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Quick note: The Patchogue ball-dropping countdown starts at 9 p.m.
The Greater Patchogue Chamber of Commerce is looking to hold another Midnight on Main St. bash this New Year’s Eve.
Last year’s inaugural event drew some 3,000 people to Patchogue Village to celebrate in the streets.
But just like last year, the chamber needs your help to fund the party.
“This is one of the only chamber events that we do solicit community support for,” said the chamber’s executive director, David Kennedy. “Our budget by this time of the year is pretty much spent on other events, and this isn’t really a generator of any revenue, so we really depend upon sponsorships and the community.”
“Whether it’s a dollar or $10,000, it will be a big help,” Kennedy said.
Midnight on Main St. is believed to be the only outdoor, ball-related New Year’s Eve celebration anywhere ever east of Times Square, Kennedy said.
The centerpiece last year featured a LED-lit New Year’s Eve ball through North Star Signs & Neon Inc. in Patchogue, which was complemented by light pyrotechnics by Fireworks by Grucci.
The outdoor bash proved popular among both attendees and bar and restaurant owners alike last year, Kennedy said, mainly because of the 9 p.m. count-down, which, as you can imagine, is unique for a New Year’s Eve celebration.
“The original concept was it would be at midnight,” Kennedy said, adding there were some conflicts with that time, as well as the originally planned location of the Four Corners intersection at Main Street and Ocean Avenue.
So the count-down was switched to 9 p.m. and the party moved to the Capital One Plaza.
“So we came up with a nifty slogan, with Patchogue being ‘Ahead of its Time,'” Kennedy said. “And you know what? The event was wonderful. We had a great crowd, and what we discovered with the change was that we fell into a sweet spot, time-wise.
“It was early enough that people would bring their families, their children. And for those looking to have a good time the whole night, and into the night, it was a great starting point to get things going.”
Kennedy said the organizers are looking to lift the New Year’s Eve ball even higher this year and beef up the sound system, this way everyone could hear the countdown better than they did last year.
Main Street will be closed to traffic about 7 p.m. with the DJ and the dancing in streets getting underway at 8 p.m.
There will be food for sale, as well as free party favors and noise makers.
And just like last year, Blue Point Brewing Company will be helping make it all possible with a major donation.
“We’re big believers in Patchogue and the support we’ve received over the 17 years we’ve been here,” said Blue Point’s president, Mark Hegedus. “The local restaurants and bars took a chance with Blue Point originally and have been big supporters ever since.
“If we can get more people to experience the town and all the bars and restaurants, we’re all-in.”
Editor’s note: The initial version of this story incorrectly identified that name of the sign company that made the New Year’s Eve ball.
Photo of Midnight on Main St. 2014 courtesy of KLD Photography/Krystle L. DiNicola
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