Chattanoogans will have two new ways to ring in the new year this year, and both will involve a special homage to the city's history and will include a special Coca-Cola bottle drop at midnight.
DoubleTree Chattanooga, in partnership with Cumulus Media, will host ChattaNew Year, a celebration that will focus on "all things Chattanooga." There will be a ticketed VIP event inside the hotel with tickets costing $50 for VIP admission and $30 for general admission.
There will also be an outdoor family-friendly event running concurrently that will be free and open to the general public.
"We will have a kids zone," said Robin Derryberry of Derryberry Public Relations.
"We'll have tons of giveaways and music will be provided by one of the Cumulus radio stations.
DoubleTree Chattanooga, site of the ChattaNew Year Coca-Cola bottle drop.
A giant Coca-Cola bottle is pictured in this file photo at AT&T Park in California. Photo used under Creative Commons license by Dan_H. http://bit.ly/1pR3B3L"The cool piece will be that will be showing Chattanooga-centric logos from some of the iconic businesses in town on the side of the building. Things like the Moonpie logo and the Coke and even a picture of Luther [Masingill] because he is such a product and part of Chattanooga.
The event will take place Dec. 31 beginning at 8 p.m. The party inside will feature the music of Deep Fried Five, hors d'oeuvres from Eleven Restaurant and a full bar with adult beverages and beer selections from Chattanooga Brewery.
The entire party will move outside in the DoubleTree parking lot just before midnight where there will be a family-friendly street party featuring the first-ever Coca-Cola bottle drop, featuring a giant 12-foot tall LED-lighted bottle. Chattanooga firefighter Jason Greer and his 17 year-old son, Tristin, will launch the official countdown, signaling the release of Chattanooga's iconic Coca-Cola bottle.
Greer recently completed the Ironman Chattanooga competition to raise money for the organizations that have helped treat Tristin, who is battling stage 4 neuroblastoma.
Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.