Gettysburg New Year's Eve Celebration 2023

Plans are underway for the “Gettysburg New Year’s Eve Celebration” on Sunday, December 31, 2023, on Lincoln Square.

Gettysburg's New Year's Eve Celebration: “Let’s Raise Abe’s Hat and Dance”!

As we bid farewell to 2023, Gettysburg's Lincoln Square will undergo an exciting transformation into a brightly colored, lively dance venue, reflecting a departure from the traditional way this historic town celebrates the arrival of the new year.

A new tradition was started in 2022, when the town celebrated the inaugural “Let’s Raise Abe’s Hat” along with ringing in the new year with fireworks. This year, Gettysburg Pride and Gettysburg Alive have elected to turn the square into a dance party rather than continuing with the fireworks display from years past.

While firework displays have been a staple of New Year's Eve celebrations worldwide, the shift towards alternatives has been gaining momentum due to mounting concerns about air quality, noise pollution, and the adverse impact on local wildlife and ecosystems. During last year's New Year's Eve celebration, 'close proximity' fireworks were used in accordance with the recommendations of fireworks companies. The companies that were contacted refused to use traditional fireworks off the top of the downtown parking garage, as done in years past, because of fire hazards to surrounding buildings. While these 'close proximity' fireworks are indeed designed with safety in mind, the organizers concluded that the expense outweighed the impact. This led them to consider a new and innovative approach.

Spirit Sound and Light, the renowned event production company out of Mechanicsburg, PA, will work their magic to turn Lincoln Square into a colorfully lit dance party, creating a vibrant and visually stunning atmosphere where the community can come together to celebrate the new year. At midnight, the tradition will continue; a newly redesigned Abe’s hat will be raised up over Gettysburg.

Events like the Gettysburg New Year's Eve Celebration rely on the initiative of those who are passionate about organizing them. The Borough of Gettysburg does not pay all the costs of events such as this in town. These free admission events are produced by local nonprofits and occur thanks to business sponsors and individual donors within the public. The organizers seek sponsorship from local companies to generate the necessary funds to cover expenses. Additionally, a GoFundMe campaign is available for residents and visitors who want to add their support. It's important to note the organizers, Gettysburg Pride and Gettysburg Alive, do not profit from this event.

In Gettysburg, tradition holds a special place in the hearts of its residents, and change is often met with hesitation. The organizers hope that the decisions made regarding this significant holiday are appreciated and understood by both the town's residents and its visitors. Last year, a new tradition “Let’s Raise Abe's Hat,” was introduced, and the community embraced it wholeheartedly. Once again, they hope that “Let’s Raise Abe’s Hat and Dance” is welcomed with the same warmth.

If you are passionate about supporting your local community and want to make a difference, we encourage you to consider donating to the Gettysburg New Year's Eve Celebration. Community gatherings like this are an important way to bring people together, build relationships, and foster a sense of belonging and connection.

Over 2000 people gathered to see the first ever “Let’s Raise Abe’s Hat” over Lincoln Square for New Year’s Eve in 2022. Join us by donating towards the expenses for this Free Admission Event for New Year's Eve 2023!

Gettysburg Pride Inc is an official 501c3 organization registered with the IRS, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Bureau of Charitable Organizations, and Guide Star.

https://gettysburgalive.com/