Businesses, groups ready New Year’s celebrations

Mower County is getting ready to celebrate New Year’s Eve with style.

All around town, businesses, churches, bars and more are getting ready to ring in 2015 with games, music, food and skating. With a full year behind and a new one to look forward to, get ready to celebrate the beginning of a new chapter.

DC Drifters return to Paramount Theatre

For those who miss the music of the the 1950s, a tribute band is on it’s way to Austin.

The DC Drifters — a band formed by Denny Charnecki in 1963 — will be in Austin at 7:30 p.m. at the Historic Paramount Theatre, 125 Fourth Ave. NE, on Dec. 31. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door. The show will feature the music of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, The Big Bopper, Elvis Presley, Pat Boone, Chuck Berry, Connie Francis, Shirelles, Bill Haley’s Comets, Patsy Cline and more.

The band has different members join for different shows, and this year’s event will feature new members.

“We have not had this group in Austin,” Charnecki said. “And these are the best guys that do this kind of thing.”

There will be a costumed Elvis Presley, as well as Marilyn Monroe. There will be a horn section, as well as members who traveled with famous bands over the years.

“The whole cast is like an all-star cast,” Charnecki said.

The concert will center on 1950s music and will be set up similar to a high school prom.

The band will choose a king and queen from the audience, hold quizzes and talk about things from the ‘50s, like the price of gas or who was in the news.

“It’s just a blast,” Charnecki said. “It’s make believe, like we’re back in the time when the ‘50s were going.”

The group is also working with local runner Kelly Nesvold to collect donations to help feed hungry children overseas.

“We’re doing the show, but we’re trying to help children that don’t have anything to eat,” Charnecki said.

Charnecki is excited about the live show and said it has been rated one of the top shows in the Midwest. About nine people will perform at the show.

“Every one of these people are so talented it’s crazy,” he said. “You get them all in one show and it’s so good.”

Charnecki said there is a variety of acts and music, and the show is family friendly. Last year’s event saw about 1,600 tickets sold.

“It’s really a fun, like a Las Vegas-style show,” he said.

For more information, call 507-434-0934. The event is sponsored by Accentra Credit Union, Austin Daily Herald, Diamond Ridge Printing, Car Nu Auto Body, Ulwelling & Hollerud Real Estate, Integrity Real Estate, KOWZ Radio, Rogers Industries and Videyo Arts.

Sell Out Stereo to play at Torge’s

For those looking for something high energy and danceable to start 2015, Torge’s Live Sports Pub and Grill has the golden ticket.

Torge’s will host the band Sell Out Stereo at 9 p.m. Dec. 31 at the bar, which is located at the Holiday Inn, 1701 Fourth St. NW. The show will run until 1 a.m. and is free and open to the public. There will be Jello shots and champaign toasts to ring in the New Year.

Sell Out Stereo is a high energy quartet from Minneapolis. They will span six decades of music, from the 1950s to today.

Torge’s Assistant General Manager Chelsey Walerak said the business is known for its live music, so it’s natural to host a band on a big night like New Year’s Eve. She said Sell Out Stereo isn’t new to Torges.

“They play here usually a couple times a year and they have a really good following,” she said.

She is anticipating a good-sized crowd since the business is usually busy on New Year’s Eve. Walerak said the band’s music can appeal to almost anyone, as they play a lot of “top 40” music.

“It brings in a big crowd. A lot of locals like them and a lot of non-locals like to come in to see them,” Walerak said.

VFW continues concert series

The Veterans of Foreign Wars Club is not going to miss out on the New Year’s Eve fun.

The VFW will continue its winter concert series by hosting the band Cosmic at its New Year’s Eve party at 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 31 at the club, 300 Fourth Ave. NE. VFW Club Manager Bob Otterson said the members used to hold the event quite often, and they are trying to rebuild the fun event.

“People like to come, and it’s a good place to play, good acoustics and what not,” he said.

Many of the events the VFW hosts raise money for local organizations, such as the Salvation Army, Beyond the Yellow Ribbon and youth sports like hockey or baseball.

Otterson said Cosmic has played at the VFW before and usually brings a good-sized crowd.

Bethlehem Free plans Deeper 2015

What better way to celebrate a new year than with a concert, games and food?

Bethlehem Free Church is celebrating in the new year with a free event called Deeper 2015 at 7 p.m. Dec. 31. The music will start at 8 p.m. There will be games, music and a lot of good food. The event will run until midnight.

“It’s pretty upbeat and kind of youth oriented, kind of young adult youth, but it’s for everybody,” church administrative assistant Brenda Ide said.

The church held a similar event last year. Although Ide didn’t attend last year’s event, she heard it went over well.

The church is located at 1500 Fourth Ave. SE, near Ellis Middle School. The event can be found online at deeper2015.eventbriet.com, on Facebook or on twitter at #deeper2015.

Rohler Rink skating into a new year

A Brownsdale business will skate its way into 2015.

The Brownsdale Rohler Rink is hosting a New Year’s Eve all night skate at 10 p.m. Dec. 31. The event will go until 6 a.m. and is $25 per person. Skaters will get rental skates, a hotdog meal with chips and soda, and an entire night to skate. There will also be games and prizes.

Four Daughters unveils expansion

Four Daughters Vineyard and Winery, 78757 Minnesota 16, Spring Valley, will hold its annual New Year’s Eve dinner starting at 7 p.m.; however, this year’s event will celebrate and unveil its new 9,000-square-foot event center.

The Mower County business expects about 150 to 200 people at the New Year’s Eve event. The meal will feature more than five courses of unique Four Daughters dishes, and the Austin Big Band will also perform.

The winery is adding space for events like weddings and other celebrations. The expansion project roughly doubled the size of the winery, adding the Barrel Room for events of up to 300 people and the Cocktail Lounge for events of up to 50 people, along with a VIP balcony overlooking the lounge. Events can rent out both rooms and the winery’s main room, all of which connect with large doors.

—Jason Schoonover contributed to this report.