New Year's Eve celebration to feature fireworks display
Display location:PEORIA
City:PEORIA
State:Illinois
Date:New Year Eve
Details: PEORIA — Red, white and ... Happy New Year?
An annual Fourth of July tradition matches up with New Year's Eve this month along Peoria's riverfront for a first-time event.
Pat Sullivan, co-owner of Kelleher's Irish Pub & Eatery, said a fireworks show, weather permitting, will take place about 9 p.m. Dec. 31 outside his restaurant at the Le Vieux Carre building.
"Plenty will be going on with the restaurants open, and we'll serve Irish coffee and hot chocolate," Sullivan said. "We want to light up the new year."
Sullivan said the fireworks show will be similar to displays often held after Peoria Chiefs baseball games. The show will be produced by Central States Fireworks out of Athens, Ill.
In addition, Sullivan said he plans to ask the city to close Water Street from State to Walnut streets to create a street festival-like atmosphere. A request for that has yet to be made to the city's public works or fire departments.
"I think we'd probably consider it," Public Works Director David Barber said. "We have not seen anything on it, though."
Sullivan said he might make the request early next week.
"I'm working on that," Sullivan added. "Just to close it (for the night) for people to get a feel for it."
He said liquor will not be sold outdoors during the fireworks show.
Sullivan wants to close Water Street on a more permanent basis next year. His proposal calls for closing the street from State to Walnut every night between 4 p.m. and midnight, allowing for outdoor entertainment and street dining. A request for that is expected to be heard before the liquor commission early next year.
As for New Year's Eve, Sullivan said wants it to serve as a "preview" for his more long-term plans.
"It's a preview of what we want to do with a beautiful setting and a great atmosphere," he said.
He also said it's important for Peoria businesses to find unique ways to draw visitors to Downtown during the winter months, when entertainment activities are less frequent than during the summer months.
"I've gone up in the wintertime to Milwaukee and Green Bay, and they have festivals year round," Sullivan said. "Peoria just starts in May and quits in August."
Sullivan also hopes this year's show leads to a bigger New Year's Eve fireworks show in the future. He said he wanted to have a bigger production this year but didn't have the time to plan for it all.
"We want to do four or five (different fireworks displays) simultaneously throughout the Peoria area and to be a state draw," he said. "We want to have people come here and spend money and see something they don't see in their own cities."
City:PEORIA
State:Illinois
Date:New Year Eve
Details: PEORIA — Red, white and ... Happy New Year?
An annual Fourth of July tradition matches up with New Year's Eve this month along Peoria's riverfront for a first-time event.
Pat Sullivan, co-owner of Kelleher's Irish Pub & Eatery, said a fireworks show, weather permitting, will take place about 9 p.m. Dec. 31 outside his restaurant at the Le Vieux Carre building.
"Plenty will be going on with the restaurants open, and we'll serve Irish coffee and hot chocolate," Sullivan said. "We want to light up the new year."
Sullivan said the fireworks show will be similar to displays often held after Peoria Chiefs baseball games. The show will be produced by Central States Fireworks out of Athens, Ill.
In addition, Sullivan said he plans to ask the city to close Water Street from State to Walnut streets to create a street festival-like atmosphere. A request for that has yet to be made to the city's public works or fire departments.
"I think we'd probably consider it," Public Works Director David Barber said. "We have not seen anything on it, though."
Sullivan said he might make the request early next week.
"I'm working on that," Sullivan added. "Just to close it (for the night) for people to get a feel for it."
He said liquor will not be sold outdoors during the fireworks show.
Sullivan wants to close Water Street on a more permanent basis next year. His proposal calls for closing the street from State to Walnut every night between 4 p.m. and midnight, allowing for outdoor entertainment and street dining. A request for that is expected to be heard before the liquor commission early next year.
As for New Year's Eve, Sullivan said wants it to serve as a "preview" for his more long-term plans.
"It's a preview of what we want to do with a beautiful setting and a great atmosphere," he said.
He also said it's important for Peoria businesses to find unique ways to draw visitors to Downtown during the winter months, when entertainment activities are less frequent than during the summer months.
"I've gone up in the wintertime to Milwaukee and Green Bay, and they have festivals year round," Sullivan said. "Peoria just starts in May and quits in August."
Sullivan also hopes this year's show leads to a bigger New Year's Eve fireworks show in the future. He said he wanted to have a bigger production this year but didn't have the time to plan for it all.
"We want to do four or five (different fireworks displays) simultaneously throughout the Peoria area and to be a state draw," he said. "We want to have people come here and spend money and see something they don't see in their own cities."
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