As time rolled towards a new year Saturday night, dozens of people spent their last hours of 2005 celebrating it downtown style.

On North Washington Street, some danced to the sounds of "Hey Macarena" ringing from the patio of Under the Texas Sun as the shadows of club lights and a disco ball flashed in the paved streets.

Around the square, skaters made their final spins around the Wonderland of Lights outdoors ice skating rink and pedestrians stopped in their path to hear the late Ray Charles sing his rendition of "America" on a big screen TV.

"We just expect everyone to come out and enjoy the labor volunteers have done downtown," said Bo Ellis, an organizer for festivities. He said downtown merchants like Under the Texas Sun and Weisman Center paid for disc jockey Kyle Wallace to provide the entertainment.

Weisman Center also provided light snacks, including hot dogs, shrimp cocktail, cheese, and crackers, to eat.

"This is a good kickoff to 2006," Ellis said.

Wallace, responsible for Saturday night's tunes, thought so too. This was his first time spending New Year's Eve in Marshall.

"I'm new to the area," the Grand Saline native said. "It's wonderful to spend my New Year's in my new town."

Peggy Bedingfield of Lone Oak, who was dancing to the beat outside of the wine shop, said she and her college friend of about 20 years Tina Kelley and Ms. Kelley's mother, Mable Kelley, decided to spend their New Year's Eve together.