Ring in 2020 at the Quality Inn ballroom in New Kensington

Welcome 2020 in style.

The grand ballroom inside the Quality Inn in New Kensington will be dressed up for a festive New Year’s Eve celebration.

The event has returned after several years’ hiatus thanks to Brenda and Daniel Leo of Leechburg, owners of the food and beverage and banquet facilities including Leo’s Sports Page Bar & Grill, who took over nearly two years ago. The hotel is separately owned.

The couple wanted to bring the party back to the Allegheny-Kiski Valley.

And they wanted to do it up big, starting with bringing to the stage New Kensington-based The Shiners, a group that offers a “unique brand of country and rock ’n’ roll.” Members are Rob Keller (guitar, vocals), Jim “Slim” Varhola (guitar, vocals), Larry Antinozzi (bass, guitar, vocals ) and Dave Parshall (drums).

“We are so happy to have The Shiners playing,” says Daniel Leo. “They are really well known and really, really talented.”

Varhola says he is looking forward to the event because the band feeds off the crowd, and that’s what a New Year’s Eve celebration is all about. Live music lends itself to an experience that’s interactive — and both the band and the audience are part of the performance, he says.

“We play different songs, so you won’t hear the same thing all the time,” says Varhola.

Guests can enjoy a dinner of beef tip burgundy, baked chicken, penne pasta with pepperoni sauce, parsley potatoes, noodles, vegetable, tossed salad, roll and butter, assorted desserts, hot and iced tea and coffee.

The midnight buffet menu includes hot dogs, kielbasa, sauerkraut and mashed potatoes, coffee, hot and iced tea.

Daniel Leo credits his wife Brenda with making everything on the menu, which adds to the evening’s experience.

There will be a cash bar, along with plenty of noisemakers, hats and a champagne toast at midnight.

“I think people like to celebrate New Year’s Eve, and 2020 will be special year for sure, because it’s different,” Daniel Leo says.

“We want people to come and relax and have a good time.”

The 10,000-square-foot banquet space is a wonderful place to listen to live music, Daniel Leo says. It can accommodate 700-800 people.

Lighting and sound will be managed by Coleen and Jonathan Fleischman, owners of Strobe Lighting and Sound located in O’Hara.

Look for a festive atmosphere, says Coleen Fleischman. It won’t be too loud, so guests can talk and hear one another as well as the amazing music of The Shiners. And look for bold and bright lighting and even some fog.

“We make a big production out of every event we do, because that adds to the experience for the guests,” Fleischman says. “New Year’s Eve is a special evening for people, and this ballroom will look magnificent. This evening will be like a red carpet event with everyone dressed up and enjoying the food and music, and we are glad to be a part of it.”

Three packages are available. Guests can come at 6 p.m. for dinner, entertainment and midnight buffet, or at 9:30 p.m. for entertainment and midnight buffet.

For a third option, add a room for the night at the Quality Inn with continental breakfast the next day.

Reservation deadline is Dec. 27. No tickets will be sold at the door.

Tickets start at $40.

Details: 724-335-9171, 412-667-2260 or facebook.com/Leos-Sports-PageQuality-Inn-New-Kensington-PA-