Roundup of New Year's Eve events scheduled across the region

Dec. 29—New Year's Eve celebrations greeting the year 2024 with music, fireworks, food and more this coming Sunday include an inaugural event in Tazewell County as well as established events in Bluefield, Princeton and Welch.

Festivities ringing in the New Year will start early Saturday with the End of Year Dance at the Fincastle in Bluefield, Va.

Located at 1000 Country Club Drive in Bluefield, Va., the dance begins at 8 p.m. Saturday and continues until 11 p.m. Admission is $15 per person and $25 per couple. The ticket price includes admission, appetizers and a champagne toast. Music will be provided by DJ Lori Charles Stacy.

In Town of Tazewell, Va, the Tazewell Main Street's first NYE Celebration and Ball Drop will begin at 9 p.m. Sunday at the Board of Supervisors room along 197 Main Street in downtown Tazewell. Admission is free.

There will be a live ball drop outside at midnight and a mock ball drop indoors at 10 p.m., organizers with the Tazewell Main Street Merchants Association said. Entertainment will include a DJ with karaoke and lip synch battles, plus there will be a cash bar with wine, beer and champagne. A food truck with R&J Concessions/Dorothy White will take part as well. The celebration will continue until midnight. Participants can dress up as people from their favorite decade.

In McDowell County, the New Year's Eve Coal Drop starts at 9 p.m. Sunday at Martha Moore Park in Welch. Vendors including food will be set up at the park. There is no booth fee. Vendors interested in participating can register online with a link at the city's Facebook page or by calling the City of Welch at 304-436-3113.

Plans for the New Year's Eve Coal Drop in downtown Welch also features entertainment, karaoke and fireworks.

In the City of Bluefield, the Lemon Drop 2024 gets started at 11 p.m. Sunday on Commerce Street in downtown Bluefield. The lemon descends at midnight, accompanied by fireworks, hot chocolate and holiday music from a DJ, organizers said.

Across Mercer County in the City of Princeton, the 11th Annual Downtown Countdown starts at 8:30 p.m. Sunday and continues until midnight.

The New Year's Eve celebration will feature seven indoor entertainment venues, live music, circus performers, ice sculptors, horse and carriage rides, free face painting, a gaming theater, kids' activities, games and more, concluding with a ball drop and fireworks at midnight, according to Lori McKinney with the Mercer Street Grassroots District in downtown Princeton.

Activities will be in and around Dick Copeland Town Square. Mercer Street will be closed off during the New Year's Eve event.

Featured performers and venues this year at the Downtown Countdown include Aristotle Jones and his Amazing Appalachian Soul Band in Stages Music School, Holy River and CassiRaye in The Listening Room, Conor & The Wild Hunt in The Room Upstairs, Alabaster Boxer in Sophisticated Hound Brewing Company, Tim & Maggie in The RiffRaff Art Boutique, Jacob Brooks in Jimmies Restaurant, Fluidity Performance Troupe (outdoors), Ice Carver Shannon Gersumchik (outdoors), DJ/MC Doc Atwell on The Town Square Stage, Derian Mills and Je'dah Madison in The Sanctuary at Wild Roots, and Barry Cline with Aud Lang Zyne outdoors at midnight.

Several businesses in addition to the entertainment venues will be open during the Downtown Countdown including Hammer & Stain, Jimmies Restaurant, Jamaica Wi Hungry, Blue Ridge Bee Company and Wild Roots Coffeehouse.

There will be a special Pokemon Scavenger Hunt brought by Daydream Games, located at 925 Mercer, McKinney said. There will be a gaming theater featuring video games on the best gaming systems available including Xbox One, Nintendo Wii U and Playstation 4, organizers said.

Another new attraction this year is a New Year's Wish Tree, created by artist Isaac Preston out of up-cycled copper wire, will offer guests the chance to write their wishes for the new year and hang them on its branches.

General admission to the Downtown Countdown is free.

There is a $20 admission for an All Access Entertainment Pass to live entertainment venues, with $15 for senior citizens and students. General admission for veterans and children 10 and under is free. Tickets can be purchased in advance at www.downtowncountdown.org.

— Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com

Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com