Visit Music City announced that in order to gain entry to the Jack Daniel’s New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash! festivities Friday night, proof of either a negative COVID test or vaccination will be required.

Officials were careful to note that proof of vaccination was voluntary. “This is not an attempt to compel proof of vaccination. All individuals 11+ are required to adhere to this requirement,” the website stated.

Last week, Nashville Mayor John Cooper reminded people of the negative COVID test needed to attend the event.

“@visitmusiccity is working hard to make Nashville’s New Year’s Eve as safe as possible, while still celebrating together. Everyone wishing to enter the event site at the Bicentennial Mall will be required to show proof of negative test or volunteer proof of COVID-19 vaccination,” Cooper tweeted.

The downtown event is one of the many offered in Nashville for the holiday, and is free to anyone to attend. A special New Years’ Eve package is available with tickets priced at $50 along with a required one-night stay at a participating hotel. The event will be sponsored by Jack Daniels and will be broadcast live on CBS Television Network, and available to stream on-demand on Paramount+.

Included in the New Year’s Eve package are hand warmers, Nashville koozie, a Music City magnet, locally-made popcorn, and an exclusive 2021 event t-shirt and limited edition poster.

The host for the show will be Bobby Bones and the co-host is Rachel Smith. The headliners for the event listed are Dierks Bentley, Zac Brown Band, and Sam Hunt, along with additional artists Ingrid Andress, BRELAND, and Darius Rucker.

Visit Music City said that there will be 50 live performances from various locations across Downtown Nashville, including acts from Lower Broadway’s honky-tonks, bars, and clubs that will be part of the broadcast. A second stage will be located at the Skydeck on Broadway, located at the Assembly Food Hall.

The second stage will require a ticket to attend and will have entertainers Lady A, Riley Green, Chris Janson, Jon Pardi, and Carly Pearce performing. Assembly Food Hall said while tickets are sold out, that they originally sold for $175. The event will only be open to persons over 21.

The event will begin at 4:30 p.m. on December 31, for the 13th year at the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park. There are a set of rules for the night, some include no weapons, coolers with outside alcohol, no chairs, and no cameras or recorders.

The program will continue into New Years’ Day after 12:30 a.m.

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Morgan Nicole Veysey is a reporter for The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow her on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected]