Southwest Florida braces for chilly New Year's Eve celebrations

Southwest Florida is gearing up for a chilly celebration as temperatures are expected to drop on New Year's Eve.

Despite the cold snap, hundreds of people are expected to gather in downtown Fort Myers for the annual New Year's Eve party.

The celebration will have live music performances, food trucks, fireworks along with a ball drop. The ball drop is set to happen at midnight at the corner of Hendry and Bay Street.

The River District Alliance is determined to keep the tradition alive despite the cold weather. The celebration in downtown Fort Myers has been a staple for over a decade.

Businesses across Southwest Florida are also preparing for the New Year's Eve crowds and the incoming cold temperatures.

Backyard Social has added fire pits, propane heaters, and A-C units with a heat function to keep guests warm.

"Pretty much all night, I'm swapping out propane tanks. We have three fire pits that would be the prime spot, but really, we can move any of these smaller propane heaters to where people are sitting," said Tucker Zahorian, bar manager at Backyard Social.

For those opting to stay home due to the chilly forecast, turning on the heater might be the best way to celebrate indoors. Experts in Southwest Florida suggest testing the heat strip in A/C units before the cold arrives.

Phillip Perry, general manager at Johnstone Supply, advised, "One thing that you will find is that when you turn it on, because it doesn't get turned on very often during the year, you'll have a little burning smell for just a little bit. Hopefully, that dissipates within five or 10 minutes. If not, probably shut it off."

For those heading downtown for the festivities, the events will kick off at 6 p.m. Streets in the area will close to traffic starting at noon.