This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

The giant MirrorBall — the centerpiece of Salt Lake City's EVE WinterFest Celebration — will make its descent at midnight on Thursday.

Before the big event, spend a few hours bouncing, throwing or gaming inside the Salt Palace Convention Center or visit one of the 10 participating venues in downtown Salt Lake City. Options include the Clark Planetarium, Off Broadway Theatre, Broadway Centre Cinemas, Discovery Gateway, The Leonardo, Gallivan Center, Temple Square, City Creek Center and UMOCA.

The Downtown Alliance, which sponsors EVE, is offering expanded family hours on the last day of the event, opening at the Salt Palace at 3 p.m.

That gives guests more time to experience the new GameRoom where they can play oversized games including checkers, Jenga, Yahtzee and dominoes or participate in a giant Minecraft video game. Laptops will be provided, but guests also can use smartphones or personal tablets to play the popular 3D video game.

EVE-goers won't want to miss old favorites like BounceTown, a room filled with inflatable bounce houses and slides; the BallRoom where they can bounce, kick or throw one of the 2,016 plastic beach balls that will be inflated for the event.

There also will be live music and dance performances on the World Stage and Big Band Stages. The Thursday night headliner is the Caleb Chapman Crescent Super Band. Food also will be available.

Before midnight, head to the south plaza to watch and countdown as the MirrorBall descends at midnight.

It won't be easy; the orb weighs 2,433 pounds and has a circumference of more than 60 feet. The massive installation was created by Utah artist Derek Dyer using 1,200 mirrors — each one a 12-inch square.

While cities in other countries have used large-scale light shows with disco balls for celebrations, Salt Lake City's MirrorBall is considered the largest mirrored sphere in the United States. —

EVE WinterFest

When • Thursday, Dec. 31, 3 p.m. to midnight

Where • 10 venues in downtown Salt Lake City, including the Salt Palace, Clark Planetarium, Off Broadway Theatre, Broadway Centre Cinemas, Discovery Gateway, The Leonardo, Gallivan Center, Temple Square, City Creek Center and UMOCA

Cost • Single-day tickets $15 for adults and $5 for children.

Details • eveslc.com