CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- About 30 musicians and bands will perform throughout Charleston during the city's annual New Year's Eve celebration, GoodNight.

This will be the 18th year for the party.

"It provides for families a wonderful evening [to spend] together and [enjoy] great entertainment," said GoodNight Chairwoman Alice Anne Robertson. "All the musicians are the best of the best of our area, and they donate their time and their talents to provide this wonderful evening."

The alcohol-free event will start at 6 p.m. Dec. 31. at various venues throughout the city. Each of the performances last about 45 minutes.

The event will feature performances by the B-Ties Dixieland Band, the Martin Luther King Jr. Male Chorus, the Appalachian Children's Chorus, the Shin Strings and many others.

Robertson said the event offers something for everyone.

"A lot of the places have standing room only," she said. "There's such a huge variety available -- all different kinds of music, and dance with the River City Youth Ballet Ensemble."

This is Robertson's second year as chairwoman of the event, after the previous organizers stepped down, Deputy Mayor Rod Blackstone said. The transition has been seamless, he said.

"Eighteen years of a community celebration that's family-friendly and alcohol-free," Blackstone said. "[It's] a really fun way to kick off New Year's Eve for people of all ages in Charleston."

Trolleys provided by the city of Charleston will make a loop of the GoodNight locations beginning at 6 p.m. Parking for the event will be free in the Virginia Street garage next to City Hall.

For more information, call the GoodNight 2012 Information Hotline at 304-744-1400.

The schedule:

Baptist Temple:

6 p.m. and 8 p.m.: Presby Pickers

7 p.m. and 9 p.m.: Appalachian Celtic Consort

Capitol Theater:

6 p.m.: Mountain State Brass Band

7 p.m.: B-Ties Dixieland Band

8 p.m.: Charleston Metro Band

9 p.m.: Gospel Brass Band

Civic Center Little Theater:

6 p.m. and 8 p.m.: River City Youth Ballet Ensemble

7 p.m.: The Rev. Jimmie McKnight

9 p.m.: Dell Allen

Christ Church United Methodist:

6 p.m. and 8 p.m.: womanSong

7 p.m. and 9 p.m.: Shin Strings

First Presbyterian Church:

6 p.m. and 8 p.m.: Martin Luther King Jr. Male Chorus

7 p.m.: Appalachian Children's Chorus

9 p.m.: Craig Hinchman Trio

Kanawha United Presbyterian Church:

6 p.m. and 8 p.m.: West Virginia Youth Symphony

7 p.m. and 9 p.m.: A Classical Trio

Riverview Presbyterian Church:

6 p.m.: Cheryl Anderson Plear

7 p.m.: David Loyd Trio

8 p.m. and 9 p.m.: Almost Heaven Dulcimer Club

Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral:

7 p.m. and 9 p.m.: Elegance of English Hand Bells

8 p.m.: Scott and Colin Milam

St. John's Episcopal Church:

6 p.m. and 8 p.m.: Charleston Civic Chorus

7 p.m. and 9 p.m.: The O'Daugherty Family Singers

St. Mark's United Methodist Church:

6 p.m. and 8 p.m.: Almost Heaven Chorus

7 p.m. and 9 p.m.: Kanawha Kordsmen Barbershop Chorus

St. Mark's United Methodist Church Chapel:

6 p.m. and 8 p.m.: Jennie Allinder, Jim Mullins and Friends

7 p.m. and 9 p.m.: Madison Gospel Quartet

Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church:

6 p.m. and 8 p.m.: Jonathan Tucker with Mark Scarpelli

7 p.m. and 9 p.m.: Ryan Hardiman with Mark Scarpelli

Reach Lori Kersey at lori.ker...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1240.