News Photo by Darby Hinkley Alpena’s New Year’s lighted ball changes colors as it rises to welcome the new year on Dec. 31, 2024 in downtown Alpena.

ALPENA — This year’s New Year’s Eve celebration in downtown Alpena could include a five-minute fireworks display to welcome in 2026.

On Tuesday, the Alpena Downtown Development Authority Board voted to set off a mini-fireworks show at midnight from the shore of the Thunder Bay River to ring in the new year.

The proposal still needs the approval of the Alpena Municipal Council at an upcoming meeting before it becomes official.

Last year, the DDA hosted the inaugural News Year’s bash in the alley between 2nd Avenue and 3rd Avenue, as well as the large parking lot behind HopSide Brewery, Mango’s Tequila Bar, and Rusty Petunias.

There were other celebrations linked to the News Year’s party, including one at PIF Cider, which drew a large crowd.

Anne Gentry, the executive director for the DDA, said the event was a success and is one she believes will grow in popularity in the years to come.

She said adding the fireworks to the games, live music, and community camaraderie during the party will liven it up even more.

“Shortly after last year’s event, businesses and local organizers began to ask what we wanted to do for this year’s event and mentioned how cool it would be to have a fireworks show at midnight,” she said. “Right now, we’re currently looking at a location on the river where they can be launched from.”

Gentry said the fireworks display, which will cost about $5,000, will last about five minutes and be similar to the grand finale for larger firework shows. She said some people may have concerns about the noise of the fireworks, especially those who live in or near downtown, but Gentry added that the live DJ and cheering crowd at last year’s event didn’t seem to bother people and, because the firework show is short, the sound of them will likely blend into the background.

Gentry said there were several businesses who took advantage of the late-night event and extended their hours to accommodate the people who attended the event. There were long lines for cocktails and snacks and cash registers filled up quickly.

However, some businesses elected to close at their normal time or at 10 p.m. and missed out on the added revenue.

Gentry said she hopes more businesses decide to stay open to midnight or later this year.

“We are hoping that now that people had a year to see the event, and how busy downtown was and how well received the event was, other businesses will want to stay open, contribute, and maybe be a little bit better prepared just knowing how big it is going to be,” Gentry said.

During last year’s event, a custom lighted sphere resembling a sun was built and, instead of it being lowered, it was hoisted from the ground upward to represent Alpena being a part of the Sunrise Side of Michigan. The prop reached its peak at precisely midnight, and was met with cheers, whistles, and a few kisses between couples.

As the event nears, the DDA will release more information about it on its Downtown Alpena Facebook page and on the Downtown Alpena website, downtownalpenami.com.

Steve Schulwitz can be reached at 989-358-5689 or sschulwitz@TheAlpenaNews.com. Follow him on X @ss_alpenanews.com.