By Chelsea Vance
The Selma Times-Journal

Selma will start a new tradition this New Year’s with the city’s first butterfly drop.

A night full of activities will be held at the St. James Hotel, including food, drinks, music, the Alabama football game and a dance competition with Selma Mayor George Evans.

St. James general manager Mark Peterson sat down about two and a half weeks ago to plan a New Year’s celebration that the people of Selma would enjoy.

“We’re going to have a lot of activities planned for the entire afternoon going into the evening,” Peterson said.

The night will begin at 6 p.m. with happy hour and a step show.

There will also be televisions for anyone who wants to watch the Alabama-Michigan State playoff game.

“We will have televisions set up in the ballroom and the troop room for people who want to come out and start the celebration early,” Peterson said.

Starting at 9:30 p.m., there will be live music from local artists, including country, pop, blues and contemporary.

The highlight of the night will be a contest called Can You Dance Better than the Mayor from 11 to 11:30 p.m. For $1 guests will be entered into a drawing to be in a dance competition against Mayor George Evans. All proceeds go to help disadvantaged children.

At midnight, a paper mache butterfly will be dropped and there will be a toast.

City of Selma Project Manager Henry Thompson has worked with Peterson and Councilwoman Angela Benjamin and Sonya McCall in planning the event.

Thompson expects a big turn out this year and is excited to see what attendance will be like.

“I think it is going to be great for this community to give the opportunity to have something within their own neighborhood. You don’t have to go to Mobile or Georgia or anywhere else. We can enjoy ourselves bringing in the New Year right here in Selma,” Thompson said.

Peterson said that the butterfly drop for 2017 will be even better.

“We’re hoping that everyone has a lot of fun, and then we can spend 364 days getting ready for the next year,” Peterson said. “We are really trying to make it as big and special as possible.”