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LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Rain and gusty winds led to some performances being cut short and kept attendance light at downtown Los Angeles' big New Year's Eve celebration at Grand Park, officials said Sunday.
Organizers had expected about 40,000 people to attend the event, but only a little more than 6,000 showed up.
"Revelers of all ages rang in the New Year, filled with some of L.A.'s ... favorite DJs, homegrown artists and food trucks; unique art and light installations; and Grand Park NYELA's signature 3D lightshow spectacular countdown to midnight projected on the west facade of L.A.'s iconic 24-story City Hall building," Grand Park officials said.
Shortly after 11 p.m. Saturday, organizers announced that they decided to end some of the scheduled performances early, due to the rain and wind.
"Out of an abundance of caution, we have halted the performances on the Countdown Stage at Grand Park's NYELA due to heavy rains and high winds," the message said. "Please move away from this area to other parts of the event. Safety is our #1 priority and we are working with safety and security partners, including the L.A. County Office of Emergency Management. Performances will resume when conditions improve."
Performances on the Countdown Stage were hosted by KCRW-FM's Raul Campos, and included Cumbia Latin Alternative musician San Cha, electronic jazz musicians Mark de Clive-Lowe & Friends, dance troupes Versa-Style Dance Company and Kati Hernandez & Kimbambula Cuban Dance and Music Ensemble & Cimafunk, the Cuban musician known for known for blending Afro-Cuban sounds and rhythms with global funk, hip-hop and soul.
NYELA is billed as the West Coast's largest free New Year's Eve event.
It was held in person this year for the first time since 2019.
No major incidents or arrests were reported.