Cape events to ring in the New Year
Break out a bottle of champagne, decide on those resolutions and prepare to usher in a new year!
Cape Coral residents and visitors are invited to ring in 2016 with a South Cape event, where trolleys will shuttle riders between participating venues, or with a fireworks ball drop at Cape Harbour.
Hosted by the South Cape Hospitality and Entertainment Associations, the New Year’s Eve 2016 Trolley Event will take place from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Thursday in the downtown Cape area. Thirteen locations are taking part, with ticket-holders treated to $2.50 drink specials and no cover charges.
“It’s fun, it’s entertainment,” Fran Marsino, a spokeswoman for the associations, said.
It is the third year that the group has put on a New Year’s event.
“There was close to 600 people who participated last year,” she said.
“We expect more this year,” Marsino added.
Advance tickets are $10 each, with tickets available day of for $15. To purchase tickets in advance, visit any of the participating businesses or visit online at: www.eventbrite.com.
“We’ve started doing online ticket purchases,” she said.
Each of the locations will offer up a drink special.
“They’ll each have a specialty drink for only the people wearing the wristbands,” Marsino said.
The following are planned:
n BackStreets Sports Bar: Resolution
n Cape Coral Brewing Company: Beermosa
n Coconuts Neighborhood Bar & Eatery: Apple Bourbon
n Cruiser’s Lounge: Brandy Alexanders
n Dixie Roadhouse: Coconut Cowgirl
n Masterpiece Mixers: Champ Cocktail
n Monkey Bar & Steakhouse: Rainbow Martini
n Rack’em Billiards: The Big Apple
n Ralph’s Place: Wrecking Ball Punch
n Rockade: Rock On
n The Dek Bar: Badtimes
n Tiki Hut Bar & Grill: Liquid Marijuana
n Tubby’s City Hangout: Spiked Eggnog
“If you want that drink for $2.50, you better go and buy a wristband,” she said.
Five trolleys will transport ticket-holders from spot to spot. New for this year’s event, each trolley will have a “trolley hostess.” Marsino explained that the trolley hostesses will play trivia with the riders.
“If you get the answer right, you get a prize,” she said.
The prizes mostly consist of gift certificates to the participating venus.
Check-in will be held from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in Club Square and Big John’s parking lot. Ticket-holders who are late, or those who want tickets after check-in, can visit Cruiser’s Lounge or Dixie Roadhouse.
At check-in, each ticket-holder will receive a passport and a pair of LED lighted 2016 glasses.
“Just to make it a little more interesting and fun,” Marsino said.
Passports that are stamped by each business can be turned in for a chance to win a Dom Perignon champagne gift basket raffle. The basket will come with a bottle, glasses and some other items.
She noted that ticket-holders will get free entry into every participating location.
“Every single place will be having a party,” Marsino said.
Parking will be available in Club Square and Big John’s parking lot.
“Or they should park where they want to end up at the end of the night,” she said.
The trolleys may have discount coupons for taxis.
Marsino urged the public to celebrate New Year’s Even in the South Cape.
“It gets bigger and better. We try to improve it every year,” she said.
“And the value is unbelievable for $10,” Marsino added.
On the west side of the city, Cape Harbour will present the 10th annual New Year’s Party from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Free and open to the public, it will feature a ball drop, fireworks and live entertainment.
“It was something unique and different,” Timothy Hoffman, one of the owners of the Fathoms Restaurant & Bar, said of why the celebration was initiated.
Organizers are anticipating approximately 5,000 attendees this year.
“The events at Cape Harbour, they continue to grow year after year,” he said.
The 170-foot ball drop will take place from atop the Marina South condominium complex.
“The ball will drop to about 23 feet above the crowd,” Hoffman said.
When the clock hits 0:00, a fireworks display will light up the sky for several minutes.
“They fire off right after the ball hits the bottom,” he said.
Stolen Fruit will perform from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.
“They’re a very entertaining band, they really play to the crowd,” Hoffman said.
People are encouraged to leave their coolers at home.
Fathoms is taking reservations for a fixed menu for the evening, which will cost $75 per person and includes a complimentary glass of champagne. Reservations are recommended at (239) 542-0123.
The French Press will serve coffee, teas, crepes, and homemade gelato until 1 a.m.
Rumrunners will offer open seating from 5 to 10 p.m. Make a reservation at (239) 542-0200.
The Marina Club will host a New Year’s Eve Party from 8:30 p.m. to midnight, with a deejay. There will be a barbecue buffet for $60 per person with a cash bar. Reservations required at (239) 541-0800.
The food truck Red Roc Cravings will also be on site.
“We wanted to bring something a little different this year,” Hoffman said.
Red Roc Cravings serves up Mexican-based fare.
“He’s a local Cape Coral food truck that does the circuit,” he said.
During the New Year’s Eve activities, the merchants at Cape Harbour will be open.
“It’s a great place to bring the kids to watch the fireworks,” Hoffman said. “I think that’s one of the things that’s great about Cape Harbour – it’s just a great family atmosphere.”
For more information, visit on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/capeharbour.
For more information on the New Year’s Eve 2016 Trolley Event, visit on Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/SouthCapeHospitalityAndEntertainmentAssociations.