Thousands gather for Fayetteville's first NYE celebration in over a decade

But a record-setting rise in COVID-19 cases had the city ramping up safety measures, including requiring masks for all visitors.

“It is going to be the most spectacular thing this city has ever seen,” Cool Spring Downtown District CEO Bianca Shoneman said.

Leaders of the event said they expected as many as 10,000 people to turn out for the event.

Throughout the afternoon, organizers transformed downtown’s Festival Park into a Night Circus.

“It’s been a pretty tumultuous few years, we all know this right?” Shoneman said. “And so instead of thinking downward, we’re looking up into 2022.”

In the past seven days, Cumberland County has reported more than 409 cases per capita, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The county's case positivity rate has spiked -- more than 19% of current tests are coming back positive, the data shows. Also in the past 7 days, 41 new people were admitted to the hospital with COVID-19.

"We have our masks custom made. We are protected, we are out having some fun, ready to get lit!" said Fayetteville resident Millie Bevins.

Lit was definitely the right word to describe festival park Friday.

Thousands of families turned out to ring in the new year in Fayetteville.

To get in, they had to wear a mask. A new rule put in place by the city Thursday night amid a rise in COVID cases.

"They’re giving them out if you don’t have one which is really great," said Bevins.

Once inside, the party began, filled with food trucks, carnival games, and a 90s dance party on the main stage from 9:45 to midnight,

Starting with C+C Music Factory, All-4-One, Rob Base and finally, Coolio.

While some wanted to dance it out, others were in it for the rides.

And when the big moment came and the clock struck 12, the city raised its star into the sky, looking to keep rising into the new year.

“We felt like it was more apropos to instead of drop something, rise into the new year,” Shoneman said.

The revelers in Fayetteville said that sounds good to them.