(BETHANY BEACH, Del.) - Although unfavorable weather conditions have already forced organizers to cancel the annual Anchor Drop in Lewes and Ball Drop in Dewey Beach, folks in Bethany Beach are still looking forward to a New Year's Eve celebration.
"We're very excited," said Lorrie Miller, general manager at Bethany Beach Ocean Suites Residence Inn by Marriott. "We love when we can do anything that brings the community together, and it's really nice to see the support that we get and to have everyone come out and celebrate with us. We're looking forward to a very successful 2019."
This is the fourth year the hotel is hosting the event. And according to Miller, this year's event will be bigger and brighter than last year. The 10-foot colorful nylon ball is filled with LED lights and is 3 feet bigger than last year's beach ball.
"Starting at 10:30 p.m., we'll have live music from DJ Manny Mann. We'll have hot chocolate and cookies that we'll be passing out to the locals, as well as party favors, and at midnight we'll have our ball drop," explained Miller.
The ball drop will take place on Hollywood Street, which will closed around 9 p.m., in between the hotel's north and south buildings. And if you're wondering about possible rain canceling tonight's event...
"We do plan to continue on, as long as the temperatures stay where we expect them to be and it's not going to be too cold, we will still have the ball drop rain or shine," said Miller. "We're ready to rock and roll."
The event is free and open to the public. It's just one way Miller says the hotel likes to give back to the community who's always supported them.
"It took quite a bit to get the hotel into the Bethany market and we know the community really rallied and supported us to be here today, so any chance that we get to give back to our community we try to take advantage of," said Miller.