Produced and co-sponsored by the Downtown Long Beach Associates (DLBA), New Year’s Eve in downtown will begin with a free, family-friendly event in the Waterfront amphitheatre at Rainbow Harbor followed by a ticketed high-energy street party at the intersection of Pine Avenue and Broadway in the heart of downtown.
“There is a great deal of buzz and excitement about these New Year’s Eve celebrations,” said DLBA President and Chief Executive Officer Kraig Kojian. “The community is building on the success of last year’s event and introducing some exciting new elements that will make for a spectacular evening in downtown Long Beach, which features something for everyone.”
Beginning at 5pm, downtown’s waterfront amphitheatre will come alive with a flurry of family-friendly activities and roaming performers, including magicians, face painters and balloon artists. DJs and local live bands will serve up music, and a trackless train will offer free rides along the esplanade between the Aquarium of the Pacific and Shoreline Village.
Beginning at 6pm, CPO & The Saps will take over the stage with a live performance of upbeat tunes until 8pm. From there, Them Novus will play until 10pm., taking a brief break at 9pm as the East Coast countdown to midnight culminates with a 10-minute fireworks display from Rainbow Harbor’s lighthouse peninsula.
As the first of two New Year’s Eve fireworks displays in downtown wraps up, the massive outdoor party will just be ramping up on Pine Avenue, from First to Third streets.
Love Fool will open the show at 7:30pm with a rocking ’90s set and, in keeping with the countdown theme, they’ll be back for an ’80s mix that will set the tone for event headliner, Wayward Sons, who will rock ‘n roll through the countdown to 2012.
At midnight, fireworks will again light up the sky for the New Year. Six outdoor bar areas will serve a variety of spirits, allowing guests to enjoy food and beverages throughout the venue without missing a minute of live music.
The DLBA has partnered with Long Beach Transit to sponsor free transportation from 5pm to 2:30am.
Advance tickets are available for the Pine Avenue New Year’s Eve Celebration for $10 each, with a limited amount of discount packages, including VIP parking and two event tickets, available for $27. For more ticket information, visit downtownlongbeach.org or the DLBA offices, 100 W. Broadway, Ste. 120 on Friday, Dec. 29 and 30, between 8:30am and 5pm, or at George’s Greek Café, 135 Pine Ave., on Saturday, Dec. 31, between noon and 6pm. Tickets are available at the event and will be sold for $15 each.
