By By ANNA M. LEE Assistant Editor
Celebrating Brewton's association with the blueberry is a New Year's Eve tradition and a big event for the city and downtown businesses.
The City of Brewton will be hosting its twelfth annual Blueberry Drop to welcome the new year on Dec. 31.
The Blueberry Drop, staged at the marquee welcome center downtown, attracts revelers each year with music and fireworks.
The pre-show begins at 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, with Salt Water Shake providing live entertainment beginning at 9 p.m.
Salt Water Shake will play a collection of favorites, from country to oldies to contemporary, said city clerk John Angel.
Mark Johnson will act as master of ceremonies for the evening.
Johnson will lead the countdown to the Blueberry Drop 30 seconds before midnight, and at midnight there will be a fireworks display while "Auld Lang Syne" plays.
During the event, the city will block off Persimmon St.
Some downtown businesses will be open late Wednesday for the celebration.
The Tomato Cafe will be open by reservation only for a special New Year's Eve dinner. The meal will be five courses and the restaurant has invited a threepiece jazz ensemble to play live during the night.
The restaurant is expecting 86 guests for each of the 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. reservation blocks.
Ole Willie's will also be open Wednesday night and they expect to serve 400 guests.
Ole Willie's will be open Wednesday from 10 a.m. until about 2 a.m., Barnes said.
Book and Bean will also be open all day Wednesday until 1 a.m.
There will be two coffee stations in the shop to reduce customers' waiting time and desserts will be available, McMillan said.
Because Book and Bean just opened downtown, McMillan has no New Year's Eve experience to draw from when planning the event. "We're basing our plans on how our open house in December went," she said.
Other businesses expected to be open New Year's Eve include Spudd's BP on Saint Nicholas Ave. and Church's on Persimmon St.