HarborWalk
DESTIN — Gather with friends and family for a memorable New Year's Eve experience with free live entertainment, fireworks and a ball drop at HarborWalk Village.
A family friendly celebration on the harbor includes kid's activities, creative face-painting, street performers and more.
Fireworks show over the Destin Harbor begins at 8 p.m. and again at midnight. Live entertainment by Darryl Buchanan and The Reflections begins at 9:30 p.m. This five-piece show band has toured with Jr. Walker, Marvin Gaye and the Temptations.
At midnight, guests can witness the Second Annual Ball Drop Bash at the many restaurants and bars inside HarborWalk Village.
The Destin Harbor New Year's Eve Ball is a 4-foot aluminum sphere composed of 12 segments. The ball, weighing just less than 100 pounds, is covered in more than 700 Philips Luxeon Rebel, glacier-white LEDs. The ball will be suspended above HarborWalk Village in public view for a week before the New Year's Eve Event.
The Emerald Grande Dinner and Dance Celebration includes a buffet dinner, dancing; party favors; and midnight champagne toast. Entertainment in the Grande Ballroom features Randy Martin & The Syndicate Show Band. Call 337-8100.
Rutherford's 465 will host a New Years Eve celebration featuring the New Orleans Dent Brothers and a dinner and dancing package for a complete night of festivities. Call 337-8888.
Visit harborwalkdestin.com.
Nightown
DESTIN — Rock in the new year with Heather from “Rock of Love” 9 p.m.-4 a.m. at Nightown.
The Night of Mayhem event will include $20 all you can drink and a $1,000 balloon drop.
The Block
FORT WALTON BEACH — Celebrate New Year’s Eve at The Block on Eglin Parkway.
The evening includes no cover, party favors, a toast, a $1,000 balloon drop at midnight.
Ramada Beach Resort on Okaloosa Island is offering a special rate of $59 for The Block partiers. Call 244-9161. And The Block will provide rides to the Ramada.
DeFuniak Springs
Bogey’s Restaurant at the Hotel DeFuniak will have a New Year’s Eve party on Dec. 31 with seating 6-8 p.m. Party favors and a midnight champagne toast will be provided to ring in the New Year.
Live music and dancing. Vince Way will perform. To view the menu for the evening, go to hoteldefuniak.com/newyearsevemenu2009.pdf. There will also be a special bar menu for those who don’t want a full meal.
Reservations are required for the dining room. Call 951-2233 Hotel or 892-4383.
Panama City Beach
Ring in 2010 at Pier Park for the second annual New Year’s Eve Beach Ball Drop 5:30 p.m.–1 a.m. Dec. 31.
The event features live entertainment, kid’s activities and fireworks. There will be family-friendly activities like bounce houses, party favors, street performers and live radio remotes 5:30–8:30 p.m.
The New Year’s Eve countdown celebration begins at 9 p.m., when streets will be closed to traffic. The community will enjoy live entertainment and prize giveaways until the 800-pound beach ball drops 12 stories at midnight, followed by a fireworks display.
The event is free and open to the public. Pier Park is at 600 Pier Park Drive. Call 236-9974.