Cit-Times….Chalk it up to the Grinch – Downtown Countdown, the city-sponsored family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebration, has been canceled. And the annual fireworks show is also in jeopardy, unless the city can find a sponsor to cover the $20,000 tab.

The Dec. 31 event, produced by Asheville Parks and Recreation, is being dropped due to low attendance, the possibility of bad weather and ongoing downtown construction.

Downtown Countdown grew out of the much larger First Night Asheville celebration, which featured several dozen performances at venues all over the city. That event was discontinued in 2003. Last year’s Downtown Countdown Downtown Countdown featured a battle of the bands and a fireworks show.OAS_AD(’ArticleFlex_1′);

Event organizers will do research to decide the future of a city New Year’s Eve celebration. Meanwhile, the department is searching for a business sponsor for a fireworks show this year. Any business interested in the sponsorship should contact Asheville’s festivals director Melissa Porter before Nov. 20 at 259-5689.