Light Up 2025 Bash will feature all the fan favorites: Prop Drop, food vendors, live music and entertainment
SOMERSET, KENTUCKY (December 27, 2024) — The community asked, and the City of Somerset will deliver.
After taking a break from its annual outdoor New Year’s Eve festival last year to host an event inside The Virginia, the See Somerset Light Up Bash is back by popular demand.
“Overwhelmingly, our community members told us they would rather celebrate New Year’s Eve at Fountain Square,” said Leslie Ikerd, See Somerset Tourism executive director and event coordinator. “We had a wonderful event inside The Virginia last year. But there is something unique and special about counting down to the new year outside around the community Christmas tree, watching the ‘prop drop,’ and dancing the night away. We built a Somerset tradition with this festival and we’re excited to bring it back for our community.”
The Light Up 2025 Bash begins at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31, at Fountain Square and will include everything the thousands of attendees have come to expect — local food trucks, spirits vendors, a Prop Drop countdown, live music, and a dance party to welcome the new year.
But Ikerd said attendees and residents should be aware of two important changes to this year’s festival: First, roads within the festival area will close earlier this year, at 6 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 30, and there will be only one gate where attendees can purchase spirit wristbands.
“Because it is a holiday, it is always challenging for us to have enough employees and volunteers to work this event,” Ikerd said. “I am so grateful for the team that pulls together to ensure this festival happens safely and without a hitch. That said, it is a long day for them, so by closing the roads earlier, we have more time to build the stage and our employees get important time to rest before working into the early morning hours of New Year’s Day.”
Ikerd said anyone who needs to do business on or near the square on New Year’s Eve should be aware and locate another way to access the area.
All roads leading into Fountain Square (East and West Mount Vernon, North and South Main) will be closed around the square, as will North and South Maple from the intersection at Columbia Street to the Judicial Center parking lot. These roads will remain closed until the festival is over, all barricades are removed, and the streets in the festival area are swept.
North and South Central Avenue will remain open for through traffic. The following roadways may be useful for detouring the festival area: Central Avenue, Limestone Avenue, Oak Street, Vine Street, Crawford Avenue, South Richardson Drive, Murphy Avenue, Jarvis Avenue, College Street and Barnett Street.
Ikerd said businesses within the festival boundaries, which includes Fountain Square, are notified by email and social media about the road closures so they can prepare accordingly.
The Light Up 2025 Bash is free to attend, but as with all city festivals, those who want to purchase alcoholic beverages must buy a spirit wristband for $5. The gate to purchase will be located at Judicial Center Plaza, with signage located at all other regular festival entrances notifying attendees of its location.
The entertainment lineup for the evening kicks off at 7 p.m. with The Somerset Big Band — musicians from around the Lake Cumberland area who perform the big band era stylings of Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Nat King Cole and more. From the legendary Cincinnati club scene of the 1990s and 2000s to becoming a cornerstone of Somerset’s dance music culture, Travis Merrick, aka DJ Travisty, has spent over 20 years spinning high-energy beats and will bring those to the party starting at 8 p.m.
And then at 10 p.m., Somerset welcomes back the band that keeps the town dancing until midnight with hits from the decades — The Next Level Band of Charlotte.
Fountain Square will be surrounded by local food, drink, and spirits vendors, Ikerd said. A large tent with tables and seating will be available for anyone who wants to escape the elements. Festival-goers are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets. Several downtown businesses will be open during the festival, Ikerd said, and she encourages festival-goers to visit those as well.
Safe rides home are once again sponsored by The Law Office of Jeremy A. Bartley and provided by Premier Transportation of Lake Cumberland. Those who drive to the festival but feel they need a ride home should call (606) 219-1727 and make their way to Gate 2 located at Judicial Center Plaza to claim their ride. There is a 15-mile limit on rides, so if the drop-off location is farther than that, attendees should find a location to be dropped off at that is within this range.
Those interested in booking a ride to the festival should call (606) 219-1727 early to reserve the time they want. Special group rates are available.
“Safety is our No. 1 priority,” Ikerd said. “We are dedicated to ensuring everyone who consumes alcoholic beverages at our festival does so safely and legally. Please drink responsibly, make sure you have a safe ride home, and don’t forget your ID.”
Handicap parking is also available at the Judicial Center Plaza gate.
Somerset Mayor Alan Keck said he looks forward to bringing back this beloved community event.
“When we decided to move the New Year’s event to The Virginia, we were surprised at the public outcry to return to Fountain Square. But pleasantly so,” Keck said. “It meant that being at the square together as a community on New Year’s Eve to celebrate the past and look to the future with hope has become the tradition we hoped it would. It is what this dream of lighting up Somerset was all about. It’s a cold night and a late night, but a fun one, and there’s no place I’d rather be. I am so excited to bring back this festival and hope to see our community out in full force.”
For more information about the Light Up 2025 Bash, including a full list of vendors and the event schedule, visit https://seesomerset.com/light-up-bash-2025/ or follow @SeeSomersetKy on Facebook or @seemyset on Instagram.
