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THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY, DEC. 26, 2019 - JAN. 1, 2020 • PAGE 18
History center celebrates start of the 2020s
with return to the Roaring Twenties
BY KATHY MITCHELL
FREELANCE REPORTER
DeKalb History Center this
year will celebrate the new year
by stepping back in history. The
center’s Dance Hall Decatur New
Year’s Eve party theme looks back
100 years to the 1920s—a decade
that, according to history.com,
saw “dramatic social and political
change.”
The 1920s brought a daring
urban culture that featured
a new musical genre—jazz.
Women shortened their skirts
and bobbed their hair, and
“speakeasys,” nightclubs where
patrons thumbed their noses at
the recently passed constitutional
amendment prohibiting the sale
and consumption of alcohol in the
United States, popped up across the
country.
Dance Hall Decatur New Year’s
Eve celebration is in its sixth year
and this is the first to have a theme,
according to Marissa Howard, the
DeKalb History Center’s programs
and membership coordinator, who
said the organizers thought it would
be fun on the 100th anniversary of
the dawn of one of America’s most
colorful decades to introduce a
theme—the Roaring Twenties. “So,
dust off your fedoras and spats and
dance the night away at the best
speakeasy in Decatur,” she said.
While those attending are
invited to “dress up in your
swankiest 1920s garb and step back
in time as we welcome the ‘20s
once again, spiffy costumes are not
required, but flappers and dapper
men will be the bee’s knees,”
Howard added.
“Each year we have a great
DJ who spins favorite tunes from
the 1970s to today. As always, we
will offer a midnight toast with
champagne—oh, excuse me, ‘giggle
juice,”’ she said.
Some who live in the area
already are making the New Year’s
Eve bash an annual tradition,
according to Howard. “Because we
are centrally located in downtown
Decatur, it’s convenient for many
to walk to the event. However, we
also have many who turn it into
a fun ‘stay-cation.’ They stay at a
Decatur hotel—one is brand new—
walk to the Square for dinner, and
dance into the new year with us.
And no New Year’s Eve would not
be complete without a trip to Waffle
House post party; there’s also one in
downtown Decatur.”
Howard said the event, which
she describes as “fun and festive,”
grows more popular each year.
“Dancing is a priority. By the end
of the night, you will feel like
you are celebrating with a giant
family. The average age is probably
about 50 years old, but all ages
have attended. We have had many
families attend over the years,” she
recalled. “We have about 100 attend
each year, but it has steadily grown
over the years.
“We introduced a photo booth
last year—one that we made
somewhat on the fly. It was so
popular and fun it is returning this
year better than ever. Thankfully, we
have never had anything go wrong.
I suppose it would be a fun story if
we accidentally did the countdown
too early or too late. Luckily, we
have many eyes on the clock.”
There are lots of ways people
can spend their New Year’s Eve,
Howard said, noting that she
believes many choose Dance
Hall Decatur “because it’s a great
evening that benefits a great cause,
the DeKalb History Center.”
Howard said planning for each
celebration starts “once the dust
settles” from the previous year’s
event. “It’s important that we lock
in a caterer and DJ as soon as
possible. The months leading up
to New Year’s Eve are when we
really start to plan and get our ideas
for decorations down. We have a
wonderful team that makes this
event possible.
“This year we are focusing
our fundraising efforts on our
archives—in particular additional
storage supplies and boxes,” she
said. “So, this might be the most
fun way to raise money for our
archives.” In addition to music
and dancing and the midnight
champagne toast, ticket purchasers
are offered heavy hors d’oeuvres
and a ticket good for one bar drink.
As in previous years, this year’s
celebration will be on the second
floor of the Historic DeKalb County
Courthouse, now the home of the
DeKalb History Center, Dec. 31,
9 p.m. until 1 a.m. Tickets are $45
for History Center members, $60
for adult non-members and $15 for
those younger than 21.
“Roll down your stockings to
show your gams: Howard said.
“We’re looking to have a Roaring
Twenties good time this year!”
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