F.C.'s 'Watch Night' Friday

The forecast is for clear and mild weather on New Year's Eve this year, and that is good news for prospective revelers planning to bring in 2005 in downtown Falls Church city.

The 100 block of W. Broad Street will be closed from 8 p.m. to midnight for the seventh straight New Year’s Eve Friday to celebrate "Watch Night," Falls Church’s homegrown festival culminating in a countdown featuring members of the Falls Church City Council on a mid-street stage at midnight.

Hailing the New Year will have special significance at the downtown location this week, as 2005 is slated to mark the launch of a major redevelopment of the very area where Friday's event will be held. By New Year's Eve of 2006, the place might have already begun to look a lot different.

Rising rents in anticipation of the redevelopment are already causing a number of retail tenants in the area to start looking for new digs, but for this New Year's, at least, they will all be there, many of them keeping their doors open until midnight with special events inside.

The area's fine restaurants and large churches also plan to be open with live entertainment. But much of the action will be on the street and in a special tent set up right at the Rt. 7 and 29 intersection with a slate of live music offerings.

Beginning at 8 p.m., east and west-bound traffic on Route 7 (Broad Street) will be diverted for one block around the 100 block that's bounded by Rt. 29 (Washington Street) and Maple Ave. Free traffic flow will continue through north and south along Route 29 (Washington Street).

The closed W. Broad Street block will be filled with music, entertainment, amusement, inflatables, plus hundreds of celebrating families and individuals.

The Weather Bureau predicts an unusually warm December evening, which generally results in an increase in the number of citizens who will show up.

The festivities begin right at 8 p.m. and last until the midnight. All venues are free and open to the public. A complete schedule is listed at www.tinnerhill.org. Schedules of all free entertainment will also be available on flyers by the main tent at the crossroads of Broad and Washington Streets. Celebrants can pick up the free schedule and then decide how to spend the rest of the evening.

Local citizens are encouraged to walk to the event, if possible, for the fun, the exercise, and to help avoid traffic congestion. Those who drive are encouraged to park at least three blocks away to avoid congestion and interfering with the normal business of the six open restaurants in the celebration area. Plenty of parking is available at the Presbyterian Church (200 block, E. Broad Street) and the Episcopal Church (S. Washington and E. Fairfax Street).

Both churches sponsor a major Watch Night event with live music and dancing (Square and Swing respectively). Metro bus service is also available from East and West Falls Church stations on the Orange line.

There is plenty for children to do with the Moon Bounce, Rock Climbing Wall, Magic Show, caricature painting and square dancing. Adults can participate in the same events, but may be interested in the Swing Dance, African Drummers, Blues Band and Victorian Party.

For further information click on www.tinnerhill.org, email info@tinnerhill.org, or call (703) 241-4109.