Published: 02:09 PM, Thu Dec 31, 2009
Your New Year's Eve 2009 party guide
By Brian Dukes, Rodger Mullen, Jessica De Vault
Staff writers
Whether 2009 was a year you'd like to remember or one you'd much rather forget, it'll be over next Thursday at the stroke of midnight. And either way, you'll want to party like a rock star in order to ring in 2010 properly. Here's a sampling of some of the New Year's Eve parties and happenings that'll be going down Dec. 31.
FAMILY EVENTS
Party in the Park: The inaugural New Year's Party in the Park will kick off at Festival Park. The fun starts at 6:30 p.m. and will feature a DJ, dancing, a kids area, a chili and wing cook-off, live music from Nantucket and Hot Sauce, visits by the Fayetteville FireAntz hockey team, a live feed from Times Square, a dogwood drop with the countdown, and a fireworks display to cap everything off. And for those with kids or early sleepers, there'll be a special early dogwood drop at 8:45 p.m., giving you the chance to ring in the new year twice. Call 323-1934 or go to www.faydogwoodfestival.com.
Southern Pines: First Eve will begin at 6 p.m. on Northwest Broad Street between West Connecticut Avenue and West Pennsylvania Avenue. This will be a family-friendly event with food, games, live music and a magician. The pinecone drop is at 8 p.m. Admission is free. Call 692-2463.
Fort Bragg Airborne Lanes: Extreme bowling starts at 8 p.m. Cost is $20 for adults, $11 children for ages 4-15 and $8 for nonbowlers. Admission includes unlimited bowling, champagne toast and breakfast. Lanes open at 1 p.m. New Year's Day. Cost is $2.75 a game for regular bowling and $3.25 for extreme. The lanes are in Building C, 5339 Bastogne Drive. Call 432-6899.
B&B Bowling Lanes: The lanes at 3003 Fort Bragg Road will hold a family event from 6 to 8 p.m. including a balloon drop. The cost is $40 per lane for a maximum of five people; $15 for each additional person. A New Year's party will be held from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. The party includes unlimited bowling, food service, party favors and a champagne toast. Cost is $80 per lane for a maximum of five people. Each additional person is $15 each. Call 484-5179.
Lafayette Bowling Lanes: A New Year's Bash from 10 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. includes food, party favors and unlimited bowling. Cost is $25 per person. The lanes are at 3313 Raeford Road. Call 484-0113.
Round-a-Bout Skating: The two rinks will offer an Almost New Year Half-Day Skate from noon to 4 p.m. The $6 cost includes skate rental and party favors. The location at 115 Skateway Drive (off Raeford Road) will have an all-night skate from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. The $20 cost includes skate rental, pizza buffet, party favors and midnight toast. The site at Eutaw Village Shopping Center (880 Elm St.) will offer a Late Skate from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. The $12 cost includes skate rental and party favors. Call the Skateway Drive site at 860-8900 or the Eutaw site at 484-4465.
NIGHT LIFE and LIVE MUSIC
It'z Entertainment City: The nightclub's DJs will spin the hottest tunes, and guests will be treated to party favors, prize giveaways and drawings. All guests will receive a champagne split, and full bottles of champagne will be available at special rates. Doors open at 7 p.m. Advance tickets are $15, and $20 at the door the day of the event. Next door, David "The Piano Man" Parker will perform. The cigar bar and sports bar will be open with no cover. Call 826-2300 or visit itzentertainmentcity.com.
The Big Apple: The bar and restaurant will host a Black and Silver theme shindig with party favors and giveaways. There will be food, drink and champagne specials and great music. The cover charge is TBA. For more information, call 868-5559.
Huske Hardware House: The downtown restaurant/night spot will have a dinner special for two for $49.99. Then there will be a DJ, dancing and drink specials throughout the night. The cover charge is $20.
Paddy's Irish Public House: It will be a laid-back affair at the pub, with performances by Autumn Nichols and Paddy & Bill. Champagne will be available for the patrons, and the cover charges will remain the same: $3 for members, $5 for guests. Call 677-0055.
Hadez Night Club & Sports Bar: The bar at 3319 Raeford Road will offer a $2 "You Call It" drink specials. DJ Bertman will provide the music. No cover charge. Call 677-9900.
Big Shots Entertainment Sports Bar: The bar is teaming up with Nuvo Sparkling Liqueur to throw a Pink and Black New Year's Eve bash. Guests who wear these colors will receive a ticket for free giveaways. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door before midnight. There will be free champagne and breakfast. Doors open at 8 p.m. Big Shots is at 5112 Yadkin Road. Call 480-4883.
Sinners Bar: Enjoy a DJ and dancing, party favors, food and champagne toast at midnight. Tickets are $10 per person and $15 per couple. The bar is located at 404 W. Manchester Road. Call 436-6511 or go to www.sinnersbar.com.
Spirits Pub: The bar, in the corner of the Tallywood Shopping Center on Raeford Road, will host karaoke, a DJ, drink specials, giveaways, a midnight champagne toast. There is no cover charge. Call 321-7400.
The Fig Cafe: Located in the Westwood Shopping Center. The cafe is hosting a couples New Year's Eve celebration. Couples will receive dinner and dessert, a bottle of champagne and a hookah. There will also be belly dancing and live music. The event will last from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. The charge is $85 per couple. The first 25 couples will be granted a reservation. Call 485-4210.
The SpeakEasy: The popular nightspot is throwing a Black & White shindig with Top 40 tunes from DJ Paradime. For $20, guests will be given favors and a personal bottle of champagne. Doors open at 10 p.m. It is at 3983 Sycamore Dairy Road. Call 339-2404 or go to Speakeasync.com.
VIA 216 Bar & Grill: Located at 216 Tallywood Shopping Center in the former Broadstreet bar. The newest addition to the night-life scene will feature Oakcrest as its live act. The show will kick off at 8 p.m. Cover charge is $10. Call 486-7832.
Sports USA: This Fort Bragg destination will be open from 8 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. with no cover charge. Sports USA is at Bldg. 3-2102, Longstreet Road. Call 907-0739.
Drifters Saloon: This Spring Lake watering hole is offering free breakfast at 1 a.m., a free champagne toast at midnight, party favors, DJ and dancing for $10 admission. Drifters is at 412 N. Bragg Blvd. in Spring Lake. Call 436-1092.
Big Harry's Tavern: Ethan Hanson will rock in the new year with style at Big Harry's Tavern, beginning at 9 p.m. Admission is $10 per person and $15 per couple and includes a champagne toast at midnight, party favors, and breakfast. Big Harry's Tavern is at 3030 Fort Bragg Road. Call 484-9842.
Jesters Pub: The club will ring in the new year with New Machine, The Omega Cell and Joey and Adrian. Doors open at 8 p.m. Show starts at 9 p.m. Cover charge is $10 and includes party favors. Call 423-6100. Jesters is at 6577 Fisher Road.
The Rock Shop: Celebrate with Fractured Fairytales, Loudwater Fury, Bound N Gagged, Lost Cause and more. Doors open at 6 p.m. Admission is $10. The Rock Shop is at 106 S. Eastern Blvd. Call 321-ROCK.
Mug Shots: Rock out with Roadkill, a Southern rock and blues band, at 9 p.m. The bar will have hors d'oeuvres, party favors and a champagne toast. The bar will offer a designated driver program. Mug Shots is at 512 McArthur Road. Call 488-5582.
The Mash House: The restaurant and brewery at 4150 Sycamore Dairy Road is offering a four-course dinner package for $50. The bar will feature a DJ until 2 a.m. No cover charge. Call 867-9223 or go to www.themashhouse.com.
Southern Style Saloon: Saddle Creek will perform at the bar at 4939 Bragg Blvd. Admission is $7 a person and $10 a couple, and there will be drink specials during the night.
OUT OF TOWN
First Night Raleigh: The 19th annual celebration in downtown Raleigh includes performances by the Annuals, Barbara Bailey Hutchison, the African American Dance Ensemble and many more. Activities include art, fireworks, a children's celebration and, of course, the acorn drop. On-site admission is $12 for adults, $10 for children ages 6-12 and free for children 5 and under. Call (919) 832-8699 or go to www.firstnightraleigh.com.
Carolina Hurricanes: The Canes will take on the New York Rangers at 8 p.m. at the RBC Center in Raleigh. Once the game's over, the party starts. There will be live music, a puck drop at midnight, a champagne toast and party favors. The party is free with your paid admission to the game. Tickets for the game range from $25 to $200. Call (919) 467-7825 or go to www.hurricanes.nhl.