Unlike my normal tradition of staying in with friends, cozying up by the fire, and waiting for the ball drop, I decided to venture out this past Thursday night. Abandoning the comfort of my home, four of my friends and I traveled downtown to ring in the new year. Having never celebrated the new year this way, my expectations were low, as I expected freezing temps, and crowded city streets.

Arriving in the heart of Grand Rapids a little after ten, I was pleasantly surprised. It was fairly busy but not over the top crazy.  Surprisingly, finding parking was a breeze. It only took a walk of a couple blocks to arrive at the celebration location.  The locals had began to arrive, and the streets started to fill with more people. As the clock neared midnight, it seemed as if all of Grand Rapids was packed on the streets awaiting the dropping of the ball.  Waiting in anticipation, citizens of all ages listened to the free music, and ventured into the hot chocolate tents often.

Providing entertainment for children and adults alike, Kevin Rudolf, famous for his hit single, “Let It Rock”, rocked out with the residents of Grand Rapids despite the near freezing temps.  Adding to the excitement, both Carolina Liar and Five Knives also took the stage, providing musical entertainment for all who had headed out.

As the clock neared midnight, something out of the ordinary happened.  With no band in sight, a  pedestrian took the stage, grabbing everyone’s attention.  The stranger was asking for his future wife’s hand in marriage.  Having a New Year’s Eve celebration downtown each year, this was the first time a live proposal had ever occurred.

With the excitement from the musicians, the anticipation for the dropping ball, and the surprise of a marriage proposal, my New Year’s Eve experience for 2015 was a success.  Spending quality time with good friends and reminiscing on all that 2015 had to offer, going downtown was the perfect ending to an already exceptional year.