What began with the toss of a Christmas light-encrusted beach ball two years ago has mushroomed into Downtown Countdown – an evening’s worth of New Year’s Eve festivities spread out among six venues in downtown Bangor.

It’s the city’s first evening-long New Year’s Eve celebration since First Night ’85, which featured chemical-free parties at the Bangor Auditorium and behind the old Freese’s downtown department store.

But as Bangor’s year-end bash is just getting going, the city of Portland has announced that its event, New Year’s Portland, won’t take place this year for lack of sponsors, leaving only Belfast and Eastport as New Year’s Eve event hosts.

Bangor lawyer Stephen Smith got the ball rolling on a whim with his low-budget Big Apple-style ball drop.

At the stroke of midnight, he threw a big purple beach ball covered with white Christmas lights from the roof of his brick building at 26 Main St. while 200 to 300 people gawked from the square below.

Stunned by the turnout, Smith decided to put more planning into the event to make it a little bigger and better, recruiting Gov. John Baldacci and then-Mayor John Cashwell to help preside over the festivities.

The ball drop was joined by a live remote radio broadcast, drawings for prizes, and a masquerade party with the Bangor Public Library as host to mark its 100th year of providing free library service to the city’s children.

To add to the festive atmosphere, many downtown restaurants and coffee shops stayed open until just before midnight.

Attendance last year grew to an estimated 1,000 people, signaling interest in marking the new year.

To meet the growing demand, planners have put together a mix of activities for all ages and a variety of tastes.

These range from Celtic, bluegrass, classical, rock, blues and jazz performances to a road race, tailgate party, family board games, an instrument “petting zoo” and poetry readings.

“It’s exciting for Bangor to be producing a full night of activities,” said Sally Bates, a city development officer who staffs Bangor Center Corp., the producing sponsor for “Downtown Countdown.”

Husson College is serving as the founding sponsor, and business and municipal sponsors have lined up for each venue and for many of the individual activities.

The fact that local volunteers and musicians are helping didn’t hurt when it came to containing costs.

“There’s some real talent out there,” Bates said.

The activities kick off at 3 p.m. with Epic Sports’ 5K road race and are slated to wrap up by 11:30 p.m., so people can make their way to Smith’s third consecutive midnight ball drop near West Market Square.

Admission and light snacks are free, though food and beverage concession stands will be available for heartier fare.

To make venue-hopping easy, organizers have arranged free parking at the Pickering Square parking garage and rides on a BAT Community Connector bus, which will make periodic circuits among the six locations hosting major events: the Bangor Opera House, the Unitarian Universalist Church, the Hammond Street Senior Center, City Hall, Bagel Central and the Union Street Brick Church.

Can’t make it in person? Not to worry, Bates said.

Taylor Network Communications and Sephone Internet Solutions are teaming to provide live webcams for viewing the ball drop on Downtown Center Corp.’s Web site at www.DowntownBangor.com.