Nostalgia Returns As New Year’s Eve Tradition Comes To Illinois

A longtime New Year's Eve tradition is returning to Illinois after more than 50 years, and the party is going to rock Chicago.

Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve Is Coming Back To The Windy City

Before I could go out and really celebrate New Year's Eve, I had some traditions that I observed as a kid growing up in Illinois. It was my parents' wedding anniversary, so they always went out to have a good time. That meant I was at home with a babysitter. If I were lucky, I could have a friend over to spend the night.

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Of course, there were plenty of snacks and soda. We would order pizza and for midnight sparkling grape juice. I would always watch Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve for the official countdown. I'm not going to lie, some years it was difficult to make it to midnight.

Then, when I turned 21, it was time to go out and party. That was fun, but it ran its course. Nowadays, I would much rather stay home and watch movies. If we're still awake at midnight, we try to turn on a countdown. The only problem is that there isn't one for the Midwest on TV. That's about to change.

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According to ABC 7 Chicago...

"Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest," America's most-watched New Year's celebration and one of the country's most enduring annual traditions, will add a Central Time zone midnight countdown live from Chicago for the first time in its more than 50-year history.

 

Chicago will bring the city's energy and New Year's festivities directly into homes across the nation.

 

 

The festivities will be led by a new host, live performance, and on-the-ground updates, and reporting throughout the evening.