Party hats were the norm and noisemakers were the right accessory as Lawrence residents ushered in 2003 with plenty of fervor Tuesday night.

Music blared while champagne flowed at several area bars and restaurants looking to cash in on the last few moments of 2002, and the city’s party-goers let their hair down to celebrate the new year.

At The Bottleneck, 737 N.H., the crowd was treated to three independent acts in The Anniversary, The Gadjits and Ghosty.

“I’m here to see the band, and I’m hanging out with friends,” said Travis Ball, Lawrence. “I don’t always get to do that on New Year’s, so this is a pretty special one right here.”

Even before the first act took the stage, Kelly Rodriguez, manager at The Bottleneck, said she expected a packed house full of festive patrons.

“It’s a bigger celebration at New Year’s,” she said. “This band usually turns out pretty well, and we should have about 400 people in here tonight. But you never know, it’s New Year’s, so it could be more.”

The bar’s entrance was already congested at 9 p.m.

Inside, The Bottleneck had champagne on ice for $12 per bottle and hosted a toast at midnight to celebrate the holiday.

Grant Glenn of Overland Park and Donna Reynolds of Lawrence didn’t plan to hang out that long, though. Rather, the couple had a simple plan for the night.

Dennis and Mary Worley, DeSoto, two-step at the Eagles Lodge, 1803 W. Sixth St. The Worleys celebrated the new year dancing with friends to country-western music Tuesday evening.

“We went to India Palace for dinner,” Reynolds said, “and The Bottleneck for New Year’s.”

Instead of battling the crowds on Massachusetts Street and elsewhere in the city, the two said they planned to make it a short night.

“We’ll probably cut out a little early,” Reynolds said.

But there were plenty of people to take their place — and their noisemakers — at other parties around the city.

A Look Ahead:¢ 6News video: Reasonable goals key to keeping resolutions¢ Tell us on our message board about your own resolutions or those you would like to see public officials make.A Look Back:¢ Editors tap double-homicide as 2002’s top local story¢ 6News video: The top 10 news stories of 2002¢ Poll: What was the top local/state story of 2002?

Up and down Massachusetts, people walked briskly in the crisp New Year’s Eve air to get to their respective locations before the clock struck midnight, and bars advertising midnight champagne toasts swelled with people anxious for the book to be closed on 2002.

Music and merriment was also in great supply at Liberty Hall, 642 Mass., where BR549 and Legendary Shack Shakers entertained a healthy throng of New Year’s guests with a dose of retro country tunes into the early morning.

But Lawrence’s popular nightspots weren’t the only businesses buzzing with activity on Tuesday.

Earlier in the day, liquor store registers rang with the sounds of party-planners looking to stockpile supplies for the night’s festivities.

“Sales were pretty good,” said Merle Zuel, an employee at Spirit Liquor & Party Shop, 600 Lawrence Ave. “We’ve sold lots of beer, of course, and then just lots and lots of champagne. Even people who don’t usually drink champagne bought it to celebrate.”