GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The 8th annual Hot New Year's Eve party will kick off in a new location Thursday night.
The Grand Rapids celebration is moving to the intersection of Grandville Avenue and Cherry. The venue change comes after a lower than expected turnout at last year’s Calder Plaza celebration.
Live music begins at 7 p.m. The performers include GR Big Talent winner Ja’leeyna Dooley and Tryon. Five Knives, Kevin Rudolf and Carolina Liar will also perform.
HOT-FM announced earlier this month that they were holding a contest to allow someone to propose on stage during the event.
Andrew
This has been a traditional event for me and my family, but for some reason this is no longer at a family friendly location. Not sure why that is, probably nothing more than money, but it is disappointing. We’re leaving for Ludington’s ball drop/party in about half an hour.
Christine
What the heck…when did they change the location and how did I miss that?
We were standing here looking and feeling a bit stupid until a nice man told us that it moved down to Founders.
To heck with that, no way are we walking down Grandville after dark! At least it is well lit here in central downtown, and there is still plenty to do I guess. Bummer, though!
Sam
“A boon for downtown business” is what another news outlet is calling this. And I am sure that it is that. But is that what a NYE party is supposed to be? I don’t think so. It is supposed to be a celebration for the people, and I think the fact that Grand Rapids has lost sight of that is a big part of the resistance on the part of its people to support many things that they city is trying to do. This was a really great event, but it was done for all the wrong reasons and the way it has been handled for the last several years, this one in particular, makes that far too obvious, even for people who come into it blindly.
The people of GR are tired of being used as marketing tools. We are tired of being used as fuel for half-baked ideas, and good ideas which are poorly implemented. Most of all we are tired of not seeing anything being done to directly benefit us, the residents of Grand Rapids, without some bigger, ulterior motive behind it. We are burned out on all these “promote our city so that we can become more than what we are” projects. We want our “celebrate what we already are” projects back, thank you very much.
Jeniah
Yet another disappointing turnout, don’t know how much longer this event can survive. :(
We had fun tho, and my god that Dooley lady can sing! Brought chills!
To those complaining about the location, I hear you.
The event really didn’t match the venue at all.