(11/25) Nonprofit Dream Big Union Bridge will be welcoming the new year at their third annual New Year’s Eve party.
The celebration starts at 7 p.m. and will feature live music, food trucks, free arcade games and more before the community greets the new year with a countdown to midnight and a firework show, according to Dream Big Union Bridge Co-founders Brian Colussy and Cheri Thompson.
The event will take place at the Union Bridge Fire Company Carnival Grounds at 8 W. Locust St. There is no charge to attend, although donations are encouraged, Thompson said.
The party will have music by rock band Cashtown and DJ AJ will be playing between sets. This year, 99.9 WFRE will be broadcasting the event live from 7 to 9 p.m., Colussy said.
Guests will be able to purchase refreshments from food trucks such as Wetzel’s Pretzels and Coverd Dessert Shoppe, Colussy said. There will also be a beer garden as well as knick knacks to purchase.
As it nears midnight, a large handmade ornament will be lifted during the countdown. The ornament will light up as a cherry picker lifts it 65 feet, Colussy estimates. As soon as it turns midnight, the ornament will hit the top and the fireworks will start.
"We have a 20-minute professional firework display that is out of this world," Thompson said. She said the nonprofit invested around $7,500 in fireworks alone.
When it comes to last year’s fireworks display, "people are still talking about it," Colussy said. He said the show had "like four grand finales," he said. "So when you thought it was done, it continued on … so it was a very spectacular event last year."
Colussy said his inspiration for the event comes from growing up in a community in Pennsylvania that hosted New Year’s Eve celebrations. Being a part of Dream Big Union Bridge gave him the opportunity to host one in town.
The nonprofit is offering the chance to win gift cards to local businesses, and winners will be drawn at the New Year’s Eve event. Participants can pick up a passport at participating local businesses. Making a purchase at a participating business will earn them a stamp on their passport. There will be two drawings from each category based on the number of stamps received.
If a participant receives two stamps, which is the minimum number of stamps required to enter the giveaway, they are eligible to win $100 in gift cards. Four stamps makes participants eligible to win $150 in gift cards, six stamps makes them eligible to win $250 in gift cards, and receiving all 10 stamps from the businesses could win a participant $500 in gift cards. Participating businesses can be found on the Dream Big Union Bridge Facebook page.
Thompson says the purpose of Dream Big Union Bridge is "bringing the community and businesses together." The nonprofit tries to involve local businesses in their events, she said, and "make them family friendly and at no charge."
Dream Big Union Bridge holds other events throughout the year as well. On Dec. 1, the nonprofit held their annual Christmas tree lighting event where they lit a Christmas tree reaching higher than 20 feet.
Those who would like to donate to help cover the cost of the New Year’s Eve celebration can reach Thompson at (443) 340-6305.
Read other news articles on Woodsboro
