The Merchants of Seaside invite everyone to the 5th Annual Countdown Seaside: A New Year’s Eve Celebration on December 31st. It’s a big family-friendly party featuring live entertainment, kid’s art projects, street performers and a spectacular fireworks display over the Gulf. Festivities begin at 6 p.m. and last until the last firework lights up the sky.

Additional parking will be available at WaterColor Crossings Shopping Center on County Road 395. Overflow parking will be located on the backside of the shopping center complex (on Pine Grove Circle).

Shuttle hours from WaterColor Crossings begin Monday, December 31st at 8 a.m. and last through Tuesday, January 1st at 2 a.m.

Merchants will be open from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m.

For the kids, Abrakadoodle will be on hand from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. offering unique art projects as part of the New Year’s Celebration. There’s no cost to participate in these projects, which include making celebratory noisemakers, as well as a time capsule in which families will be able to place New Year’s wishes and resolutions. Seaside will also have face painters, balloon sculptors, stilt walkers, jugglers and street magicians to get both the young and young-at-heart in the festive spirit.

Spectators will also be entertained in the final hours of 2012 by a variety of singers/ songwriters ranging from fresh Americana Rock ‘n Roll to Pop to Folk. The celebration kicks off in Seaside’s Amphitheater with a performance by Brendan James, a piano-based singer/songwriter from New Hampshire at 6 p.m., followed by the Jacob Jeffries Band, fronted by a gifted pianist that gives a refreshing taste to the music generation of today taking the stage at 8:30 p.m. Then headliner Tony Lucca, who captured America’s hearts by becoming a finalist on NBC’s The Voice earlier this year, will perform at 10:30 p.m.

At the stroke of midnight, Seaside will light up the skies over the Gulf of Mexico and welcome 2013 with its exciting fireworks display from a barge in front of Bud & Alley’s. Colorful bursts of light will be visible from the beach, as well as in Seaside Amphitheater in Central Square. A synchronized music soundtrack will be simulcast in the Amphitheater, as well as on 30A Radio (30ARadio.org or 107.1FM).

For more info, visit www.seasidefl.com or call 850-231-6106.