With one successful Red Stick Revelry under their belt, downtown leaders and city-parish officials are gearing up for year two of the New Year’s Eve event. Last year’s crowds were estimated to be around 15,000. This year at least that many revelers are expected to crowd into North Boulevard Town Square, as the evening’s festivities kick off more than two hours earlier this year, at 6:30 p.m., instead of 9 p.m.
“We’d love to have 20,000 or more, but we’ll be happy with 15,000,” Downtown Development District Executive Director Davis Rhorer says. “We just want to encourage everyone to get downtown early.”
Though economic impact estimates from Red Stick Revelry are not available, event organizer Rannah Gray says downtown restaurants reported having their best night ever last New Year’s Eve. Based on reservations, this year promises to be equally successful.
“Last year everybody downtown had a wait-and-see attitude, and it turned out to be the busiest night they’d had since opening,” says Gray. “So this year downtown businesses are over-the-top excited about it and making plans to get ready.”
New to the event this year is another corporate sponsor: Uber, which is promoting a special $20 deal to all first-time users who use the ride-sharing service on New Year’s Eve.
“We’re really pushing that,” Gray says, adding the event’s success also relies on a number of other corporate sponsors.
Revelers hoping to park in one of the state parking garages downtown will be disappointed, as all state garages will be closed for the evening. However, Rhorer says the River Center garages and the Third Street parking garage should be able to handle the crowds without any problems.
Red Stick Revelry kicks off at 6:30 p.m. with live music by David St. Romain, who will perform until 8:45 p.m. Phat Hat will take the stage from 9 p.m. until the countdown and fireworks show at midnight. —Stephanie Riegel
