Patchogue’s New Year’s Eve ball-rising celebration is all set for Tuesday evening. And the weather looks great.
This Dec. 31 will mark the fourth Midnight on Main St. countdown in the village. Last year’s event was cancelled due to rain and high winds.
The ball rises from West Avenue and West Main Street at 9 p.m.
“This is the Patchogue Midnight, with the countdown at 9. And it’s certainly a sweet spot for families looking to enjoy New Year’s Eve with their children — as well as those looking to get their night started before heading out to the restaurants,” said David Kennedy of the Greater Patchogue Chamber of Commerce, which started the event.
Below is everything to know before heading to Patchogue :
- The event is called Midnight on Main St. but the New Year’s Eve countdown happens at 9 p.m., because this is Patchogue and the people here do what they want.
- The big countdown, which includes a huge LED ball and a Fireworks by Grucci grand illuminations show, happens at West Avenue and West Main Street.
- Main Street will be closed from Ocean to River avenues starting at 6 p.m. and will open shortly after the ball rises.
- Music starts for the outdoor dance party at 7 p.m., with master of ceremonies Charlie Lombardo of JVC Broadcasting on hand to guide revelers through the night.
- There will be free New Year’s Eve hats and noisemakers from the chamber, available at the nearby Carnegie Library.
- Two food trucks will be on hand, as well as some vendors with carts selling additional items.
- The chamber’s restaurant committee will be announcing the winners of the Eating for 30 Days in Patchogue raffle baskets just before 9 p.m.. Tickets are available now. Click here to purchase online or visit most any of the local restaurants to grab a ticket with cash.
- Suffolk County Legislator Rob Calarco helped secure the county funding to make the event possible, and will be pressing the button to ring in the new year at 9 p.m.
- The ball itself is a 4-foot lucite geodesic sphere, decked with gleaming LED lights and made by North Star Signs & Neon Inc. in Patchogue. LFG Rigging provides the apparatus that raises the ball.
- The pyrotechnics will be staged at the neighboring Blue Point Brewing Co. brewery parking lot.
- The ball doesn’t drop, like it does in Times Square, and here’s why:
“The ball rises because Patchogue is a rising community,” said Kennedy. “From the street level it’s much more dramatic to see it rise, as opposed to drop. Times Square is different because you’re looking up so high.”
Midnight on Main St. 2017 photo by John Collins of Yellow House Images for GreaterPatchogue.
