Dancing in the new year

Capital Ritz hosts holiday party for regulars, newcomers for 21st year

Lilly Broyles, left, and Abby Holland skate together Sunday night at Sk8 Zone's annual New Year's Eve party.
Lilly Broyles, left, and Abby Holland skate together Sunday night at Sk8 Zone's annual New Year's Eve party.

Eating and drinking is pretty much essential at New Year's Eve gatherings, but some revelers were also working off calories as they rang in 2018.

At Capital Ritz, more than 200 people enjoyed a Chinese buffet and drinks, but they also moved their bodies on the dance floor to the music of Faded Youth, a local band that played classic country and rock.

Some of partiers were regulars who come to dance there every New Year's Eve. Capital Ritz has held the event for the past 21 years. "It's always a good time," said Cory Rickabaugh, of Fulton. He's a member of the Let's Dance ballroom dancing club that meets there.

Gene Vogel, who was there with his wife, Anne, said: "It's a beautiful place. The floor is amazing. It's made for dancing."

Bev Mauzy, the Capital Ritz banquet manager, said some of their guests have said they've tried other places for New Year's Eve, but feel at home there. "It's just become their tradition," she said.

The event started with the traditional "Grand March," led by Tom Cwynar, a Capital Ritz dance instructor. Attendees held hands, walked, danced and weaved their way around the room to Cwynar's direction.

Richard Cook attended for the second straight year. As a ballroom dancer, he appreciates the large dance floor and likes the Grand March. "It kind of reminds me of a royal march, like a promenade," he said.

Later, Capital Ritz planned a midnight balloon drop, champagne toast and party favors.

Halfway across town, parents dropped off their children at Sk8 Zone roller skating rink as they headed out to their own events.

Friends Lilly Broyles, Kiyah Rieke, Abby Holland and Kaley Pirkle are regulars at the roller rink. They came to the event before going to a sleepover at one of the girls' houses.

"It's a good way to start the year," said Rieke, who wore a cow costume as she skated around the rink.

Co-owner Jon Esterline said he and his wife, Lisa, have held New Year's Eve parties there for the past nine years. About 150 people came for the skating, games every half hour, prizes, drawings and a "champagne" toast of apple cider and a balloon drop at midnight.

Some of the prize winners would be treated to hot pizza from nearby Pizza Hut, Esterline said.

Shortly after the event started, skaters, mostly pre-teen or teens, were zipping around the rink to party music and disco lights.

Esterline expected the cold would bring out more skaters, and the event typically brings out customers who aren't necessarily regulars there.

"From midnight on, the last hour is chaos," he said with a smile. "They're all popping the balloons."