Countdown to New Year’s Eve Beach Ball Drop and Celebration at Pier Park

Momentum is building for the highly anticipated New Year’s Eve Beach Ball Drop at Pier Park on Wednesday, December 31 with the announcement of the Celebrity AllStar Band to be part of the celebration.  Guests will enjoy family-friendly activities, including the nation’s only family beach ball drop at 8 p.m., and a New Year’s countdown at midnight.

“We’re counting down for the Seventh Annual Beach Ball Drop at Pier Park, which will draw thousands of residents and visitors to Panama City Beach, Florida to enjoy the largest celebration on the Emerald Coast,” said Michael Kerrigan, director of marketing and business development at Pier Park. “As the leading resort-style shopping destination in Panama City Beach, we’re excited to ring in the New Year with family-friendly activities, an exciting line-up of live entertainment, memorable beach ball drops and more.”
 

The New Year’s Eve festivities will kick-off at 5:30 p.m. with a family celebration along Pier Park’s Boardwalk. Activities include face painting, costumed characters and exclusive giveaways. Live entertainment will be provided by The Barry Fish Band, known for their renditions of popular ‘80s and ‘90s tunes. The band will be followed by popular teen sensation Alex Angelo, who will perform an interactive DJ set.

Alex Angelo will lead the crowd in the first countdown of the evening at 8 p.m. with the release of 10,000 inflated beach balls along the center’s beachfront boardwalk followed by a fireworks display over the Gulf of Mexico.

At 8:15 p.m., the official Countdown Celebration will begin with a live musical performance by Loud Planet, a 70s, 80s and 90s rock band. At 10 p.m., event headliner, Celebrity AllStars, a versatile band comprised of former members of Earth, Wind & Fire, The Eagles, Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, Janet Jackson, Kenny Loggins, Bette Midler, Mariah Carey and Garth Brooks, will take the stage. The group will energize the growing crowd with a high-energy mix of current Top 40 hits and classic rock favorites to get the crowd dancing into the New Year.
 

Just before midnight, the crowd will countdown to 2015 as an 800 pound lighted beach ball descends nearly 100 feet. This symbolic occasion will be followed by a second fireworks display to ring in the New Year.

During New Year’s Eve day and into the night, Pier Park will provide great shopping and dining options with the entire property open until 10 p.m. and select stores along Pier Park’s Boardwalk remaining open later. Popular dining options like Dave & Buster’s, Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville, The Back Porch Seafood & Oyster House and Rum Runners Tropical Island Grill will also be open during the evening.

Pier Park is Panama City Beach’s premier open-air shopping destination with more than 125 retail and dining choices. This one-of-a-kind beachfront family-friendly attraction with resort style, island-inspired architecture features a variety of popular stores. Shoppers enjoy numerous eateries and entertainment options like newly opened Dave & Buster’s, The Back Porch Seafood & Oyster House and The Grand IMAX Theatre.

Pier Park is located at 600 Pier Park Drive in Panama City Beach. For more information please call (850) 236-9979
or visit www.simon.com/mall/pier-park. Find Pier Park on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ShopPierPark, Twitter @PierPark and Instagram @PierPark.