Montgomery Gears Up For New Year’s Downtown Countdown
Christmas may be over, but the city of Montgomery and Alabama News Network are getting ready for another big holiday event, the New Year’s Eve Downtown Countdown.
Alabama News Network will broadcast the downtown celebration live on CBS 8 and ABC Montgomery. City leaders hope the New Year’s Eve celebration will mark a change in the way people ring in the new year here in Central Alabama.
“I had people contact me from Birmingham, wanting to know where they could stay, so of course, I was having to give them all the information for the hotels, because it’s a come and stay and play,” said Denise Welch, a coordinator for the event.
This is the second year for the downtown celebration
“You know, our numbers we were looking at last year, we were hoping to have 2,500 and we way exceeded that, we reached into 5 and 6,000 people, and it was incredible,” Welch said.
This is the first year it will all be broadcast live on Alabama News Network.
“Just an incredible opportunity for the community to see what the incredible city, our wonderful mayor that supports, and everything we do here, so it’s just a great opportunity,” said Welch.
People in central alabama say they think the celebration makes Montgomery a destination for New Year’s celebrations for people all across the state.
“This city needs something where it can bring people together, because a lot of people want to go to Atlanta or other places, but it’s something you can do here,” said Patrice Brown, who lives in Georgia, but is from Montgomery.
“I mean, it should be, with them throwing a party downtown, because that’s usually where all the bars are in Atlanta, downtown, and stuff like that, so it should change it,” said Gerald Watkins, who lives in Montgomery.
“Being not new to the area, so looking for something to do with the kids that’s safe and nice,” said Tracy Lockhart, who just moved to Montgomery.
The downtown area near the Riverwalk will be blocked off for the Downtown Countdown.
Free parking is available at the Biscuits parking lot, and transportation will be provided to the celebration.
The event lasts from 9 P.M. to 1 A.M., and remember you can watch it all live on Alabama News Network on CBS 8 and ABC Montgomery.
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