New Year’s Eve was celebrated all around town in a variety of ways. There was something for everyone, starting off with a party for the kids at Happy’s Place (formerly known as Satch’s Lanes).

From 9:00 p.m. until well after midnight, kids from 6th to 12th grade enjoyed free bowling and plenty of snacks and prizes courtesy of the Lion’s Club of Munising. The night culminated in a fireworks display at midnight. Owner Dave DeLisle was well-pleased with the turnout. “Wow I’m so happy, 100 KIDS! Unreal thank you all. Love this community, all your kids are so respectful. Awesome job parents. NOW I KNOW WHY I DID THIS! Happy New Year and be safe cause your kids will always be safe, here at your local Happy’s Place!”

Gallery Coffee Company put on a party with plenty of tunes, a dance floor, and lot of photo ops scattered around the room for partygoers. Those attending could enjoy craft cocktails and spent the last minutes of 2023 watching the countdown together, ending in cheers and noisemakers.

Over at the Barge Inn, another kind of New Year’s Celebration was going on with plenty of live music to what was already a packed house at 7:00 p.m. featuring the band Drednot. This was followed at 9:00 p.m. with Sky Pilots, another local favorite who played classic rock and 90s hits to the growing crowds with the night culminating with their third band, Stranded who stepped in at 11:00 p.m. to take the crowd into the New Year.