VERSAILLES, Ky. — The decorations are coming out. A little over 24 hours from now, people will ring in the New Year across the state.

But the Omicron variant is now the dominant strain and there’s a surge in cases across the nation and here in Kentucky. That's led businesses to plan their festivities with safety at the forefront.

What You Need To Know

  • COVID-19's omicron variant is now the dominant strain

  • There’s a surge in cases across the nation and here in Kentucky

  • Businesses like the Kentucky Castle are celebrating safely this New Year's Eve

  • Last year, like many places, they had to cancel NYE celebrations

Staff at the Kentucky Castle spent their Thursday setting up for New Year’s Eve festivities.

“I love a good celebration and I think that people getting together and enjoying music and good food. I think that's something that everybody needs in their lives," said Chief Operating Officer Christie Eckerline. "And so to have that back again this year, in a safe way, is something that I’m really excited to be able to offer our community."

She said, unfortunately, last year they had to cancel the celebrations.

A 5-year-old girl celebrates her birthday dressed as a princess. (Spectrum News 1/Khyati Patel)

“It had been something that had been up in the air for a few weeks. And then if you recall last year, we had a three-week shutdown of all of our restaurants. So it was kind of during that time that we stepped back from work, you know, maybe this isn't the best route for us to go this new year. So we actually did not have an event last year,” Eckerline said.

Celebrations this year are on a much smaller scale, which includes a dinner with farm-to-table recipes, champagne toasts, music by the Jordan English Band and more.

“Two years ago, going into 2020, we had a great event," she said. "We also had Jordan English play that year and so I know from personal experience, how great their band is and how much people will enjoy them tomorrow evening."

This Friday, there will be food, music and fun for princesses and everyone else to celebrate at the castle.

Staff at the Kentucky Castle are tested for COVID-19 weekly, Eckerline said.

"That's something that we offer through Wild Health, which gives our staff peace of mind and we hope that it also makes the community and our guests feel a little more comfortable and coming here,” Eckerline said.

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