Famously Hot New Year to announce headliner for NYE via online reveal on Monday, Oct. 24 at noon
October 17, 2016
Famously Hot New Year – South Carolina’s largest New Year’s Eve celebration – will announce the headliner of the sixth annual, free New Year’s Eve concert in Columbia, S.C., via an online “reveal” on Monday, Oct. 24, 2016 at 12:00 p.m. (noon) at http://www.FamouslyHotNewYear.com. The online announcement includes a short video featuring exciting performance footage of the band that will perform a free, full-length concert at Famously Hot New Year on Dec. 31, 2016 in downtown Columbia, S.C., adjacent to the S.C. State House.
The video reveal, crafted by local production company Cinema Couture Films, will be teased on Famously Hot New Year’s social media channels, including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, before it drops at http://www.FamouslyHotNewYear.com and via social media on October 24 at noon.
Guests at Famously Hot New Year enjoy a full-length outdoor concert by a national band and opening acts; a midnight countdown; and the most colossal NYE fireworks in the two Carolinas, set next to the historic State House on Main Street in Columbia, S.C. A crowd of all ages enjoys local food, beer, wine & bubbly vendors; COMET buses and park-and-rides until 2 a.m.; $10 off Budweiser Alert Cabs, free parking in City of Columbia garages downtown and more.
New Event Layout: Stage Moves One Block to Sumter and Gervais
For 2016, event organizers have retooled the event footprint of Famously Hot New Year, moving the entertainment stage one block to the east from the original location of Main and Gervais. The new stage location will be on Gervais St., backing up to Sumter St., with the stage facing west toward the river. Sumter Street itself will remain open throughout the event. Because Gervais Street is so much wider, the new stage location increases visibility and improves concert acoustics for audience members, creating more space and comfort for guests. The new layout also allows easier access to Main Street merchants and festival food and drink vendors via foot and vehicle traffic. Law enforcement and emergency medical services will be able to monitor and move through the crowd more readily, increasing safety precautions.
The Carolinas’ Largest NYE Fireworks: Still Cascading Over S.C. State House
The fireworks – the largest New Year’s Eve fireworks display in the Carolinas – will remain directly above the S.C. State House, with optimal viewing from the intersection of Main and Gervais Streets.
Streamlined Entry Gates
Entry gate logistics have also been streamlined to ensure safer and smoother accessibility to the event. With two entrances instead of four, each entrance can be more heavily staffed, with more lines per entrance. Entry gates will be located at Main near Lady and Gervais at Assembly. USC’s new clear bag policy will be encouraged (but not required) to expedite event entry.
Support and Economic Impact
In its sixth season, Famously Hot New Year is S.C.’s free party of the year, last year gathering 35,000 attendees from 36 states and ten countries to see R&B superstar Ms. Lauryn Hill. A 501 c 3 nonprofit, Famously Hot New Year is funded by private sponsors and corporate citizens like BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, and by hospitality tax via the City of Columbia and Richland County. In December 2015, 52% of Famously Hot New Year attendees came from outside of Richland County, and 75% of attendees came from outside of the City of Columbia. Significant flood relief donations were collected for Harvest Hope Food Bank and the One SC Fund. Economic impact on the hotel and restaurant industry is estimated at more than $1.2 million, an increase of 20% from December 2014’s $1 million.
About Famously Hot New Year
Set on South Carolina’s Main Street, Famously Hot New Year is the Palmetto State’s largest New Year’s Eve party, with a free, live outdoor concert by a national headliner and the most colossal NYE fireworks display in the two Carolinas, adjacent to the historic S.C. State House. In its sixth year, Famously Hot New Year brings diverse communities together to enjoy the free concert and fireworks; regional food vendors; plentiful cash bars with beer, wine and bubbly; a festival atmosphere; free parking and more in vibrant downtown Columbia, S.C., the “New Southern Hot Spot.” In 2015, more than 35,000 guests attended from 36 states and ten countries. Plan your #FHNY at www.famouslyhotnewyear.com.
SOCIAL Facebook: Facebook.com/FamouslyHotNewYear
Twitter: @FamouslyHotNYE
Instagram: @FamouslyHotNYE
Pinterest: Pinterest.com/FamouslyHotNYE
YouTube: YouTube.com/FamouslyHotNewYear
Google+: plus.google.com/+FamouslyHotNewYear
HASHTAGS #FHNY, #FHNYinfo, #FamouslyHotNYE, #GiveAToast
