Shawn Ford said it felt like love in the air.
The 50-year-old had driven from Clinton with his wife, Angela, and her cousin, Tisha Smith, on Saturday to enjoy the “Night Circus: A District New Year’s Eve Spectacular” at Festival Park in downtown Fayetteville.
Like most who attended the New Year’s Eve show, Shawn Ford said he was having a good time on the damp night.
“I love it. It’s the energy. The vibe. The DJs played the right music,” he said from his seat on the park’s wet grassy lawn. “It’s a beautiful vibe. It feels like love.”
Oakland-based R&B and hip-hop trio Tony! Toni! Tone! was the night’s headlining act. The group from the days of the new jack swing made their money as they played their hits amidst the swirling lights from the stage.
Mixed into the crowd – and only adding to the circus-like theme – were stilt walkers, fire dancers and magicians.
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After all of the inclement weather of the day, things settled for the party.
The late ‘80s and early ‘90s hitmaking group delivered for those who wanted to ring in the New Year in an outdoor setting.
The seven-piece band even included a young female fiddle player, percussion and a stash of keyboards. Guitarist D’Wayne Wiggins, one of the group’s originals, proved to be a flashy Prince-like player when his leads played an appropriate role in their selection of hit songs.
As midnight neared, Tony! Toni! Tone! performed their biggest crossover Top 10 hit, “Feels Good” as the symbolic city star started its ascension into the sky via an on-site crane and the flare of fireworks had people lifting their phones for photos.
Tony! Toni! Tone! performed their beloved hits, including “It Never Rains (in Southern California),” “I’ve Been Thinking About You” and Little Walter.”
Couples danced, couples hugged and kissed, and the gathering of people from the city and surrounding area swayed in the moment as 2022 morphed into the new frontier of 2023.
“This is my music right here,” said 54-year-old Tiffany McGhie.
McGhie was standing near the stage, where people had congregated for an up-close sound and view of the hitmakers.
This marked the second year that the Cool Spring Downtown District put on a city show for New Year’s.
“I love it,” said Keyonna Smith, 30, who was working a tent on behalf of the local urban station 107.7 and its ownership Beasley Broadcast Group of Fayetteville.
“It’s so fun, it’s so fresh, it’s energetic,” she said as she swayed to the music. “The music is really different this year. We haven’t stopped jamming since I got here.’’
In addition to the music, mobile food trucks and tents offered a large selection of foods while the Immersion tent offered a Van Gogh-like experience with circus elements. The pictures danced with a splash of color.
Paulanishas Edgerton, 28, who came to work in Fayetteville from Washington State for a job with AT&T, was eating carne asada loaded fries under a tent while watching the proceedings from the Festival Park stage.
“This is really cool,” she said. “I like it, and I’ll probably come back next year, too. I think really the DJ is for me.”
Those who attended could fill their tummies with such fare as cotton candy, candy apples, burgers, wings, mini donuts and deep-fried Oreos, Snickers, Milky Way and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.
As the night progressed, the lawn filled up with hundreds of revelers.
“They did a really good job,” said Deanna Royal, 30, of Fayetteville. “I think they did a really good upgrade this year. It was a great time.”