It’s time to don your best suit, bust out the high heels, and dance the night away at
Midnight on Main. The annual Dec. 31 New Year's Eve party transforms Dow Diamond from a baseball stadium to a classy event space with DJs, live music, food, drinks, a midnight ball drop, and fireworks.
Midnight on Main initially began as an outdoor event on Main Street in 2011. With unpredictable weather and lots of labor to create an event from scratch, the event became a joint effort with
Sound Productions.
This year, Sound Productions Entertainment President Jim Paetschow is at the helm of the event, running the show. He’s been involved with planning and setting up the event for a few years, and has seen it evolve over time from an outdoor tent event with participating downtown bars to an indoor event at Dow Diamond.
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General admission tickets are $35. VIP tickets, which include food, a champagne toast, and an exclusive dance floor, are $150.
One of the event’s popular draws is the live music provided by Jedi Mind Trip from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. New this year is a different photo booth, and an expanded VIP section upstairs.
VIP tickets include appetizers, dinner, drinks, dessert, a private bar and dance floor, lounge area, and a champagne toast. “VIP is really fun because there’s only 220 people so it’s not super crowded,” Paetschow says.
Previous years, roughly 1,500 people attended the event, but Paetschow says this year, they’re poised to break records. “Our attendance is already way better, and we’re excited for this year,” he says. “It’s like this event gets bigger every year.”
The middle of the concourse, behind home plate has a sports bar, with video screens and couches. There will also be games like cornhole and ladder ball. Bars will line the third base line, and four hours of live tunes from Jedi Mind Trip.
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Midnight on Main transforms the baseball stadium to a nightclub complete with dancing, DJs, live music, food and games.
New this year is the fast-pass, an $85 ticket that includes four drink vouchers. Paetschow says this new option provides people with a little bit more of an experience than the regular ticket, and is good for those who aren’t interested in dinner.
“This year, there are more sponsors than anything we’ve ever seen. People are calling us, saying, ‘Hey, we want to get involved.’ Dow Credit Union is new this year, and they’re excited to do the countdown on one of the stages.” This year, even more sponsors have stepped up to participate in the event, including Dow Credit Union. Many will host individual countdowns on the various stages. Other sponsors include DW Auto, Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort, Woody’s, Ieuter Insurance Group, Jim’s Body Shop, and Tobacco Ranch.
To ensure this annual party is a memorable one, there’s a ton of behind-the-scenes work from partners, sponsors and staff. It takes five days to transform the stadium into a party zone. The 120-foot drop of the NYE ball at midnight is a feat in itself, according to Paetschow, which is handled by Bierlein. “There is a lot of work for the ball-drop. Setting the clock is a little tricky, getting everything with the cabling and rigging it and making sure it’s safe, the wind, etc. It’s a two-day deal getting that ball set and squared, and they do practice drops.”
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New Year's Eve ball drop at midnight
The event is for ages 21 years and up. The event is expected to sell out at 1,500, but if still available, tickets will be sold at the door too.
General admission tickets are $35, and include free parking, live entertainment, multiple bars and concessions access (food and drink not included), viewing of ball drop and fireworks. VIP tickets are $150 and include all GA items, as well as access to the upper level VIP lounge, private bar, private dance floor with DJ, New Year’s Eve bar package, Champagne toast, appetizers, dinner, and dessert. The speed pass is $85, and includes everything in GA, as well as four drink vouchers and access to the Speed Pass Bar.
Tickets can be purchased
online.