New Year’s Celebrations to bid 2014 Farewell

December 23, 2014 // James Feist

As another year comes to an end, we are prompted to take a look back as another calendar benchmark passes on by. The year 2014 in Alexandria was certainly a sensational one! Lots of great events and good weather made fond memories for both residents and visitors alike. We have many things to look forward to in the upcoming year in our fine city, but before we do we must properly usher out the year with some fun New Year’s celebrations!

One of the big achievements in 2014 was the reconstruction of Broadway Downtown

There’s no better way to celebrate than to laugh in the New Year! Come see the hilarious improv comedy duo “Theatre Off The Cuff” in Improv Re-gifted: The Fruitcake and Ugly Sweater Edition. You’ll never know what to expect as they come up with clever and funny sketches on the spot. This is a family-friendly event so bring the entire family for an evening of laughs. The show is a pay-what-you-can event (with a suggested donation of $15 ticket) and all proceeds benefit the Alexandria Area Arts Association. The show starts at 7pm at the AAAA Theatre on December 31^st. The box office opens at 6pm.

Improv Re-gifted is sponsored by Affordable Pet Services of Alexandria and the Dennis and Karin Weigel Family

For a more adult-oriented comedy show, check out the New Year’s Eve Comedy Bash at the Broadway Ballroom! An evening of priceless comedy from Don Reese, Jodie Maruska, Jeff Bergs and Rox Tarrant will definitely ring in your new year with a smile. The comedy show begins at 8:30pm for $20. Dinner options are available beginning at 7pm so your evening plans can begin and end at this event. VIP dinner and comedy show is $45 and buffet dinner with comedy show is $40. Advance purchase is necessary for dinner packages, tickets available at Garden Center Lanes.

Enjoy some winter sports on New Year’s Eve as well! Check out the fast-paced action when the Alexandria Blizzard takes on the Twin City Steel at 7pm at the Runestone Community Center. Tickets are available at the door. Or, for slower-paced action, participate in the Viking Curling Club’s New Year’s Eve open Curling! Whether you are new to the sport of curling or a seasoned pro, everyone is welcome at this function. Open Curling is from 6pm-12:30am at the curling rink in the Runestone Community Center. Cost is $10 per person.

Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean you have to stay indoors! Join Lake Carlos State Park for a beautiful New Year’s Eve candle-lit hike in the park. Make sure to wear some good shoes and warm clothes, but there will also be warm fires to enjoy, marshmallows to roast and a warming shelter to enjoy a cup of hot cider or cocoa! The New Year’s Eve hike runs from 6pm-8pm. Then on New Year’s Day, start your year off right with a wonderful guided hike through the park! A park naturalist will take you on a winter adventure through the park’s beautiful frozen landscape. Learn about animals, trees, history of the park and more on this outing. The New Year’s Day guided hike will begin at 1pm at the Lake View Group site. These events are free, but a vehicle permit is required to enter the park (available at the park office). Find more events like these at Lake Carlos State Park’s website.

While the cross country ski trails are still closed for now, Lake Carlos State Park offers great trails throughout the winter and numerous candle-lit trail events.

As we say goodbye to 2014, we have a lot to be proud of and a lot to look forward to in the upcoming year. Please check out our events calendar for more great events throughout the Alexandria area into 2015. In addition, our blog will cover some big events and seasonal updates to keep up with everything Alexandria has to offer. Have a very Happy New Year!