Celina Patterson and Breanna O'Neil [Photo: Kaila Jones]

The barrier island was the place to be as Vero Beach residents and visitors alike said farewell to 2019 and welcomed in what many hope will be the roaring ’20s.

The fun bubbled over on the beach, as revelers dined and then toasted in the New Year poolside at Costa d’Este Beach Resort & Spa or danced the night away at the Vero Beach Hotel & Spa’s Cobalt Bar. A younger crowd gathered at such places as Grind + Grape and the Bungalow Bar to say “Cheers!” to 2020.

Clad in their New Year’s finery, complete with blinking glasses and shimmering headgear, some folks got in several thousand steps as they traversed from one hot spot to the next along Ocean Drive.

Those wishing to go farther afield visited the New Year Escape Room at the Indian River State College Brackett Library during the day, or laced up their skates and spun circles around the outgoing year at the Skate Factory, while all of the mainland breweries and restaurants had plenty of fun on tap as well.

No matter where they gathered with friends and family to ring in the New Year, the overall consensus was that while 2019 would always hold some nostalgic memories, it was time for everyone to turn their sights toward an even better 2020.