The city's longest-running and most popular local New Year's Eve show will once again showcase the spirit of Chicago. With sizzling dance routines along with entertainment by music sensation and Chicago's own Jeremih, the special will feature revelers from some of Chicago's most fun party locations including Carnivale and Old Crow Smokehouse.
Hosts Val Warner, Ryan Chiaverini, Terrell Brown, Cheryl Scott and Hosea Sanders will bring the party to Chicagoland, Saturday, Dec. 31, beginning at 11:25 p.m.
"COUNTDOWN CHICAGO," the winner of three Chicago Midwest Emmy Awards, was one of the most-watched local programs in Chicago in last year, and 2023 promises to be no exception.
Val Warner, Ryan Chiaverini and Hosea Sanders will team up at ABC7 studios to capture the anticipation and excitement the New Year brings. Joining them in studio will be popular Chicago DJ Carl Jenkins, who will amplify the fun with great music. Sanders will also introduce viewers to Dion Dawson and his Dion's Chicago Dream, a charity that tackles food insecurity in Englewood by providing a "freedge" (free fridge) stocked with fresh, free food.
In what has now become a beloved Chicago tradition, Terrell Brown and Cheryl Scott will open the show with their annual spectacular dance performance. This year will showcase one of their biggest and most complex productions as they perform with 60 dancers from Chicago's Puzzle Box Dance Studio at the iconic Field Museum.
This is the fifth year Brown and Scott have paired up to dance their way into the new year.
WATCH: What goes into Terrell, Cheryl's fantastic New Year's dance numbers?
What goes into Terrell and Cheryl's fantastic New Year's dance numbers?
RELATED: Join the Countdown Chicago Dance Party!
GRAMMY-nominated singer, songwriter and rapper Jeremih, born and raised in Chicago, will electrify the crowds performing his hits, surrounded by dancers at the stunning rooftop location at 167 Green in Fulton Market District.
Brown and Scott will bring the energy of the Latin mix cabaret show at the colorful Carnivale restaurant. Chicago media personalities Kenzie and Roman will be having fun with the country vibe and the big party scene at Old Crow Smokehouse in Wrigleyville featuring live music of Scott DuBose.
ABC7 will be ringing in the New Year with Chicago's grand finale, New Year's Eve fireworks at midnight.
Dec. 31, 1991, marked the beginning of ABC7's annual broadcast of New Year's Eve specials.
Justyna Syska and Terrell Brown are executive producers of "ABC7 PRESENTS: COUNTDOWN CHICAGO 2023."
About ABC7/WLS-TV Chicago
ABC7/WLS-TV Chicago is the No. 1 local news source and most-watched television station in Chicago. With top-rated daily newscasts spanning decades and the largest social media presence in the market with more than 2.6 million Facebook followers, ABC7 Eyewitness News provides breaking news, investigative reporting, weather, politics, traffic and sports in the multiplatform space toChicago, the suburbs and northwest Indiana. Named Best News Operation by the Associated Press for four consecutive years, ABC 7 Eyewitness News produces "Chicago Proud," a series of features that spotlights everyday heroes in and around Chicago.The station also produces the highest-rated New Year's Eve special in Chicago, holiday kickoff special "The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival," syndicated to a national audience, as well as the award-winning program series "Our Chicago," which showcases the city's diversity and highlights contributions in the Black, Hispanic, Asian, LGBTQ+ communities, among others.Every Friday, Windy City Weekend, entertains while giving Chicagoans everything they need to know about what's happening in the city. ABC 7 is the only Chicago station producing and broadcasting parades representing Chicago's rich cultural history. In addition to producing town halls focused on current social issues, the station has a long and proud tradition of broadcasting political candidate debates keeping Chicago's electorate informed.ABC7's outreach efforts include annual partnerships with the Red Cross for life-saving blood drives, one of the biggest one-day drives in the country and, most recently, spearheading an effort to raise more than $1.5 million for area food pantries.