Mirabeau Park offers New Year’s Eve packages

It’s New Year’s Eve. The magic hour.

The hour when Dick Clark (or this year’s fill-in, Regis Philbin) drops the ball on New York City. The hour of Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians. The hour when Harry finally ‘fessed up to Sally.

For whatever reason, oh last-minute Romeo, you are in need of a party destination lest you ring in the new year with onion dip made from powdered soup mix and a bottle of cheap champagne left over from, well, you can’t remember, but it’s been in the back of the fridge since the last Ice Age.

You need a reason to get dressed up and dance under the light from a chandelier, to music made by actual, live musicians and your real-life significant other in your arms.

You’re in luck.

Spokane Valley’s own Mirabeau Park Hotel will throw its annual New Year’s Eve Party – think of it as reveling made easy. And made safe.

The hotel offers three packages that include a place to sleep after the confetti has fallen and the final echoes of Auld Lang Syne have faded away.

“I’ve only been here for six months, but I’ve heard stories about the New Year’s Eve parties here,” the hotel’s assistant catering manager, Pam Shelden, said. “The theme changes every year, depending on the kind of music the live band plays. This year, we have the Kelly Hughes Band, and they play a lot of different kinds of music, but for the most part, it’s country music.”

Tickets to the party, and the party only, are $15 per person in advance, $20 per person at the door – call 924-9000 for reservations (and check www.mirabeauparkhotel.com for details) However, each of the packages includes two passes to the party, party favors, entry in the several raffles that will take place throughout the night, and a champagne toast at midnight – and most importantly, a late checkout New Year’s Day.

For $99 and $129, the VIP Silver Package includes a deluxe or standard guest room. At $249 – the VIP Gold Package – you get a premium guest room, four drink tickets per couple and a dinner buffet for two. At $299 – the VIP Platinum Package – you get an executive guest room, eight drink tickets per couple, and a breakfast buffet for two in addition to the dinner buffet.

You can relax, ring in the New Year, sing Auld Lang Syne at midnight and not have to worry about driving under the influence of reveling.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.