Despite the disbanding of its organizing sponsor, Charleston's New Year's Eve concert series will continue this year.
Good Night, which features dozens of musicians at various venues in the city's downtown and East End areas, had an uncertain future after its organizer, Charleston Community Music Association, disbanded in April. Craig and Amanda Hinchman, two veteran Good Night performers, have since partnered with FestivALL Charleston's board of directors to ensure the show will go on.
"They're helping sponsor and promote Good Night, and we're excited for that relationship," Craig Hinchman said at a news conference at City Hall on Thursday.
Mayor Danny Jones said officials held the Good Night conference earlier this year to ensure residents that the event will continue. Good Night has been held for the last 20 years, offering family friendly entertainment in an alcohol-free environment. This year's event, Hinchman said, will feature 25 individual and group performances of more than 40 concerts in 12 locations throughout the city.
The free concerts are 45 minutes long, starting at 6, 7, 8 and 9 p.m. Dec. 31.
"The groups are all very talented and are going to add great variety to the celebration," Hinchman said.
Free parking will be available in the parking garage next to city hall, and trolleys will provide free shuttle service to the venues, Jones said.
Brittany Javins, executive director of FestivALL, said she's proud of the blossoming community effort to save Good Night after the Community Music Association dissolved.
"Between the performers and people who help get the event together, there are about 400 volunteers," Javins said. Alice Anne Robertson had previously organized the concert series for the last four years.
The city is also kicking off the holiday season with the Charleston Christmas Parade, scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday.
This year's parade is taking a different route, however. It will begin at the corner of Kanawha Boulevard and Capitol Street and head north on Capitol before going west on Washington Street East. The procession will head south onto Court Street and travel west on Quarrier Street to Clendenin Street to end at the intersection at Kanawha Boulevard.
The Boulevard will close to traffic at 8 a.m. Saturday, while the other streets will be closed at 9 a.m., said Rod Blackstone, senior assistant to the mayor.
"It will be difficult to get through town once 10 a.m. hits," he said. The parade is expected to end between 11:30 a.m. and noon.
For more information about Good Night, visit www.festivallcharleston.com.
Reach Elaina Sauber at
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