City prepares for millennium parties
With the peak of the millennium madness only hours away, entertainment hot spots throughout the city are pulling out all the stops and laying out the red carpet, each trying to throw the best bash of the century. Between champagne rivers and a sky lit by fireworks, New Year’s Eve promises to be a good time all around. But there are still plenty of undecided Belizeans who don’t know where they’ll be come midnight on the thirty-first. News Five met some of the party organizers today and all of them say the decision should be easy.
Leila Peyrefitte, Co-Owner, Club Y2K
"If you’re undecided, your decision is made… come to Club Y2K and have the best time. I think the biggest thing we’re offering is the rooftop, you know under the stars. You can see the fireworks. So it’s going to be something completely different than they ever had in Belize City.
To come on the rooftop it’s going to be forty dollars, which includes all the party favors, the hats, the food and twenty five dollars to come in the club."
If the club scene doesn’t get you in the millennium mood, the Belize City Council says they’ve got your free ticket to a spectacular show. Highlights of the night include an address by the Prime Minister and hourly performances by a wide range of Belizean artists but the main attraction will be lights in the sky.
Danny Madrid, Organizer, Millennium Bash
"At twelve midnight, we’ll be having a flashing of lights, a siren from the fire engines, twenty minutes of fireworks."
Q: "Is this your own fireworks show?"
Danny Madrid
"This is our fireworks show. This fireworks, we did it in connection with Love FM and Bowen. So Bowen and Bowen is providing twenty minutes of fireworks for us tomorrow night and after that, we’ll be releasing balloons to the sky."
A front seat to see the fireworks might be free at the Memorial Park, just down the street, a similar view from the Radisson Fort George costs two hundred thirty dollars but the hotel says it’ll be worth it.
Maria Otero, Chief Executive Director, Radisson
"Yes our prices are higher but I think every penny of it is worth it. Besides all the services we have provided all these years to show we are the best property in Belize to be, we also have fireworks, a great display of food, great music and all our wonderful Belizean staff to take care of the Belizean people."
The Princess Hotel and Casino says their New Year’s Eve night will feature music by the New Dimension Band, hotel giveaways, a free trip to any American Airline destination and party favors. Their rates are forty dollars per couple and twenty-five for singles. Over at the Bellevue, Peter "Poots" Flores and the Punta Rockers will be kicking in the Maya Tavern while Lucio and the New Generation will be partying on the street in front of the hotel. They’ll also have giveaways and party favors available. Tickets for the Bellevue will cost thirty dollars in advance and forty at the door. The Eden Nightclub says they’ll have free champagne at midnight and lots of giveaways including plane tickets to Miami and San Pedro. Eden is charging forty dollars per person. If you’re moving towards a spiritual setting, the City Centre will be filled with praise and worship, dynamic music and a special candle light service hosted by various churches to celebrate Jesus into the millennium. Every organizer we spoke to today promised that there would be plenty of security available to handle whatever comes along.
