I don’t know about you, but I have yet to go to a party in this first month of 2016 that has topped my New Year’s Eve night. How did I spend the last night of 2015? I partied with 45,000 people at Downtown Indy’s New Year’s Eve Celebration. Drinks were flowing, glow sticks were glowing and the music was bumpin’. If you didn’t make it to the event, I won’t sugar coat it for you—you missed out on a great party. However, to ease your FOMO, here’s a recap of the event to help you get excited for NYE 2016 and convince you to get it on your calendar NOW.
Downtown Indy’s New Year’s Eve Celebration drew 45,000 people – more than double last year’s number.
The Performers
Dave and Whitney
Dave and Whitney are a husband and wife country/rock musical duo. The pair welcomed the crowd to the NYC celebration with their own original songs and fun covers. They got the crowd rocking.
Izzy and the Rubbaband
Izzy and The Rubbaband brought the funk and soul to NYE! Izzy and The Rubbaband are musical performers who came together to bring the R&B vibe to the Downtown Indy NYE crowd. They got the crowd moving and helped create the party atmosphere.
Izzy and the Rubbaband, a blues and soul group.
Corey Cox
Love local talent? Corey Cox is your guy. Originally from Pendleton, Corey makes us fall in love with country music every time he gets on stage. This year, he was the headliner inside the Bakers Life Fieldhouse entry pavilion. He brought the party inside to folks who needed a break from the cold. We loved seeing a fellow Hoosier on the NYE stage.
Corey Cox performed in the Hoosier Lottery Countdown Pavilion.
Kap Slap
When headliner Kap Slap took the stage at 10:30 p.m., the crowd went wild. He knows how to party! His enthusiasm on stage brought the energy to the event – he made the last hour and half of 2015 a bumpin’ party. He got the crowd jumping and the beats didn’t settle until minutes before midnight!
Headliner Kap Slap, AKA Jared Lucas, a DJ/Producer based outside of New York City.
The Main Event: IndyCar Descent
Have you ever had that feeling during the last few hours of New Year’s Eve when you realize this is the end of a year… and you hope it’s memorable? Downtown Indy granted that wish with the IndyCar descent. The IndyCar – hoisted nearly 100 feet above the ground – began its descent 30 seconds before midnight. Once the clock struck 12 a.m., the car disappeared for a moment, then reappeared from behind the stage and sped off into the night. Fireworks and streamers lit the sky and Kap Slap brought the beats back. The party continued until 12:30 a.m., when Kap Slap slowed down his final few songs.
The IndyCar suspended above the stage, ready to makes its descent.
The performers, the fireworks, the streamers, the IndyCar all made the event spectacular. But what else made the event a hit? The Majors. Major Ballard announced that December 31st is now officially “Winnie Ballard Day” in honor of the loving support of his wife. The newly elected major, Major Hogsett also made an appearance and told us “same time, same place” on December 31, 2016.
See you same place, same time this year!
Post written by Maggie Stock, events intern.
