If dancing the night away New Year’s Eve isn’t enough, you’ll have another chance the next day.

The Nash County Visitors Bureau is sponsoring Shaggin’ For The Troops parties on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 to promote local tourism, raise money for military members and their families and show people a good time, said Faye Cahoon, chairwoman of the organizing committee.

“A lot of times for New Year’s Eve people go out of town. We felt like since it fell on a Thursday night we could do a back-to-back two-night event to celebrate,” Cahoon said.

The fun kicks off at 9 p.m. Dec. 31 at the Gateway Convention Center with the “Rock in 2010” New Year’s Eve party, said Lisa Ferguson, the center’s catering director. The event will go to 12:30 a.m. and include a cash bar, party favors, heavy hors d’oeuvres and music by DJ Ricky Viverette. Tickets are $55 per couple and $35 for one person.

The New Year’s Day party will be from 7 to 11 p.m. in Nash Community College’s Brown Auditorium, Ferguson said. The Coastline Band will play beach and other dancer-friendly music. There also will be a cash bar, party favors and heavy hors d’oeuvres. Tickets are $20 each.

Two-day tickets are being sold for $85 per couple or $50 per person.

Profits from ticket sales and 50-50 raffles both nights will go to Operation Homefront, a nonprofit organization that provides emergency assistance for military troops and their families, Cahoon said.

“More and more of our troops are going overseas. North Carolina is a state that has so many military bases that we get hit really hard. A lot of families get left behind,” Cahoon said.

Organizers also hope the events will stimulate the local tourism economy, which is slow this time of year, Ferguson said. The visitors bureau has arranged for special hotel packages and reduced rates for the Northgreen Golf Course and the Rocky Mount Children’s Museum and Science Center for ticket holders.

Tickets are available through the visitors bureau or at rockymounttravel.com/shag.html. No tickets will be sold at the door.

Guests must be 21 years or older.

For details, call 972-5080.