DAPHNE, Ala. – Eastern Shore residents will have two opportunites to ring in the new year on Wednesday with the inaugural Daphne Mayor’s Ball and the annual ball drop in the streets of downtown Fairhope.

The Mayor’s Ball, hosted by the Daphne High School Quarterback Club, will be at the Daphne Civic Center from 830 p.m. until 1 p.m. The Tip Tops will perform, and attire is black tie or dark suit for men, and cocktail attire for ladies.

At last week’s city council meeting Mayor Dane Haygood said that members of the community had approached him a few months ago about having a New Year’s Eve event in the city.

“They asked me if I’d be interested in participating in it and I said ‘By all means,’” Haygood said.

Tickets for the Mayor’s Ball are $100 per couple and include beer, wine, and hors d’oeuvres. There are also VIP packages for $2,000 which include 10 tickets, a private table, and access to the VIP area.

Tickets can be purchased at Bryant Bank in Daphne, the Bounds Family YMCA, and at the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce at its I-10 overlook and Fairhope offices. They are also available online at TheMayorsBall.info. Call 251-929-4870 for more info.

The City of Fairhope will once again host its annual New Year’s Eve Celebration in the streets of downtown Fairhope with entertainment from band Fly-by-Radio.

The event will kick off at 8:30 p.m. with Fly-By-Radio performing at the corner of Section Street and Church Street. Other entertainment will include DJ Wade Wellborn, face painting, fireworks and a ball drop at midnight.

Downtown restaurants will be open for those who wish to eat and hang out until midnight. Section Street will be left open to through traffic; handicap parking will be available on Section Street in designated handicap areas and in the lot behind Julwin’s.

Call 251-929-1466 for more information about Fairhope’s New Year’s Eve celebration.