Lucas: A few ideas for your Beaufort County New Year's celebration
From the traditional to the downright different -- think crab pot instead of ball drop -- a range of New Year's Eve celebrations coming up this week will offer everything from fireworks and hot chocolate to live music and polar bear plunges.
In Beaufort, you can ring in the New Year at Founder's Night beginning at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park.
The family-friendly event will feature music by Gavigan Entertainment, hot chocolate and other refreshments, and fireworks at 7 p.m.
For details on the free event, visit http://www.beaufortchamber.org.
In Bluffton, the Old Town Dispensary will hold its annual New Year's Eve "Crab Pot Drop" featuring live music beginning at 6 p.m., special menu items, and cash and door prizes.
A DJ will help ring in the New Year and, of course, the dropping of the crab pot is at midnight.
No one younger than 21 will be permitted after 10 p.m.
The restaurant is at 15 Captains Cove.
For details, visit http://www.otdbluffton.com.
On Hilton Head Island, the Sea Pines Resort will hold two ball drops from the Harbour Town Lighthouse on New Year's.
For early birds or those with small children, the first ball drop will take place at 7 p.m., while a second one for night owls will be at midnight.
In addition, the Quarterdeck and Topside Waterfront Restaurant will be open for food and fun.
Participants also will have opportunities to donate to The Deep Well Project.
For details, call 843-842-1979.
For dinner reservations, call 843-842-1999.
Then for fans of live music, the Beach House will hold a private concert with appetizers and a champagne toast on New Year's Eve.
The event begins at 8 p.m. with the Will Snyder Band. Cranford Hollow follows at 10 p.m.
Tickets are $75. For details or tickets, call 855-474-2882 or visit www.beachhousehhi.com.
The Beach House is at 1 S. Forest Beach Drive, Hilton Head.
For families looking for something creative to do together, The Sandbox interactive children's museum will offer a countdown to 2016 just before noon Thursday.
Festivities will include both indoor and outdoor games and activities, as well as arts and crafts, a picnic lunch and party favors.
In addition, the museum features a sandcastle bounce house, building blocks and facepainting.
The cost is $10, with discounts for museum members, seniors and active members of the military. Those younger than 1 are admitted free.
The museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday.
For details, visit www.thesandbox.org.
Finally, for all those hardy souls looking to "take the plunge," several such events before New Year's Eve and after will provide just such an opportunity.
The 15th Annual Polar Bear Plunge is at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Harbour Town Pool.
The pool is adjacent to The Sea Pines Racquet Club and The Inn at Harbour Town, at 7 Lighthouse Lane, Hilton Head.
The event is free.
For details, call 843-842-1979.
The Annual Polar Plunge at Coligny Beach is at 11 a.m. Friday.
Driven by locals who like to gather at the same time every year, this free event is open to all.
Free public parking is available next to the beach at 1 South Forest Beach Drive, Hilton Head.
Hunting Island's 8th Annual Pelican Plunge is at 1 p.m. Friday.
Registration for the event, which raises money for the park's "Discover Carolina" school programs, begins at the park's picnic shelter at 11:30 a.m.
While this event is a fundraiser, there are plenty of great spectator opportunities, as participants don colorful costumes and come up with interesting ways to take the plunge.
The park is on U.S. 21, 15 miles east of Beaufort.
For details, call 843-838-2011.
Follow reporter Mindy Lucas on Twitter at twitter.com/MindyatIPBG.
Related content:
- Lucas: Sea Pines Resort to hold two ball drops from Harbour Town Lighthouse, Dec. 24, 2015
- Lucas: The Dispensary to celebrate New Year's with 'Crab Pot Drop', Dec. 24, 2015
- How I Live the Lowcountry: Hilton Head Island's John Cranford, Dec. 26, 2015
This story was originally published December 29, 2015 at 11:50 AM with the headline "Lucas: A few ideas for your Beaufort County New Year's celebration."