Santa Rosa Beach, Fla. (www.seasidefl.com), Dec. 21, 2012 ––The Merchants of Seaside invite everyone to welcome 2013 on New Year’s Eve at the 5th Annual Countdown Seaside: A New Year’s Eve Celebration! On December 31, experience a big family-friendly party featuring live entertainment, kid’s art projects, street performers and an absolutely spectacular fireworks display over the Gulf of Mexico. Festivities begin at 6 p.m. and last until the last firework lights up the sky. Additional parking will be available at WaterColor Crossings Shopping Center on 395, located to the south of Hightide Cleaners and across from SunTrust Bank. Overflow parking will be located on the backside of the shopping center complex (on Pine Grove Circle). Shuttle hours from WaterColor Crossings begin Monday, December 31st at 8 a.m. and last through Tuesday, January 1st at 2 a.m. Merchants will be open from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. Especially for the kids, Abrakadoodle will be on hand from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. offering unique art projects as part of the New Year’s Celebration. There’s no cost to participate in these projects, which include making celebratory noisemakers, as well as a time capsule in which families will be able to place New Year’s wishes and resolutions. Seaside will also have face painters, balloon sculptors, stilt walkers, jugglers and street magicians to get both the young and young-at-heart in the festive spirit. In addition, spectators will be entertained in the final hours of 2012 by a variety of singers/ songwriters ranging from fresh Americana Rock ‘n Roll to Pop to Folk. The celebration kicks off in Seaside’s Amphitheater with a performance by Brendan James, a piano-based singer/songwriter from New Hampshire at 6 p.m., followed by the Jacob Jeffries Band, fronted by a gifted pianist that gives a refreshing taste to the music generation of today taking the stage at 8:30 p.m. Then headliner Tony Lucca, who captured America’s hearts by becoming a finalist on NBC’s The Voice earlier this year, will perform at 10:30 p.m. Lucca’s life-long immersion in music and his ever-deepening life experiences have resulted in a potently effective body of work: his lyrics and vocal quality are instantly identifiable, even to those who have heard his music once or twice. Raised in Waterford, Michigan, Lucca began singing at age 3; by 12 he was writing and playing in Detroit-area bands. As a teen, he lived in Orlando, Florida, where he worked for four seasons on the Disney Channel’s “Mickey Mouse Club” alongside such future superstars as Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and *NSYNC’s Justin Timberlake and JC Chasez. Lucca’s cover of Hugo’s version of Jay-Z’s “99 Problems” reacted strongly, propelling Lucca to the No. 3 spot on iTunes Overall Singles sales chart and No. 1 on iTunes Rock Singles chart. Additionally, Lucca’s duet of “Yesterday” by The Beatles with coach Adam Levine landed Top 5 on iTunes Overall and Pop Singles sales charts. As a result of his work on The Voice, Maroon 5 front man and The Voice coach, GRAMMY-Award winning recording artist Adam Levine announced recently that The Voice finalist and “Team Adam” member Tony Lucca has signed to 222 Records. Lucca is set to release his album next year on Levine’s label. “It’s cool to see how a gut instinct can manifest itself in such unimaginable ways,” said Lucca. “Working with Adam on The Voice truly was an opportunity of a lifetime. Now we’ll get a chance to take that opportunity to the next level. Thinking back to the blind auditions, Adam said he thought I was going to have an amazing career and that he wanted to be a part of it. It’s so cool to see him stay true to his word in such a meaningful way.” In 2011, Lucca appeared as himself on NBC’s Parenthood performing his song “Like Love.” Lucca was also tapped to appear in friend Justin Timberlake’s 901 tequila commercial spot. His songs have been featured on TV’s Friday Night Lights, Brothers & Sisters, Shark, and Felicity and in Kevin Costner’s feature Open Range. He has been seen on E! Entertainment Television and A&E, and performed numerous times on NBC’s Last Call With Carson Daly. Over the course of his career, Lucca has shared stages with *NSYNC, Marc Anthony, Macy Gray, Johnny Lang, and Sara Bareilles. At the stroke of midnight, Seaside will then light up the skies over the Gulf of Mexico and welcome 2013 with its exciting fireworks display from a barge in front of Bud & Alley’s. Colorful bursts of light will be visible from the beach, as well as in Seaside Amphitheater in Central Square. A synchronized music soundtrack will be simulcast in the Amphitheater, as well as on 30A Radio (30ARadio.org or 107.1FM). Watching fireworks over the Gulf truly has truly become a South Walton tradition, and Seaside’s event promises one of the very best views along 30A!

2013 A New Year’s Eve Celebration Seaside