IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Following its successful debut last year, the Orange County Great Park will once again proudly host Great Night! Family New Year's Eve, the biggest family-friendly New Year's Eve party in Irvine. Families and anyone interested in celebrating the New Year with an evening filled with live music and dancing, great food and fun for all ages in a festive, alcohol-free environment are encouraged to attend.

Great Night! kicks off at 5 p.m. on Monday, December 31 and culminates with a countdown and celebration of New Year's Eve 2013 on East Coast time at 9 p.m. As the clock strikes 9 p.m., the Great Park rings in the New Year with an explosion of streamers, party hats and noise makers.  Admission is free, and parking is $10.

"We are excited to once again offer families a fun, exciting and safe way to celebrate New Year's at the Great Park," said Beth Krom, Chair of the Orange County Great Park. "This unique celebration allows parents to ring in the New Year with their children and make it home in time to attend other parties."

Southland Mega Groove, a popular 5-piece band with versatile vocalists that played at last year's first-ever Great Night! event, will once again rock the night away with songs from across the decades. Hangar 244 will be transformed into a Disco Lounge featuring DJ music and dancing.  Local community groups will also be on hand to perform throughout the evening. 

Great Night! will feature carnival-style games, a scavenger hunt, military vehicle displays, arts and crafts activities for children, street entertainers and a new outdoor recreation game area. Families can enjoy carousel rides, art exhibitions at the Palm Court Arts Complex, as well as dine on delicious food available from more than a dozen gourmet food trucks and food stations. Visitors can also send New Year's Eve photos to friends and family and post them on Facebook from special high-tech photo booths on site.

Last year's Great Night! Family New Year's Eve attracted approximately 10,000 visitors and similar attendance is expected for this year's celebration.

The Orange County Great Park is located at Sand Canyon and Marine Way, and can easily be reached by the 5 or 405 freeways. For more information, visit, please visit www.ocgp.org or call 866-829-3829.

About the Great Park
Hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over Southern California enjoy the Orange County Great Park's array of recreational and educational opportunities and participate in shared experiences, including panoramic views from the iconic Great Park Balloon that rises 400 feet in the air. Other Great Park features include the Carousel, Farm + Food Lab, Kids Rock Playground, Walkable Historical Timeline, Palm Court Arts Complex, North Lawn recreation area and historic Hangar 244. In addition to free sports clinics, gardening workshops, weekly Farmers Market and other community events, the Great Park hosts an annual series of special events that provide unique experiences for the entire family, including the Growing the Park: Anniversary Celebration, Great Park Pumpkin Harvest, Great Night! Family New Year's Eve, and the Flights & Sounds Summer Festival. With its approximate 1,300-acre master plan, the Great Park is the centerpiece of the redevelopment of the publicly-owned portion of the 4,700-acre former Marine Corps Air Station El Toro. For more information, please visit www.ocgp.org.

SOURCE Orange County Great Park