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Ten Things You Didn't Know About McAllen New Year's Ball Drop

Monday, December 29th, 2008


McAllen, Mayor Richard F. Cortez announcing this year Mega party. Photo Roberto H. Gonzalez

By Roberto Hugo Gonzalez

It's one of the most watched events the world over, and the Times Square New Year's Eve Ball drop is the key reason for many vacations to New York after Christmas season. Now, McAllen Residents, the Valley and Mexico will be able to experience the first annual Drop the Ball New Year’s Eve Bash in downtown McAllen. The bash and festivities begin at 7pm on December 31st and end at 2am January 1, 2009. The Ball-Dropping event is free and open to the public.

In McAllen, the famous ball will begin its descent before the stroke of midnight, and ends with a spectacular light display with confetti showering the crowds. Mayor Richard F. Cortez said that this event will not be televised live, so if you want to watch the event first hand this year, you have to be present. Here are ten things you didn't know about the first annual Drop the Ball New Year’s Eve Bash in downtown McAllen:

close window 1. Heart of the City Development Corporation planning committee brings the tradition for the first time to     south Texas. The tradition of dropping a ball started in England. The Royal Observatory in Greenwich began the tradition of dropping a ball to observe time and was then adopted by the naval industry as a way to mark the change of the hour. The Times Square New Year's Ball drop is a variation of this English tradition.

2.  Complete with a Ball-Dropping experience at 12:00am on New Year’s Day, attendees can expect to see several downtown streets closed making way for the live outdoor music throughout the night.  All currently open venues in the Heart of the City District will have their doors open as well. 

3.   Venues include: Shine, Boiler Room, Flesh, The Patio on Guerra, Dive Downtown, The Piano Bar, Vicio,    Rhythm & Brews, Cine El Rey, Club M, Element, and House. Wine. 

4. A Pre-and After-party will be held at Flesh (night club), located at 200 S. 17th Street, from 5:00pm to 2:00am.  Tickets are $20 available at eztixx.com or at the door; proceeds will go to Heart of the City Development Corporation. 
5. Admission for the New Year’s Eve Bash is free. Parking will be available at the McAllen Downtown Parking Garage, located at 221 S. 15th Street.

6. The New Year’s Eve Bash is a great community-wide event; It is definitely branding McAllen as a destination city.

7. No other city in South Texas has attempted a ball-dropping event like Manhattan. 

8. McAllen expects to grow this celebration in the coming years and will attract thousands of visitors looking for a new and different place to celebrate New Year’s Eve.

9. “I’m pleased to see that the Heart of the City is planning a New Year’s Celebration in the McAllen Entertainment District.  I believe this is long overdue and will give our residents and visitors an opportunity to get together in a wholesome environment to celebrate the New Year,” Mayor Cortez stated. 

10. For people that admire beauty, the RGV Calendar Girls will be participants in the 2009 New Year’s Day Bash.

The best views are as close to the ball drop as possible, at press time, there were no additional releases where the ball will be dropped, stay tune to McAllen channel 12 for more information.  
Sponsorship opportunities and booth spaces are available for the business community, food vendors and family activities; booth spaces are $400 and include electricity and signage.

For sponsorship opportunities, booth availabilities, or more information, contact Joe Rodriguez at the Heart of the City at 956-686-4357. 

 


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