As the sun sets and dusk starts to turn to darkness on New Year’s Eve, Belfast goes through an enchanting transformation. Thousands of people fill the streets downtown. The storefronts and streetlights start to sparkle and anticipation fills the air.

“It’s a very spectacular, magical thing that happens,” Mary Mortier said of the New Year’s by the Bay event in Belfast.

Since its inception five years ago, New Year’s by the Bay has doubled in size. This year, the chemical-free, family-oriented event will feature more than 70 different performances, a Scrabble tournament, curling demonstrations, screenings of classic movie shorts and cartoons, ecumenical services, belly dancing, five community dances, fireworks at midnight and a late-night breakfast.

“It will be geared toward people having a good time, safely, without spending a lot of money,” Mortier said.

Admission buttons, which cover all events, cost $10 for adults, $5 for children and are free for children under 5. The festivities begin at 3 p.m. with free, continuously running movies at the Colonial Theatre and horse and carriage rides leaving from the boathouse at the corner of Front and Commercial streets and the parking lot across from the police station. Entertainment starts at 5 p.m. at various venues (see schedule), and Maine musicians Paul Sullivan and David Mallett will headline the event.

Visitors can dance to the rhythm of Flash in the Pans steel drum band, get into the swing (and jazz) with Fascinatin’ Rhythm or sway to the oldies with DJ Matthew Bixby. There also will be a teen dance with Bixby from 9 to 11 p.m.

Even though all the dancing, music, food and fun are enough to wear anybody out, Mortier says most people last until midnight.

“Even though Mainers tend to be early to bed, early to rise, we have an awful lot of people who are still up to watch the fireworks at midnight.”

Admission buttons are available at all participating downtown venues. For information, call 338-5870 or visit www.nybb.org.