By Kat Bryant
Grays Harbor News Group
Looking for a family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebration? The Shoppes at Riverside has you covered.
Sgt. Brand’s BBQ owners Joe and Jamie Brand have organized an alcohol-free event with help from the mall’s management and several other tenants. “Game In the New Year” will feature food, dancing, and of course games for all ages from 7 p.m. until just past midnight.
There will also be two New Year’s countdowns — the first at 9 p.m. (midnight Eastern Time), with the live broadcast from Times Square; and the second at midnight local time. The ball-drops will be projected onto a wall so everyone can share the experience, and Sgt Brand’s will provide green apple-flavored sparkling soda for the New Year’s toasts.
“We’ve had children long enough that we realized there’s nothing for people who are underage to do,” said Jamie. “So if you have 9- to 12-year-olds that don’t normally stay awake until midnight and get the festive feel; or if you have older kids, 15 to 19, they can come in and do the gaming … and they don’t get stuck sitting at home with the dog going, ‘Gee, this is fun.’”
War Byrds Battle Labs and Lion’s Guard Gaming will be open for role-playing games and demos. “Lion’s Guard is doing the middle to advanced role-playing games and some board games,” said Joe. “War Byrds will be doing tabletop demonstrations and painting demonstrations.”
In addition to Dungeons & Dragons, Warhammer and other games, “we’ll have a deck of Uno cards and some regular board games for the less adventurous,” said Jamie.
Harbor Bead & Craft and Tectonic Comics also will host activities, and one hallway will be set up for dancing. Jamie promises a DJ “younger than 35” will be running the music.
A few small booths will be set up to provide glitter and henna temporary tattoos, sell handmade resin dice and jewelry, and more.
“The Shoppes at Riverside is happy to co-host this event with Sgt. Brand’s,” said mall manager Erin Jeffreys. “It’s fun for the whole family, and that is hard to find on a night like New Year’s Eve.”
Masquerades and murder mysteries
For the 21-plus crowd, the Aberdeen and Hoquiam Elks are hosting parties that are open to the public.
• A Roaring ’20s Masquerade Ball will start at 7 p.m. at the Aberdeen Elks Club, with a $10 cover charge (cash only) and no-host bar. Dress is semi-formal with a 1920s twist.
From 7 to 10 p.m., classic music will be played “at a comfortable volume” for dancing, according to the Facebook event page. After that, the Elks will pump up the volume with a wider and more modern variety of music, plus karaoke.
• In Hoquiam, the Elks will host a New Year’s Eve Murder Mystery Dinner with a Wild West theme.
Tickets are $35. The doors will open at 6 p.m., and dinner will start at half-past. Along with murder, the menu will include brisket, cowboy beans, coleslaw, cornbread and cobbler. Western attire is encouraged.
After finding out whodunit, deejay Angela Grove will play dance tunes until after midnight.
Those who don’t want to participate in the murder mystery may enter after 9:30 to enjoy music and dancing for a $5 cover charge.
Both Elks parties have Facebook event pages for more information.
Hotel/casino happenings
Tokeland Hotel — Seafood and champagne dinner, with seatings at 4 and 8 p.m.; reservations required.
Lake Quinault Lodge — Surf & turf dinner in the Roosevelt Room from 3 to 8 p.m.
Quinault Beach Resort & Casino — 21+ party with the Olson Band starts at 9 p.m.
Lucky Eagle Casino & Hotel — 21+ party with the Retros starts at 8 p.m.
Shoalwater Bay Casino — $250 cash drawings every 15 minutes from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., with a $2,020 cash drawing at midnight.
