Coronavirus may have canceled much entertainment in 2020, but there are still options in the Southland for people to go out or stay in and ring in 2021.
Julian’s 2020 NYE House Party at the Drive-In
Music fans can head to Bridgeview’s SeatGeek Stadium for Julian’s 2020 NYE House Party at the Drive-In, where masks and social distancing are required.
“With the COVID situation and everything else, we wanted to bring something different,” said the show’s namesake, Julian Jumpin Perez, a disc jockey who can be heard from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays as part of the BMX Four on WBMX-FM 104.3.
The bash follows the sold-out Julian’s House Party at the Drive-In events in September and October at SeatGeek Stadium and are based on Julian’s House Party shows that have streamed from 7:45 to 9:30 p.m. Saturdays on Facebook since March.
“This is my favorite show I’ve ever done because it’s a whole different story,” Perez said.
“It’s not people getting dressed up, parking and walking 20 blocks to a club. You drive in and enjoy the show. There are a lot of families too, which is cool.”
Julian’s 2020 NYE House Party at the Drive-In includes speaker towers, music projected through vehicles’ FM transmitters, video walls and food vendors.
“Stevie B’s coming from Brazil. He’s the king of freestyle. He doesn’t do many shows in Chicago. We’ve got Angel, who is the original Cover Girl. She’s coming from Florida. David Torres from Nice & Wild sings ‘Diamond Girl,’ which is an anthem,” Perez said.
“We have a lot of great local house music and hip house legends. Joe Smooth performs ‘Promised Land.’ We have White Knight, Lidell Townsell and Hula from the Outhere Brothers.”
Jessica Rodriguez, a weekend disc jockey on WBBM-FM 96.3, hosts the party, which also features Perez and former fellow B96 Mixmasters Bad Boy Bill, Frankie Hollywood Rodriguez, Tim Spinnin’ Schommer and To Kool Chris.
“It’s a thing to get your mind off this crazy madness we’ve been going through,” Perez said.
“We’re going to blow away 2020 with some fireworks and hopefully start a new chapter in everybody’s life.”
Julian’s 2020 NYE House Party at the Drive-In is at 8 p.m. Dec. 31 at SeatGeek Stadium, 7000 S. Harlem Ave., Bridgeview. Tickets are $175 for general admission or $225 for VIP admission (includes four tickets and one vehicle). Extra passenger add-on is $50 for general admission or $60 for VIP admission. No more than six people per car or eight people per sport utility vehicle are allowed. Call 708-594-7700 or go to
Children’s
New Year’s Celebration
Families who want to usher in 2021 early can go to the village of Orland Park’s Children’s New Year Celebration at Centennial Park’s Winter Wonderland Ice Rink.
The second annual event was moved outdoors from Franklin Loebe Recreation Center, where the celebration took place in 2019. Other safety precautions include limiting the overall capacity and the number of families in the warming house and requiring masks inside the warming house.
“There will be plenty of room to space out on the ice. Families will have a reserved picnic table for the whole event,” said Allison Cann, recreation division manager — special events for the village of Orland Park.
“We’re going to roast doughnuts. We’ll also have ring toss and other games where kids can win prizes. Each table will get a goody bag, which has crafts.”
The celebration also features a ball drop countdown at noon, DJ Greg Carter from Entertainment Industries of Lockport playing music and hosting games, and individually wrapped catering by McAlister’s Deli of Orland Park.
“Everyone’s looking for something different to do especially this year,” said Cann, of New Lenox.
“Our ice rink is real ice so it’s unique and just a chance to hang out.”
Children’s New Year Celebration is at 10:30 a.m. Dec. 31 at Centennial Park’s Winter Wonderland Ice Rink, 15600 West Ave., Orland Park. Tickets are $15 for residents, $20 for nonresidents and free for ages younger than 2.
Call 708-403-5000 or go to Facebook.
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