Island of Lights New Year’s Countdown at Kure Beach

KURE BEACH, NC (WWAY) — Hundreds of people gathered to ring in the New Year at Kure Beach’s Island of Lights New Year’s Countdown Wednesday night.

It may not be Time Square’s New Year’s Eve Ball, but a giant beach ball will drop at midnight. The Island of Lights started the tradition twenty years ago to get people to come down to Kure Beach and Carolina Beach during a time when a lot of people usually don’t visit the area.

The event rotates between Carolina Beach and Kure Beach each year. The celebration started at 9:00 P.M. this year, but people started arriving hours before that.

There was music, food, hot chocolate and party favors. It was a little chilly, but all of the people were ready to see the beach ball drop and watch the fireworks immediately after.