The inaugural year of EVE, Salt Lake City’s new New Year’s celebration, exceeded organizer’s expectations, and the Downtown Alliance says it can’t wait to bring the event back next year. Producers were enthusiastic about attendance (venues were filled to capacity on New Year’s Eve) and people’s reaction to the diverse talent and events that enhanced downtown for three days.
Attendance grew exponentially over the three day event, and thousands of people gathered downtown for celebrations in streets, squares, plazas, theaters and performing arts venues throughout Utah’s capital city to ring in 2010.
“It isn’t necessarily an easy time to take a risk or start something new, but this was the right thing to do,” said Jason Mathis, executive director of the Downtown Alliance which presented the new three day event. “We were thrilled to partner with Jeffrey Berke Productions to create EVE, and feel like it was a big win for sponsors, artists, athletes, attendees and the downtown community.”
Downtown hotels and restaurants offered special pricing and packages for guests of EVE. Proprietors of downtown businesses like Squatters Pub Brewery commented on the positive impact of the festival and the important role it played in bringing community together downtown. Five of the nine hotels that participated in EVE packages sold out days in advance and requested additional EVE passes.
EVE included fine art performances, live local music, dance parties, ski and snowboard action sports competitions, DJs, film screenings, laser shows, art installations, world music, activities for kids and pet lovers, interactive resolutions, storytelling and a spectacular midnight fireworks show.
Signature projects and festivities included:
eBay It Forward, the USANA Rail Jam, Battle of the Tribute Bands, ZAP Performing Arts Festival, Charlie Chaplin film festival, Massive Marshmallow Meltdown, events sponsored by the Humane Society.
“On behalf of the entire eve team of hundreds of performers, designers and crew members, we’d like to thank our community partners, sponsors and audience members for making EVE a success in this first year,” said Jeffrey Berke, artistic director, EVE. “We look forward to more opportunities to bring our community together to celebrate the best things about living, working and playing in Salt Lake City.”
EVE was hosted at venues throughout downtown including Gallivan Plaza, The Gateway, Temple Square, Pierpont Avenue, Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, Broadway Cinema, Joseph Smith Memorial Building and Off Broadway Theater. Corporate community partners include American Express, USANA, eBay, Comcast, City Weekly, Intermountain Healthcare, Coca-Cola and the LDS Foundation.
Presented by the Downtown Alliance, EVE was created by Jeffrey Berke Productions for the people of Utah. For more information on EVE, visit EVEslc.com.
The Downtown Alliance is dedicated to building a dynamic and diverse community that is the regional center for culture, commerce and entertainment. For more information, visit downtownslc.org.
