Fireworks will light the sky over downtown Macon at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve, ushering in the Cherry Blossom Festival’s 30th year.

The 2012 festival promises a star-studded spectacular of its own.

Organizers are luring nationally known bands for the gala, adding a night of Broadway tunes and hosting Barbara Eden, who will headline an author’s luncheon at Idle Hour Country Club on the Tuesday of the festival along with famed interior designer Carleton Varney.

Eden will be signing copies of her book, “Jeannie Out of the Bottle,” memoirs of her days living at Maj. Anthony Nelson’s fictional home in 1960s sitcom land in “I Dream of Jeannie.”

Varney, who has designed festival scarves and ties in years past, published “Mr. Color: The Greenbrier and Other Decorating Adventures.” The book includes more than 300 pictures that paint his biography as an innovator with surprising color schemes and dazzling decor.

Macon native and artist Steve Penley will create this year’s featured art print.

Broadway in Bloom, a dinner cabaret, will make its debut at the Armory Ballroom on the Wednesday night of the festival. J.J. Hobbs, Victor Ryan Robertson and C.J. Warren will be performing show tunes and a sing-along.

The festival is also planning a comedy show for Friday, March 23, but the details have yet to be ironed out. The same night, the Coleman Hill Jazz Concert features Ken Trimmins.

The Middle Georgia Concert Band will present “Music for the World” at Wesleyan College on the festival’s first Sunday night with musical selections honoring Macon’s sister cities and the year’s featured countries.

On the first night of the festival, the gala is undergoing major changes.

“We want the gala to be the place to be for the locals that opening weekend,” said Stacy Campbell, the festival’s director of sales and marketing.

Aramark will be catering Asian fare, and Japanese drummers will be entertaining on stage as well as performing in the parade Sunday and at other events.

“It’ll be a fun element,” Campbell said.

The identity of the featured bands won’t be released until contracts are signed, but Campbell assures they are pursuing famous names for the dance.

To kick off the excitement on New Year’s Eve, the festival is holding its third annual Cherry Blossom ball drop in Cherry Street Plaza in front of Terminal Station.

Zambelli Fireworks will mark the beginning of 2012 in Macon with a pyrotechnic presentation directly over the old train station. Through the help of sponsors -- Georgia Power, Cox Communications and Miller-Motte Technical College -- the festival was able to offer the free midnight fireworks show for the first time.

DJ Laura Starling will be spinning tunes and encouraging crowd participation in a variety of fun and games.

Campbell envisions couples strolling among bars and restaurants or grabbing libations from vendors on the street until everyone comes together in the plaza for the countdown to 2012.

Television stations Fox 24 and ABC 16 plan to televise live updates from the festivities.

“If we have people who aren’t able to get out because of the weather or something, they will still be able to see what’s going on in their hometown,” Campbell said.

Festival CEO and President Karen Jordan Lambert, who announced her resignation recently, will oversee her final festival in 2012.

The festival board is expected to begin actively searching for a replacement after the holidays, Campbell said.

To contact writer Liz Fabian, call 744-4303.