Organizations in the Austin area have until Sept. 4 to propose ideas for entertainment at the upcoming Austin's New Year event.

Produced by the City of Austin, the annual New Year's Eve celebration is expected to attract more than 20,000 attendees to Auditorium Shores at 5 p.m. on Dec. 31. Previous acts have included musicians, sword swallowers, fire dancers, clowns, Chinese dance groups, theater companies and belly dancers, according to ANY Coordinator Kevin Shaw.

"It's a great way to spend New Year's Eve," he said. "We received around 30 proposals last year. With the success of the event last year, we are anticipating twice as many proposals this year."

The city's Cultural Arts Division is encouraging visual and performing artists, musicians, and interactive entertainment companies to come up with family-friendly, alcohol-free ANY attractions and email a one-page proposal with contact information and a suggested budget to Shaw at [email protected].

City staff will review submissions based on artistic merit, compatibility with other proposals, feasibility and budget, Shaw said. The number of selected submissions will be based on available city funding.

Artist information meetings will provide more information Aug. 16 and Aug. 28 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the Cultural Arts Division offices, 201 E. Second St. More details are available at www.austintexas.gov/department/austins-new-year.