The Rupert's Orchestra @ Pier Park

The New Year’s Eve festivities will kick-off at 5:30 p.m. with a family celebration along the Boardwalk on Pier Park Drive. Families will enjoy interactive activities like face painting, costumed characters and exclusive giveaways, as well as live entertainment provided by The Barry Fish Band, known for their renditions of popular tunes from the ‘80s and ‘90s. Ahead of the family-friendly beach ball drop, Alex Angelo, also known as “DJ BEATBOY”, will entertain families with an interactive set and lead the crowd in the first countdown of the evening.  At 8 p.m., local dignitaries will release 10,000 inflated beach balls along Pier Park’s beachfront boardwalk. This awe-inspiring activity, heralded as the nation’s only family beach ball drop, will be followed by a dazzling fireworks display.

At 8:30 p.m., the official Countdown Celebration will begin with live musical performances by Heritage, a popular local reggae-rock band that has been spreading love with original, one of kind songs since they began touring in 2009. At 10:15 p.m., The Rupert’s Orchestra, will take the stage where they’ll bring down the ‘pier’ performing a dynamic mix of current Top 40 hits, classic rock favorites and more.

Just before midnight, attendees will countdown to 2014 as an 800 pound LED lighted beach ball descends nearly 100 feet. This symbolic occasion will be followed by a stunning, second fireworks display.

The 6th Annual New Year’s Eve Beach Ball Drop at Pier Park is free and open to the public. Event sponsors include the Panama City Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau and Wyndham Vacation Resorts.

Rupert’s Orchestra is a twelve-piece dance band that formed in 1987 to open Rupert’s Nightclub in Atlanta, Georgia. For over eight years they played to packed houses and were voted Atlanta’s best house band every year. They have now focused their attention on the corporate and private events market.

The band is comprised of some of the finest talent from around the nation. At the core of the group is a driving rhythm section accented by a fiery horn section, and an explosive Latin percussionist. Fronting the band are four of the hottest vocalists around, each with a unique sound, performing both lead and background vocals.

With a huge, wide-ranging repertoire, the Rupert’s Orchestra performs everything from current Top 40 hits to Motown and Classic Rock to the 1940s Big Band Sound. Their show is flashy and highly interactive. Party-goers of all ages find a lot to like and get caught up in the fun.