In just a few weeks, Alpena will be hosting its first-ever New Year’s Eve event in Downtown Alpena. The event will feature a lit sphere being raised at midnight as a special “sunrise,” drink and food specials at downtown bars and restaurants, DJ’s from 9 pm- 1 am, and firepits to warm up by in the alleyway.

Instead of a ball drop, a lit sphere will be raised to mark the beginning of 2025, celebrating Alpena’s location on the Sunrise Side of Michigan. The sphere is being built specifically for the event and will be wrapped in lights. It will be lifted up by a city firetruck in the parking lot behind Mango’s at midnight, which will be closed off to car traffic for the event.

The party starts at 5 pm at downtown bars and restaurants, who will be offering drink and dinner specials throughout the evening. Many of the locations, including HopSide Brewery, Mango’s Tequila Bar, Rusty Petunias Marketplace, Friendly Foodees, Latitudes, Sports Page, and Players Pub & Grub will be open until midnight or later for the event. Friendly Foodees and Mango’s will have special late-night menus for those coming downtown closer to midnight.

Entertainment starts in the Center Alley at 9 pm, with live electronic music from Dion Stepanski followed by DJ Chris Chrzan from 11:15 pm- 1 am. The event is in the Social District, and guests are invited to grab a drink from nearby bars and bring it into the alleyway and parking lot for the festivities. Firepits will be provided to warm up by.

“We are excited to be bringing Alpena’s first-ever downtown New Year’s Eve celebration to life,” said Ellie Hoes, Marketing Coordinator & Event Planner for HPC Credit Union, who is sponsoring the event. “This will be Northeast Michigan’s only event like this, and we hope residents and visitors from throughout the region come out to enjoy it.”

HPC approached the DDA after the holidays last year and asked if their events committee had ever considered organizing a New Year’s Event like Traverse City’s or Detroit’s. The DDA then worked with the City of Alpena Department of Public Works to build the sphere to rise at midnight, and downtown restaurants and bars to stay open late and participate.

“We have worked hard to create a New Year’s Event that is unique to Alpena, and we hope to have a great turnout for this first year’s event,” said DDA Executive Director Anne Gentry. “We hope people grab dinner downtown, enjoy a Social District drink, and enjoy the festivities planned throughout the evening.”

HPC Credit Union is sponsoring the event and will also be giving away glowsticks for the midnight celebration. The City of Alpena is also partnering to make the event possible. The event is free and open to all ages.

A full schedule of events can be found below.

5- 10 pm: Food, drinks, and apps at downtown bars & restaurants. The following places will be open until at least 10 pm:

• Black Sheep Pub
• Red Brick Tap & Barrel
• PIF Cider
• HopSide Brewery (open until midnight)
• Rusty Petunias Marketplace (open until midnight)
• Mango’s Tequila Bar (open until midnight)
• JJ’s (open until midnight)
• Friendly Foodees (open until 1 am)
• Players Pub & Grub (open until 2 am)
• Latitudes Tavern (open until 2 am)

5 – 9 pm: Dessert & cocoa bar at the Sunrise Side Co-Op Market. Stop by the co-op’s new location in the Alpena Marina building (400 E Chisholm St) to warm up with a dessert bar with treats made by local bakers and hot cocoa.

9 pm – 1 am: Mocktails & midnight noodles at Friendly Foodees Warm up and sip specialty mocktails at Friendly Foodees. Their late-night menu will also feature a special noodle dish to ring in the new year.

9pm – 11:15 pm: Electronic music with Dion Stepanski in the alleyway. The alleyway party starts at 9 pm. Chill house, experimental, ambient, dance, drum and bass. Weather location is indoors at PIF Cider (205 W Chisholm St).

11:15 pm – 1 am: Chris Chrzan DJ in the alleyway. The party continues with a DJ set from Chris Chrzan. Join us for drinks and dancing in the alleyway as we lead up to midnight.

Midnight: Sunrise Celebration. Downtown will be filled with light to celebrate new beginnings in the year ahead. Come to the alleyway/ parking lot area behind Mango’s to ring in 2025 as we countdown to midnight and raise a lit sphere “sunrise.