MIAMI – An iconic part of Miami’s New Year’s Eve celebration will make a return this year.
The hoisting of the Big Orange at the InterContinental Miami hotel in Downtown Miami has been a big part of ringing in the New Year for Miamians for more than three decades.
Local 10 News spoke to Steve “Mr. Neon” Carpenter, the creator of the “La Gran Naranja” last week and he said “It’s a big change from yesterday to today. It’s happening.”
On Thursday, Carpenter shared some of the steps in setting up Big Orange to make sure it stays intact.
“We have to check all the neon checks and all the wiring if you don’t get all the pieces out. There are skids to go on the back to slide up the building and there’s a lot of little things that we have to do,” said Carpenter. “If you build it right the first time then you’re not gonna have problems.”
“We compete with New York. They do the apple; we do the orange. It’s free to come out and having the Big Orange back is fantastic,” he added.
The Big Orange is expected to be installed Thursday afternoon at the InterContinental Miami hotel on N. Biscayne Blvd.
Last Thursday, City of Miami Mayor Francis X. Suarez also announced its triumphant return to South Florida.
“I am proud to continue to support the installation of this community tradition. The Big Orange not only has been a part of our New Year’s (NYE) celebration for more than 30 years, but it is an attraction that the thousands of residents and visitors that participate in our NYE Bash look forward to enjoying every year.”
Monty Trainer, Chairman of the Greater Miami Host Committee, credited Suarez and a development group for its return.
“Number one it was Mayor Suarez, the Downtown Development Authority, and of course, the Intercontinental Hotel has been so great for so many years, and I have to thank them,” he said.
The Big Orange rise was canceled in 2021 after Carpenter and his staff tested positive for COVID-19, but thanks to the Miami Downtown Development Authority, City of Miami and the Greater Miami Host Committee, it’s ready for a dazzling return where it will await crowds celebrating the New Year in downtown Miami.
“It took a lot of partnership communication, but definitely the passion that we feel for downtown Miami to get it together and we made it happen,” said Ivonne Berrios, COO & CFO of Downtown Development Authority.
Event organizers say there are still more preparations that need to be done and developers will be testing the lights sometime next week.
The New Year’s Eve event at Bayfront Park is free and will also feature a fireworks show, a live free concert and a countdown celebration.
Guests should RSVP for their free tickets, by clicking on this link.