North East Digital Village

New Year Eve First Night Celebrations

Looking for a New Year's Eve or First Night celebrations in Conencticut or other spots in New England? Want a celebration with lots of choices? With events for old and young alike? Check out these "First Night" events on December 31 2006. Other New Year's celebrations and neat information about New Year Day is available here.

Connecticut | Massachusetts | Rhode Island

Connecticut

Bridgeport CT
December 31, 2007, 4 PM to Midnight
First Night Bridgeport
New Year's celebration of the arts with dozens of performances at multiple locations. Many choices and fun for the entire family. Admission: Adults $7, children (under 12) $1. Contact (203) 522-0224

Danbury CT
December 31, 2007, 4 PM to 8 PM
First Night Danbury
This New Year's Eve marks the eighteenth First Night celebration for the city of Danbury, Connecticut. Entertainment and Special Events from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. At 8:00 p.m. view the Fireworks! from the rooftop of the new parking garage on Library Place. All Buttons are $5.00 each Children, Adults, and Seniors.
Contact: First Night Danbury, P. O. Box 368, Danbury, CT 06810, (203) 792-1711

Hartford CT
December 31, 2007, 2 PM to Midnight
First Night Hartford
Hartford's premiere New Year's Eve party, a multicultural, artistically unique, alcohol-free New Year's experience with hundreds of professional musicians, artists, performance groups and exhibits. The magic starts at 2 p.m. on December 31 and continues through midnight, when we'll bring in 2008 together. It's a fabulous New Year's experience for everyone.
First Night goes on regardless of Mother Nature's plans. Dressing in appropriate layers will make your First Night experience toasty warm, comfortable, and FUN!
In order to participate in First Night Hartford, you will need a First Night Button. Once purchased, the button is your ticket to all First Night Hartford events.
For more information about First Night Hartford, call 860-722-9546 or go to their web site at First Night Hartford.

West Hartford CT
December 31, 2007, 6:30 PM to 12:30 AM
9th Annual New Year's Eve Contra Dance Party
West Hartford Town Hall, 50 South Main Street, West Hartford, CT, 06107.
Admission $20 ($15 In Advance), Children Under 12 Free, Students $10 At The Door (With Valid Student ID)
6:30PM-7:45PM Pot Luck Supper
8:00PM-8:30PM Beginners Lesson
8:30PM-12:30AM NYE Dance With Toast At Midnight
The Dance will be in a wonderful hall with a GREAT WOOD FLOOR! So be sure to wear soft soled non marking clean shoes. Refreshments will be provided.

Westport/Weston CT
Monday December 31, 2007. The celebration/entertainment begins at 3 PM and ends with the Midnight Fireworks at 12 AM on January 1, 2008
First Night Westport/Weston
Everyone is invited. Now in it's 14th year, First Night Westport/Weston is a community-wide, alcohol-free Celebration of New Year's Eve through the Arts. Not only can you enjoy 9 hours of unequaled entertainment, you can enjoy the safe surroundings of beautiful downtown Westport while you walk in the town's holiday atmosphere. Or you can also choose to ride the free shuttle buses between the venues. An extra added attraction is the biggest warming bonfire of the year, located on Jessup Green along the banks of the Saugatuck River.

Massachusetts

Beverly, MA
December 31, 2007, 3 PM to 8 PM
Beverly's New Year 2008
This year, we’ll have some returning favorites and some new performers! Enjoy: Parade, Face Painting, Street Performers, Arts & Crafts, Music, Food, and the always popular Briefcase Toss!
Buttons are $5. Available until Dec 29 at: Casa de Moda, Beverly Cooperative Bank, Beverly National Bank. Available on Dec 31 at Archer Insurance on Cabot Street. Buttons are required for all indoor activities. Children under 4 are free!
Beverly Main Streets, 275 Cabot Street, Suite 9, Beverly, MA 01915
Contact: 978-922-8558 or info@beverlymainstreets.org

Boston, MA
December 31, 2007
2008 First Night Boston
First Night 2008 offers many new and exciting performances and activities for the entire family! First Night New Year's Eve activities take place from 1pm to midnight on Monday, December 31st, 2007 at over 40 indoor and outdoor venues throughout downtown Boston. With the purchase of a First Night button, revelers gain admission to performances featuring the very best in theatre, dance, music, visual arts, film and more. Museums, theaters, churches and performance centers open their doors to First Night Button holders throughout the entire day. Popular attractions include the Family Festival at the Hynes Convention Center featuring interactive activities for all ages, gigantic ice sculptures on Copley Square and the Boston Common, a glittering fireworks display, and a Mardi-Gras style Grand Procession that sweeps through the streets of Boston.
First Night Boston, 31 Saint James Avenue, Suite 949, Boston, MA 02116, (617) 542-1399

Chatham, MA
December 31, 2007,
First Night Chatham
First Night Chatham has become a wonderful way for people to come together and ring in the New Year in a festive, family friendly, alcohol-free atmosphere. Centered on Main Street, First Night Chatham offers something for everyone -- a circus, musicians, presentations by local artists, theater, opera, entertainment, a bonfire, a noise parade, and a fireworks finale! Come to town this New Year's Eve and Let the Good Times Roll!
There will be events that do not require buttons, lots of food vendors located near popular events, events for children, and something interesting to see at every venue, including the new Chatham Community Center.
First Night Chatham, P.O. Box 80, Chatham, MA 02633
firstnightchatham@comcast.net

New Bedford, MA
December 31, 2007,
First Night New Bedford
New Bedford First Night 2008 is a family-oriented, alcohol-free festival that showcases arts and entertainment throughout the night. Performance venues are in the fine historic sites of downtown New Bedford such as the Zeiterion Theater, City Hall, Whaling City National Park and many others. First Night New Bedford brings many visitors and local residents together into the heart of the city to enjoy the camaraderie of celebrating New Year's Eve.
First Night New Bedford is the fourth oldest First Night celebration in the country and is celebrating its nineteenth year.
To volunteer or contribute financially to help make New Bedford First Night 2008 the best ever, contact First Night VP, Claudia Ostiguy at (508) 995-7613 or send your donation payable to First Night New Bedford Inc., PO Box 1701, New Bedford MA 02741

Northampton, MA
December 31, 2007
First Night Northampton 2008
Once again, the Center for the Arts and the Daily Hampshire Gazette ask you to join us in welcoming a new year. On Monday, December 31st, First Night Northampton will fill the city with family-friendly festivities from noon until midnight. This time, everything will be coming up "silver" because 2008 marks the Center's 25th anniversary year-truly a day to celebrate community arts!
The day opens at the Center for the Arts. Get there at noon for a special anniversary performance followed by a family parade with lots of surprises and a "silvery" theme that takes us from Main to Masonic to Center Street and back to Pulaski Park. What to do next? With a classic array of entertainment options at venues throughout downtown, Northampton's signature annual event is filled with talent and creativity.
Our fireworks display from the roof of the city's parking garage is scheduled for the whole family to see at 6:15 p.m. There's lots of time for everyone to find a good spot for viewing. After that, it's back to a program of music, dancing, and merriment that culminates the customary raising of the ball from the roof of the Hotel Northampton at midnight.
A single bargain-priced button opens the doors to every event at every venue. Buy one early, and check out the accompanying performance program as well as the logistical tips below to plan the perfect day. This is a party you won't want to miss!

Worcester, MA
December 31, 2007
First Night Worcester 2008
3 PM to Midnight. Building upon the ancient human tradition of a winter celebration to mark the passage of time, First Night Worcester has transformed the revelry of past New Year's Eve excesses into an affirmative, vibrant, inclusive, community-building arts festival and has become a showcase of the area's rich artistic and cultural resources. Young and old, from every walk of life, and every neighborhood -- and throughout the region -- come together to share new experiences, using all their senses to learn, to create, and to experience the life enhancing possibilities of the arts. First Night Worcester makes art and culture easily accessible, affordable, and enjoyable to all. Contact: 508-799-4909

Rhode Island

Newport RI
December 31, 2007
First Night Newport 2008
First Night Newport is a member of the International Alliance of First Night Celebrations comprised of 130 cities worldwide. From 5 pm until 9 pm on New Year's Eve, we provide visitors and members of Newport County with a family-friendly Celebration of the Arts. This event assures families and their friends that they may come downtown and celebrate together in a safe and festive environment on New Year's Eve. After a fabulous fireworks display over Newport Harbor at 9:15 pm, several establishment provide entertainment from 9:30 pm until midnight presented for the benefit of First Night Newport. Free Trolley Transportation to all our Venues.
First Night Newport Artist Line Up 2007, Online Button Sales

Providence RI
December 31, 2007, Noon to Midnight
Bright Night New Year's Eve Celebration
Bright Night Providence, the artist-run New Year's celebration now in its fifth year, will continue to keep New Year's Eve bright in Providence. This year the arts festival will feature performances from 12 noon to 12 midnight, including a Kid's Fun Fair at the Providence Convention Center, a swing dance party (also at the Convention Center), the high energy drum and dance spectacular SLAMM at the Providence Performing Arts Center, admission to a PC Friars game at the Dunk for the first 3000 ticket-holders, and over 150 performers at venues around the city, and two spectacular display of fireworks sponsored by the Providence Tourism Council to start the New Year with a bang.
Activities this year will include performances by Carmine Appice's SLAMM!, a high energy drum and dance spectacular in which rock icon Appice (drummer for Vanilla Fudge, Rod Stewart, & Jeff Beck) and his handpicked crew will drum on just about anything they can get their hands on, including garbage cans, dixie cups, oil drums, and even drums : a special kids event from 1-5 pm at the RI Convention Center, featuring Bill Harley, Keith Munslow, Marvin Novogrodski, and Val Tutson; the twenty fifth anniversary of Pendragon, the local Celtic group, the 20th anniversary of Big Nazo Puppets, and performances by Greg Abate, classical pianist Cecile Grobe, the Bright Night Poetry Slam, bellydance troupe Scherezade's Sisters, the Ocean State Children's Chorus, The Trinity Zoo, the Rhode Island Children's Chorus, Improv Jones, Womanspiritrising, Fusionworks Dance Company, the Chinese Folk Art Society, Carolyn Dutra Dancers, the Gnomes, Trouz Bras, Inca Son, Fishel Bresler, juggler Greg Frisbee, storyteller Jackson Gillman, magician Peter Gross, Mark Binder & the Wippets, Black and White Blues band, and scores of other performers. Performances will run from 12 noon to 12 midnight at a number of venues throughout downtown Providence. complete schedule is available online here.
Tickets to Bright Night are $10 in advance, $15 day of the event, and available online at brightnight.org, over the phone at 401-621-6123 (ArtTixRI), and available at all BankRI locations, OOP! stores, and the East Side Marketplace. Day of event tickets will be also sold at Providence Performing Arts Center, ArtTixRI Office, RI Convention Center, the Providence Children's Museum, and several other venues.

_/\_TO THE TOP