This article was written by Martha Hayden and originally published on The Restless Viking website on Jan. 3, 2023.
Did you know that Ludington, Michigan hosts the largest New Year’s Eve celebration in western Michigan? It was an astounding event put on by the quaint lakeshore city of 7,700 people! Join DaViking (Chuck) and myself as we celebrate the start of 2023 as well as our 27th anniversary (December 29th).
The Blu Moon
The festivities were slated to begin at 9:00pm, so we found ourselves seats at the nearby Blu Moon Bar. Kay, the creative and artistic barkeep, took care of us with a wonderful dinner and a few beverages. Patrons with reservations filled the tables. “We are so lucky to get a seat.” I commented to my favorite Viking.
Chuck noticed a Facebook notification on his phone. Dexter had commented, “Hey, I see you right now at The Blu Moon. Did not expect to see you guys in person.” Chuck glanced around the room. A quick wave from a booth let him know where Dexter and Liz were sitting.
The Library
From 9:00-11:00 pm the Ludington Library welcomed the public with a plethora of activities: Lego building, balloon animals, a scavenger hunt, cookies, cocoa and, my favorite, BINGO. I was dazzled with Chuck’s ability to memorize the grid of two cards and keep track of his boards without using chips. As he continued to win, Chuck invited youngsters to choose a prize each time after he secured a Lego Jeep.
Legacy Plaza
Heading down the street, tunes thundered from WMOM’s disc jockey as the crowd bounced to the music. Nearly 5,000 people enjoyed Legacy Plaza and the downtown social district. The open air venue had heating stations and a fire pit. Chuck and I secured a space under the ball, lit with 6,000 lights.
Chuck noticed a group of people on a nearby rooftop. His days in the Army had heightened his awareness of the surroundings. “Are they going to shoot off the fireworks from there?” I pointed. “That seems too close.” I shrugged recalling other holiday fireworks being shot off from a field or lakeshore. But, what do I know. . . I’ve never been in charge of flaming rockets at a celebration.
The Ball Drop
As the congregate counted down, the ball began to descend the line. The crowd chanted “Three, Two, One, Zero! Happy New Year!” Fireworks lit the sky. Sure enough, they were being shot off from the corner building’s rooftop.
As we glanced at the skyward explosions, a small bundle flames rose from the detonation roof. “There’s a fire up there!” I leaned toward Chuck and gestured the top of the building. A man with a fire extinguisher calmly sprayed the flames. Suddenly, another fire shot up behind the man holding the flame dousing device. He turned and sprayed foam over the blaze. It appeared that they had it under control.
The celebration continued to rocket and sparkle, lighting up the darkened sky! I glanced at the countdown clock which reported, “4:37,” yet the bombards carried on as if the whole show had been a five-minute finale.
Ludington’s ball drop had been sponsored by Al Bufka Construction and the fireworks were paid for by Oxy Chem. Many downtown businesses had opened as warming stations. Plus all the library activities! This was an amazing community event!
Thank you, Pure Ludington! What a remarkable affair! The city of Ludington knows how to throw a memorable shin-dig and start the new year with a bang!
Chuck and Martha Hayden, aka The Viking and Poppins, enjoy going on adventures off the beaten path. They also like to share their explorations with others. The Viking is a retired expedition leader while Poppins is a retired teacher. The two offer independent views of their journeys showcasing places, people, and cultures as they explore the world. Visit and follow them on their website and social media accounts. Website | Facebook | Instagram |YouTube
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