SOARING INTO THE MILLENIUM; VAN NUYS AIRPORT HOSTS 1 OF 5 FAMILY EVENTS SPONSORED BY CITY.Byline: Marla Matzer Rose Staff Writer The new millennium is almost here. While many people will hunker down Hun´ker down v. 1. to crouch or squat; to sit on one's haunches. 2. to settle in at a location for an extended period; - also (figuratively) to maintain a position and resist yielding to some pressure, as of public opinion. 3. to quiet evenings at home, others will jet off to welcome the event in exotic locales. As the clock ticks down the last hours of the 20th century here in the Valley, tens of thousands of Valley dwellers are expected to head toward the airport in Van Nuys. But they won't be heading off on a jet plane ... they'll be gathering in a communal New Year's celebration, one of five around the city being sponsored by the city of Los Angeles
In recent years, New Year's Eve has become more of a family holiday all across the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. . Once considered a purely adults-only holiday involving lampshade hats and plenty of booze, it has become a day that many parents want to spend with their children, reflecting on the past year and looking forward to the future. This year, Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. is one of many cities around the country on the family-friendly New Year's bandwagon. Pulling out all the stops to welcome 2000, the city is sponsoring five alcohol-free, family New Year's events, including the one at Van Nuys Airport Van Nuys Airport (IATA: VNY, ICAO: KVNY, FAA LID: VNY) is a public airport located in Van Nuys, California in the San Fernando Valley, within the Los Angeles city limits. , starting at noon. That event alone is expected to attract as many as 100,000 revelers during the course of the day (the space limit at any given time is 25,000). The chart on page 7 shows some of the basics for the event, including the location of parking, attractions and restrooms at the airport for New Year's Eve. Though admission is free, tickets must be picked up in advance at Ralphs, Food 4 Less or public library locations around the Valley. All but handicapped parking is off-site, with free shuttle service provided; on-site security will enforce a strict no-alcohol, no-weapons rule at the entrance to the celebration. The event is being produced by Los Angeles-based All Access Entertainment, which stages the yearly Fiesta Broadway and Cuban festival celebrations in L.A. So how do you celebrate the turn of the century in the Valley? With 2,000 line dancers, carnival rides, fireworks fireworks: see pyrotechnics. fireworks Explosives or combustibles used for display. Of ancient Chinese origin, fireworks evidently developed out of military rockets and explosive missiles and accompanied the spread of military explosives westward to , big-screen links to other events in New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of and L.A., an eclectic group of musical acts and activities for the kids. Children will be invited, free of charge, to make art objects (paintings, pottery, jewelry) commemorating the millennial party, giving them a souvenir of this once-in-a-lifetime event. Organizers are hoping to get enough line dancers to break the record in the Guinness Book of World Records ... a whopping 5,000-plus hoofers. Actor Jan-Michael Vincent Jan-Michael Vincent (born July 15, 1944) is an American actor most well-known for his role as helicopter pilot Stringfellow Hawke on the 1980s U.S. television series Airwolf (1984-1986). (``Airwolf``), a country music buff himself, will be the Grand Marshall of the line dancers. Even Mayor Riordan is expected to show up to try his hand ... er, feet ... at line dancing line dancing Noun a form of dancing performed by rows of people to country and western music . Don't dance? Don't worry. Seasoned dance experts Mike Bendavid and Marie Del Giorgio will be teaching, and they promise that virtually anyone can master the Electric Slide, one of the easiest and most popular line dances. Also part of the celebration for all ages will be an ``air parade,'' a mini air show of more than two dozen planes, blimps, skywriters and skydivers. Los Alamitos-based Skytypers, whose previous gigs have included the 1984 Olympic celebration, will be providing this entertainment at the various events around the city. They expect to be over Van Nuys around 2 p.m. Meanwhile, parents can mingle and relax to the tunes of such artists as B.J. Thomas and Canned Heat Canned Heat A trademark used for solid alcohol or paraffin fuel that is packed in small cans and used to heat food. . Also on the stage throughout the day will be Alabina, performing Middle Eastern and flamenco music, Indigo Swing, the Original Tierra and the Watts Prophets spoken-word group. The lineup is diverse by design: The idea is to celebrate a part of the world each hour as that time zone enters the new millennium. Headliner B.J. Thomas says he's happy to be returning to Los Angeles, where he's spent much time during his career. ``We're really looking forward to this; being in the L.A. area really will be really interesting,'' said Thomas, who lives in Texas with his wife of 31 years and tours more than 100 days a year. ``If anything weird's going to happen, it's going to happen there,'' he added with a laugh. Does Thomas expect any big changes as we approach the new millennium? ``Life goes on; things keep going along. I think it's going to be another day,'' said Thomas. ``But,'' he added, ``It does give people a chance to reflect about trying to become better human beings ... to start loving each other more. That would be nice.'' Van Nuys highlights Noon: Gates open. Noon, 4 p.m., 9 p.m. and midnight: Festival of Sacred Sounds. Bells, gongs, cymbals cymbals (sĭm`bəlz), percussion instruments of ancient Asian origin. They consist of a pair of slightly concave metal plates which produce a vibrant sound of indeterminate pitch. will ring around the city. All day: Food, souvenirs for sale; displays including cars and boats for adults and Lego Land for kids; carnival rides (small fee). 12-6 p.m.: Youth activities, including storytelling, face painting, art projects. 1 p.m.: Musical acts begin performing on main stage. 1 p.m.: Check-in begins for line dancers. Rehearse between 1:30 and 3 p.m. (includes instruction). 2 p.m.: ``Air parade'' of planes, blimps, skywriters and skydivers. 3-4 p.m.: Line dancers perform on main stage. 5 p.m.: Video interlink INTERLINK - A commercial product comprising hardware and software for file transfer between IBM and VAX computers. between the five ``Celebrate L.A. 2000'' sites begins. 9 p.m.: Video link to New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. , where the new yearis arriving. 9:15 p.m.: Alabina musical group performs. 10:15 p.m.: B.J. Thomas performs. 11:40 p.m.: Video interlink to other L.A. celebration sites. CAPTION(S): 4 Photos, map, box Photo: (1 -- cover -- color) Millennium takes wing Van Nuys Airport's family-focused event welcomes the new year with music, dancing and more Gus Ruelas/Staff Photographer (2 -- 3) Mike Bendavid, leading a group of line dancers at the Cowboy Palace Saloon in Chatsworth, is also slated to teach line dancing at the Van Nuys Airport ``Celebrate 2000'' event. Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer (4) Ernesto Sanchez, front, and Jesus Camila carry a section of the stage they're assembling for the ``Celebrate 2000'' festivities fes·tiv·i·ty n. pl. fes·tiv·i·ties 1. A joyous feast, holiday, or celebration; a festival. 2. The pleasure, joy, and gaiety of a festival or celebration. 3. . Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer Map: San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. Spectacular Box: Van Nuys highlights (See text) |
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