People Celebrate New Year’s on the Coast in Style

2015 is upon us and lots of people across the Coast were celebrating Wednesday night. News 25 caught up with some tourists and locals to see how they rang in the New Year.

Champagne, lights, fireworks, and even prayer: these are just a few ways some people welcomed in the New Year on the Coast. April Buchanan, a tourist from St. Louis, Missouri, says, "We are meeting up with some friends and some family tonight at the Beau Rivage and we’re going to bring in the New Year in style."

Antonio Maddox, a local resident, says, "Maybe gamble a little bit, have fun, and party until the game tomorrow."

Nino Sirois, a tourist from Massachusetts, says, "We’re coming for the casinos. We want to win some money for the New Year, have a little fun, drink some cocktails. We have a big group together, so hopefully it’s going to be a good one."

Some people prefer to keep their night a little more low key. Tiagra Richard, a tourist from Louisiana, says, "We wanted to enjoy the beach, especially for the New Year, see some fireworks, and just kind of relax a little bit, ring in the New Year peaceful."

Some Gulf Coast residents will be spending their New Year’s in the Big Easy. Brandon Thomas, another local resident, says, "Plans for ringing in the New Year will probably be going down to Bourbon Street, drink a little bit, bring in the New Year the right way."

Some New Orleans residents chose to celebrate on the Coast. Erin Farr, a tourist from New Orleans, says, "To ring in the New Year and to celebrate. We’re from New Orleans and wanted something a little low key. So that’s why we came here, just to get away from the crowd in New Orleans."

While most went into 2015 with a big party, others did so with prayer. Jakavious Pickett, Senior Pastor at Praise Temple Baptist Church, says, "We’re just going to have a great celebration service. We’re combining with Freedom Christian Center and we’re having a unity service. We want to usher in the New Year. Our motto is that we are better together so when we unite as one, we can really accomplish what God has in store for us."

So whether you were sipping champagne, enjoying the fireworks on the beach, or praying in the New Year, have a good one!