. We had a great team of people that all wanted to be part of helping to put Allegan’s New Year’s Eve festivities on the map.”
In 2017, the ball was dropped from an arm attached to the Allegan Event ZIP Line platform and this moved Allegan to take the title of “Largest NYE Ball in West Michigan” from Ludington’s 6’ 6” sphere.
Though the ZIP Line tower has moved, the replacement arm continues the tradition that brings thousands of people to Allegan to welcome in the New Year.
Ushering in 2024 marks the end of a long year of Downtown Construction and Improvements which created a new, brighter open look to the streets and sidewalks that front the buildings. At the same time, anticipation builds with new adventures for 2024.
The City of Allegan and its Downtown Businesses invite all to come and celebrate. For those not wishing to spend the whole evening on the Riverfront or roaming the streets, the 7pm movie at the Regent Theater may be a great beginning to the evening. After the show, sample some wonderful food, pick up a beverage – adult or otherwise – and enjoy the Social District. Spend time standing by the Firepit or relaxing at a picnic table or bring a chair, visiting with family and friends, or making some new acquaintances.