Outer Banks version of New Year’s Eve celebration has something for everyone.
Personally, I’ll take Manteo every time to welcome in the New Year.
Is there something exciting and wonderful about being in Time’s Square, or in San Francisco, or Seattle or any major city when the old year ends and the one begins? Yes. Of course it’s exciting. But there is just something so wonderful and so…well, wholesome, about how Manteo goes about ringing out the old and bringing in the new, that when I got in my car about 12:30 to drive home, I just knew 2020 would be a great year.
Does any of those major cities, or any place with their hundreds of thousands or maybe even 1,000,000 revelers and all their intricate plans have an 8:00 countdown and ball drop for the kids?
Not that I’ve heard of.
But to be a part of it and see and hear how excited the kids are, beginning about 7:58 chanting, “Drop the ball. Drop the ball,” is wonderful.
Is the ball drop as intricate or ornate as New York City’s Ball? Of course not. It’s lowered by rope from the balcony of the Dare County Arts Council Gallery. Who cares? The kids and their parents get to have a great time together. The littlest ones go home for some sleep and the older kids—they seemed to stay around for the real turn over of the years.
There is a bit of feeling of a street fair with a couple of blocks along the waterfront closed off and food trucks offering everything from hotdogs to hamburgers to Reuben sandwiches and funnel cakes.
The center of the celebration is the stage that’s set up in the parking lot next to the waterfront, and Mike Dianna with Bearded Face Productions nailed the entertainment.
The music kicked off with local band Formula. They were really on their game. Tight, some great lead work guitar work, good driving rhythms. Perfect for the evening.
They were followed by Urban Soil. The set began with a killer version of Chain of Fools and their feet never came off the accelerator. Their sound is a powerful combination of urban blues, jazz with some hiphop thrown in. It would be hard to imagine a better band for a NYE celebration.
Then, of course, the countdown and the official welcoming in of the baby year with 2020 announced by the lights on the deck of the Elizabeth II across the waters of Shallowbag Bay.
That’s followed by fireworks over Roanoke Sound and Manteo outdid themselves this year. Absolutely amazing and spectacular.
The perfect way to welcome in a new year. A bit of something for everyone and truly a celebration of wha is best in all of us.
Content and photos provided by Kip Tabb.