New Year's Eve 2020 Watch Night Falls Church Canceled

FALLS CHURCH, VA — Falls Church's annual New Year's Eve event, Watch Night Falls Church, will not happen in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This would have been the 23rd annual event. Watch Night Falls Church is typically a family-friendly tradition that closes the streets downtown for music, entertainment and food, culminating in the traditional star being lowered to welcome the new year.

Little City CATCH Foundation, which puts on the event, made the announcement through a city news release.

Here is the statement from the group:

The annual Watch Night Falls Church celebration will not occur this year in deference to our front-line health care workers, who are risking all, and asking us to not create a super- spreader Covid19 event. With an occasion such as our public New Year’s Eve celebration, with no entry gates, it is very difficult to have a limited event, and reduced attendance, as much as we would have liked that. We’ve had Watch Night in Falls Church every year since 1998, the start of our Tricentennial Celebration, and would love to maintain a solid record for every year. A lot of volunteers and dedicated City staff are involved each year with orchestrating the festivities. We have deeply appreciated their efforts and we do not want to put them or attendees at risk. We want them all back for future years. With all the hope for the vaccines that are now in the distribution chain, the responsible decision is to not have the Watch Night Celebration this year and have more people healthy for a better year in 2021. So, we can say good riddance to 2020, and make wishes for a bright new year around the fireplace or a cup of cheer at home.

The State Theatre, another regular spot for New Year's Eve festivities, will be having an event this year. A free outdoor concert with Nowhere Men, an acoustic Beatles tribute, will be held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Capacity is limited, so attendees are advised to come early. Doors open at 4 p.m.