12/29/2011 - New Years Eve, Springs Style.

It's that time of year again. New Years Eve is fast approaching in just a couple of days. How will you be spending your last day of 2011? For me, we will spend it at a friends house and celebrate the coming of another year. One more year of health, wealth and family.

One tradition of the Springs that we have always enjoyed is the fireworks that come off of the peak at midnight. Thanks to the AdAmAn (pronounced add a man) club, we have been able to enjoy fireworks for the last 89 years. Started in 1922, five good friends started a club that was intended to provide something new for New Years versus the same old boring parties. Imagine if you will, a frozen mountain over 14 thousand feet tall, and five guys with very little cold weather gear, climbing up the mountain in frigid cold temps with massive snow drifts all along the way. Once up there they lit a fire in the summit house and waited for the midnight hour by singing songs and eating traditional foods. At midnight they lit off their flares they had brought with them and some fireworks as well as made a giant fire of old railroad tracks for all of Colorado Springs to see. Of course this made for some concerned citizens but became the tradition that we now have today.

Take some time this Saturday night to look up to the Peak and watch the fireworks at midnight. Think back to the early 1900's and be thankful for what we have today. No matter how you celebrate your New Years Eve, make it one full of family, tradition, and good times.

Never drive drunk and always remember that your friends and family need you throughout 2012.

Happy New Years Colorado Springs.