Published 12:00 am Tuesday, December 31, 2013

New Year’s Eve festivities at the old Presbyterian Bell Tower in downtown Salisbury will begin at 11 tonight.
City officials released details this morning for the celebration, which they put together upon learning Monday that Downtown Salisbury Inc. was not sponsoring the event. Local revelers have celebrated the New Year at the bell tower since 1975.
“The city of Salisbury is honored to carry on the tradition …,” a city press release says.
The city and special guests will host the annual celebration, beginning at 11 p.m. and ending at 12:15 a.m., at the historic Bell Tower Park on the corner of Jackson and West Innes streets, according to the release.
The event will feature live music from local musician Matthew Church; refreshments including hot chocolate, coffee and sparkling cider; streaming of the New Year’s Eve festivities in New York’s Time Square (provided by Fibrant); a live countdown to midnight and a special ringing of bells coordinated by the Salisbury Fire Department.