UPDATE:
Sault Ste Marie Downtown Development Authority has added one more event to today's New Year's Eve celebration. Sault Area High School art students Ava Stark and Fairyn Novak will be painting faces at Bird's Eye Outfitters from 6 to 8 p.m.
ORIGINAL REPORT:
Play corn hole, run a .5K, enjoy beverages and s’mores, win cash prizes, and sit around a bonfire with neighbors to ring in New Year’s 2023 at a party for all ages with two separate anchor drops… one just for kids and families.
“Last year was the first year there was an anchor drop,” Sault Ste. Marie Downtown Development Authority (DDA) Director Stephanie Sprecker said. “This year we took it to the next level.”
Little ones are included in New Year’s Eve celebrations to kick-off a small business, family oriented 2023 in the Sault.
Kids events begin at 6 p.m. with Bayliss Public Library Director Sabrina Neveu reading at Island Books & Crafts in a community story hour.
Chet Mitchell will perform juggling acts at the corner of Portage Avenue and Ashmun Street around 7 p.m., whilst kids enjoy gooey s'mores from Bird’s Eye Outfitters, bonfires, and other activities just for them.
Families can warm up at Superior Cafe with its $1 hot chocolate deal running from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Bird’s Eye Outfitters will also serve hot chocolate throughout the night, adult beverages included.
Then it’s a three, two, one countdown to 8 p.m. when the kids anchor will drop near the designated farmer's market, allowing families to celebrate together.
Let the New Year’s Eve celebrations begin immediately after… “Yooper Style.”
“Wear your best 'Yooper' attire,” said Sprecker, ditching New Year’s Eve formal wear for UP wear.
Restaurants and bars such as Soo Brewing Company will host specials throughout the night. Owner Ray Bauer has invited everyone in for a hot beef brisket dinner. Dinner will accompany American standards as performed by Errant Late Night Gardeners starting at 8 p.m.
The first ever corn hole tournament will run from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. with registration near the farmer's market at 8 p.m. The cost to register is $50 per team. A beer tent will be set up nearby. Entry into the beer tent and corn hole tournament will only be granted to persons over the age of 21.
Immerse yourself in the live on-air music playing downtown from 7 p.m. to midnight, courtesy of Scott Cook and Sovereign Communications.
A .5K will begin at Austin's Cigar Lounge at 11:30 p.m. The registration is $20.
Sprecker said all proceeds collected from the beer tent, .5K, and corn hole will go to benefit the OUT House Consortium. This does not exempt first, second, and third place corn hole winners from cash prizes.
A 100 percent cash payout will go to the top three teams with the first place team receiving a whopping 60 percent.
The second annual anchor drop will ring in New Year’s 2023 at midnight near the farmer's market.
This year’s DDA New Year’s Eve celebrations were sponsored by Soo Coop Credit Union and Sault Ste Marie Convention & Visitors Bureau. Equipment will be donated and transported by Alta Equipment Company and Bonacci Contracting of Sault Ste. Marie.
Sprecker added that Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will block off traffic to the downtown district, making the area safe for pedestrians.
To learn more about the OUT House Consortium, visit its Facebook page.
