Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - As the ball drops to ring in 2026, a couple of eateries nearby have been preparing for big parties this Wednesday night.
Daniel Lettieri of Streetlight Brasserie says preparations have been going on for months.
"Food preparation, drink preparation, staff, cost analysis, working with Buffalo Place and the people who put on the ball drop, because we are directly underneath it," said Lettieri in an interview with WBEN.
He says a lot of people sponsor the events because of his direct access to the ball drop, so working with them is a big thing.
"We like to start in August, September, get the word out there. We sell out every year," Lettieri said. "Usually sells out in November because of all the preparation. And now it's just blowing up the balloons, putting our our best outfits on, and enjoying the company of all our guests."
Lettieri says his party is in two phases. First is a gala with 225 people, which is already sold out.
"Then immediately following, we have an all night party, and that goes into 8:30 in the morning, and we'll expect another 1,000-2,000," Lettieri noted.
He says it's a boost to the new year.
Big Ditch is also hosting a New Year's Eve party, also near the ball drop. Matt Kahn says it's a process that's also months in the making.
"Between the food menu, we do special beers, setting up the ticketing, doing the staffing promotion, so usually it takes us months and months to plan this event," said Kahn with WBEN. "The good thing is that, because we've done it for so many years in a row, it it really does work like clockwork. Our events director has been doing this for many years in a row. So it goes very, very smoothly. It's executed really well. We have balloons in the space, we have party favors. There's all sorts of special things we do. We've been doing it for so many years. It usually goes pretty smoothly."
He says he didn't immediately realize how big the location and the ball drop was until a couple of years after moving downtown.
"I think it wasn't until we were open for a couple years we realized how big the event is for the City of Buffalo itself brings in, obviously, several thousand people into the city every year. We've actually sponsored the ball drop itself for several years. Response was great this year. So we're happy to give some money back to keep the event happening every year. It's been very important event for us financially. But again, we just love having it. It's just a very warm and happy feeling for everybody in the city of Buffalo, and just, it's just a ton of fun," Kahn added.
Kahn says the party will be a four-hour buffet of elevated food items and special drinks customers don't normally get to see. A similar party is taking place at Big Ditch's location in Lockport.