Round up the family and ring in the new year at fun events

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Updated: February 1, 2012 8:03AM

Music, magic, ice skating and fireworks are just part of some of these fun and family-friendly festivities to ring in the New Year.

An evening packed with over six hours of a wide variety of entertainment on 16 stages — and all for only $8 per person — makes it worth the drive for New Year’s Fest in downtown Kalamazoo, Mich.

The evening starts and ends in the downtown Bronson Park, where the “Tuba New Year” concert begins the festivities at 4:30 p.m. (CST). Arrive a little earlier to purchase a fest admission badge, and to get a schedule and map. Plan to be back at the park for the crystal ball drop followed by fireworks at midnight Kalamazoo time, or 11 p.m. CST.

Revelers fill the time in between attending performances as diverse as a classical guitarist, an Elvis impersonator, a KISS tribute band, a Dixieland band, a Christian rock group, a Russian folk choir, contemporary dancers and more. There are over a dozen options at any given time throughout the evening.

Families with younger children will especially enjoy the comedic programs by magicians, jugglers, a ventriloquist, and the theatrical performance by a “princess.” Teens might enjoy the improv comedy troupe, the magician/escape artist and hip hop performer.

The performance venues are inside theaters, churches, a hotel ballroom and the public library, all of which are within an easy two block walk of Bronson Park. There are also horse-drawn trolleys that provide free rides to venues along two loop routes. 

Food and beverage concessions are in most of the venues as well as in the park, plus there are many restaurants and watering holes along the nearby streets.

An overnight stay in Kalamazoo is a nice alternative to the approximately two-hour drive home after the evening’s celebration. Add a visit to the unique flight museum, Air Zoo, the interesting — and free — Kalamazoo Valley Museum, or hit the ski slopes at nearby Bittersweet or Timber Ridge on your second day for a nice, nearby overnight getaway.

For details on New Year’s Fest in downtown Kalamazoo plus links to nearby accommodations and attractions, go online to www.newyearsfest.com.

You can enjoy a unique show and even sing in the New Year at Front Porch Music in Valparaiso.

Mami Matsuda, musician, entertainer and veteran open mic emcee, will open the program beginning on Saturday at 8 p.m., and then host a family-friendly open stage evening of entertainment by performers of all ages in a wide range of styles. The evening ends with a sparkling juice toast to the New Year.

A sign-up sheet for those interested in performing will be available beginning at 7:30 p.m. Each performer can play two or three songs for about 10 to 15 minutes. Admission is $4 for performers and $5 for others.

Front Porch Music is a smoke-free and alcohol-free venue located at 505 E. Lincolnway in Valparaiso. Call 464-4700 for more information.

Chilly weather is perfect for the New Year’s ice skating party at Deep River Waterpark in Merrillville, where a variety of activities on and off the ice will be offered from 5 until 10 p.m.

Outdoors, a DJ will spin music by the rink. Indoors, skaters can take a break, warm up and make craft projects, including decorations for the early “midnight” celebration at 8 p.m.  That will be when rink mascot, Paddles T. Otter, leads a New Year’s countdown and a sparkling juice toast.

Admission is $5 per person, and skate rentals are available for $5 per person. Deep River Waterpark, at 9001 E. U.S. 30, is 4-and-1/2 miles east of Interstate 65.

Start your New Year off with a bang in downtown Highland with fireworks at midnight. Come to Main Square Park, 3001 Ridge Road, and have a hot chocolate before the midnight show.