Set for December 31 in South Haven is perhaps the biggest New Year’s Eve celebration in all of Southwest Michigan.

Visit South Haven’s Jennifer Sistrunk tells us the eighth annual New Year’s Eve Celebration downtown will take place all day with events for all ages. Things kick off at noon with ice skating at the South Haven Ice Rink, followed by the opening of the social district at 1 p.m., and the Find a Fish Tale Scavenger Hunt with The Michigan Maritime Museum at Dyckman Park from 1 to 3. Other activities will include a magic show, food trucks, and fire and LED performances.

Sistrunk says the magic will happen at midnight.

“We’re bringing back the beach ball drop, so we’re dropping a thousand beach balls at midnight,” Sistrunk said. “We also have a firework show at midnight over the harbor, which is really awesome.”

Sistrunk says South Haven has become a destination for all ages on New Year’s Eve.

“We see kids staying out all the way until midnight, which is really fun. They get excited and they’re out with their parents. They don’t they don’t get to stay up late very often, and then when you get to stay up late and get to dance in the streets with your family and friends, it just makes for a really unique experience.”

Sistrunk recommends those coming in from out of town book a room for the night and check out more that South Haven has to offer the next day. She’s expecting a few thousand people in town for New Year’s Eve, depending on the weather.

You can find the full schedule at SouthHaven.org.