First Night

Last updated
An ice sculpture at First Night Boston First night ice sculpture.jpg
An ice sculpture at First Night Boston

First Night is a North American artistic and cultural celebration on New Year's Eve, taking place from afternoon until midnight. Some cities have all their events during the celebration outside, but some cities have events that are hosted indoors by organizations in the city, especially clustered in the local historic downtown which are easily walkable to each other, such as churches and theaters. The celebration is family-friendly and alcohol-free, serving as an alternative to conventional adult New Year's parties that are abundant with alcohol. Since it happens on New Year's Eve, First Night celebrations are actually held on the last night of the old year. First Night celebrates a community's local culture, often featuring music, dance, comedy, art, fireworks and, in some cities, ice sculptures and parades.

Contents

Boston

First conceived by Clara Wainwright [1] for the December 31, 1975 celebration in Boston, First Night organized a small group of artists and musicians seeking to perform on stages, both indoor and outdoor. The event also sought to avoid the emphasis on alcohol typical of New Year's Eve parties. [2] Soon other surrounding communities started their own First Night celebrations. By the 1990s, the First Night Boston event was attracting works by over a thousand artists. [3] In 2006, more than a million visitors attended First Night events, including free outdoor ice sculptures on Boston Common and in Copley Square, and waterfront fireworks. [4]

Until 2015, live coverage of the final part of Boston's First Night, including the countdown to midnight and fireworks over Boston Harbor that begin at the stroke of midnight, was broadcast by WBZ-TV. CBS, the station's parent company, was an official sponsor.

In 2013, the non-profit First Night Boston organization closed for financial reasons, though Mayor Menino of Boston (in office for only another year) pledged to find private or public funding the January 2014 celebration. [5] On November 11, 2013, Mayor Menino announced he had acquired the necessary funding and that the 2013 First Night would be “a bigger, brighter display than ever before.” [6]

The city of Boston took over the First Night festivities in 2015 and hired an event planning firm to manage the smaller and scaled back event. [7]

In 2016, television coverage of the festivities was transferred to NBCUniversal-owned properties including NECN, Telemundo owned station WNEU and newly acquired NBC owned station WBTS-LD; the latter used the event to help launch the station's NBC affiliation, which took effect on January 1, 2017.

There was no celebration in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Other cities

By 1999, First Night celebrations were being held in more than 200 cities. [8] In 2000, more than 260 cities had such a celebration. However, in 2001, 20 cities dropped out of the First Night celebrations due to the effects of the September 11 attacks and/or money difficulties. [9]

During the Great Recession, which began in late 2007, many First Night celebrations faced financial difficulty, being scaled back or canceled. [10] [11] [12]

There were about 45 cities with First Night celebrations happening on New Year's Eve 2013/2014. [13]

Since New Year's Eve 2020, First Night would be cancelled or reduced in many cities, such as enforcing strict measures against the COVID-19 pandemic, like wearing masks and social distancing.

National organization

First Night USA is the national offshoot of the original Boston organization. It works with the numerous First Night licensed events throughout the United States. [13]

Other celebrations on New Year's Eve, not labeled "First Night", have also sprung up. For example, in 2003, First Night Providence announced they planned to cancel future celebrations, which had been going on for 19 years. A group of local artists created Bright Night Providence, an artist-run New Year's Eve celebration based on the idea and spirit of First Night. [14]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro</span> Neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil

Copacabana is a bairro (neighbourhood) located in the South Zone of the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is most prominently known for its 4 km (2.5 miles) balneario beach, which is one of the most famous in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boston Pops Orchestra</span> American orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts

The Boston Pops Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts, specializing in light classical and popular music. The orchestra's current music director is Keith Lockhart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Midsummer</span> Holiday held close to the summer solstice

Midsummer is a celebration of the season of summer usually held at a date around the summer solstice. A variety of traditions have developed, linked to regions as well as religious practice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Year's Eve</span> Last day of the Gregorian calendar year

In the Gregorian calendar, New Year's Eve, also known as Old Year's Day or Saint Sylvester's Day in many countries, is the evening or the entire day of the last day of the year, 31 December. The last day of the year is commonly referred to as “New Year's Eve”. In many countries, New Year's Eve is celebrated with dancing, eating, drinking, and watching or lighting fireworks. Some Christians attend a watchnight service. The celebrations generally go on past midnight into New Year's Day, 1 January.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sparkler</span> Type of pyrotechnic device

A sparkler is a type of hand-held firework that burns slowly while emitting bright, colored sparks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DCU Center</span> Indoor arena in Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S.

The DCU Center is an indoor arena and convention center complex in downtown Worcester, Massachusetts. The facility hosts a variety of events, including concerts, sporting events, family shows, conventions, trade-shows and meetings. It is owned by the City of Worcester and managed by SMG, a private management firm for public assembly facilities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas Menino</span> American politician and mayor (1942–2014)

Thomas Michael Menino was an American politician who served as the mayor of Boston, from 1993 to 2014. He was the city's longest-serving mayor. He was elected mayor in 1993 after first serving three months in the position of "acting mayor" following the resignation of his predecessor Raymond Flynn. Before serving as mayor, Menino was a member of Boston City Council and had been elected president of the City Council in 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Times Square Ball</span> Time ball in New York Citys Times Square

The Times Square Ball is a time ball located in New York City's Times Square. Located on the roof of One Times Square, the ball is a prominent part of a New Year's Eve celebration in Times Square commonly referred to as the ball drop, where the ball descends down a specially designed flagpole, beginning at 11:59:00 p.m. ET, and resting at midnight to signal the start of the new year. In recent years, the ball drop has been preceded by live entertainment, including performances by musicians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skyfire (Canberra)</span> Annual fireworks show held in Canberra

Skyfire is an annual March fireworks show held over Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra, Australia since 1989. The event is funded by local radio station hit 104.7, and the display is synchronised to a soundtrack of music broadcast on the station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sydney New Year's Eve</span> Annual multi-tiered event held every New Years Eve in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Sydney New Year's Eve is an annual New Year's Eve fireworks event in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The event currently consists of two fireworks shows, with an evening display known as the "Family Fireworks" held at 9:00 p.m. AEDT, and the main "Midnight Fireworks" held at 12:00 a.m. Fireworks are launched from barges in Port Jackson, as well as nearby landmarks such as the Sydney Opera House, and the Sydney Harbour Bridge, which serves as the main focal point of the show via lighting and pyrotechnic effects.

New Year's Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen is an annual New Year's Eve television special broadcast by CNN and CNN International. It primarily focuses on coverage of the ball drop festivities held in Times Square in New York City while also featuring coverage of events in other areas of the U.S. and around the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edinburgh's Hogmanay</span> Observance of Hogmanay

Edinburgh's Hogmanay is the observance of Hogmanay—the Scottish celebration of the New Year—held in Edinburgh, Scotland.

<i>BBC New Years Eve specials</i> BBC New Year Special

BBC One's New Year's Eve specials have aired in varying formats; in 2000, and since 2004, they prominently feature live coverage of London's New Year's Eve festivities, including the midnight bongs of Big Ben, and the fireworks show on the River Thames and London Eye.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Year's Eve in London</span> Firework display in London, England

London's New Year's Eve festivities have regularly consisted of a midnight fireworks show; the focal point of the festivities are the South Bank, where the chimes of Big Ben at midnight signify the arrival of the new year, and pyrotechnics are launched from barges along the River Thames and from the London Eye observation wheel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Millennium celebrations</span> Celebrations of the year 2000

The millennium celebrations were a worldwide, coordinated series of events to celebrate and commemorate the end of 1999 and the start of the year 2000 in the Gregorian calendar. The celebrations were held as marking the end of the 2nd millennium, the 20th century, and the 200th decade, and the start of the 3rd millennium, the 21st century, and the 201st decade. Countries around the globe held official festivities in the weeks and months leading up to the date, such as those organised in the United States by the White House Millennium Council, and most major cities produced firework displays at midnight. Equally, many private venues, cultural and religious centres held events and a diverse range of memorabilia was created, including souvenir postage stamps.

From 1991 to 2020, the Fox television network aired New Year's Eve specials with various hosts and formats. Many of these specials featured music performances by popular musicians, and coverage of the Times Square ball drop in New York City, although some deviated from this format by focusing on festivities in other cities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">December 2017–January 2018 North American cold wave</span>

The December 2017–January 2018 North American cold wave was an extreme weather event in North America in which record low temperatures gripped much of the Central, Eastern United States, and parts of Central and Eastern Canada. Starting in late December as a result of the southward shift of the polar vortex, extremely cold conditions froze the eastern United States in the last few days of 2017 as well as into the new year. Following a brief respite in mid-January, cold temperatures swung back into the eastern U.S. shortly afterwards. The cold wave finally dissolved by around January 19, as near-average temperatures returned.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taipei New Year's Eve Party</span> New Years Eve celebration in Taipei

The Taipei New Year's Eve Party is a New Year's Eve celebration that takes place in Taipei, Taiwan. Visitors gather at the Taipei City Hall and have a clear view of Taipei 101, which is surrounded by fireworks at midnight. The first Taipei New Year's Eve party was on 31 December 2003.

References

  1. ↑ "A Quiet Kind of Act". Art21 Magazine. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  2. ↑ "Has the Ball Dropped on First Night Worcester?". Worcester Magazine . December 2011. Archived from the original on 2013-02-10.
  3. ↑ Nordheimer, Jon (1990-12-26). A New Year's Fete Of Art, Not Alcohol. The New York Times . Retrieved on 2009-04-06.
  4. ↑ Ford, Rosemary (2006-12-28). Carving out First Night Boston; Local ice sculptor lends frozen art to annual celebration Archived 2013-01-22 at archive.today . The Eagle Tribune . Retrieved on 2009-04-06.
  5. ↑ "First Night, creator of the city's longtime New Year's Eve celebration, to cease operations". The Boston Globe . June 21, 2013. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  6. ↑ "Mayor Menino announces First Night plans after festival had appeared to be in jeopardy". The Boston Globe. November 7, 2013. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  7. ↑ Filipov, David (November 7, 2013). "Fireworks are returning to First Night festival". The Boston Globe . Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  8. ↑ "Major cities plan New Year's parties". Denver Post. October 10, 1999.
  9. ↑ "First Night fireworks fizzle out". Worcester Telegram Gazette . December 9, 2009.
  10. ↑ Steve Brown (October 28, 2009). "First Night Boston Weathers Financial Storm". WBUR.org. Retrieved 2009-12-24.
  11. ↑ Robert Faires (August 28, 2009). "First Night Austin: Going forward despite the turbulence". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 2009-12-24.
  12. ↑ Rosemary Ponnekanti (October 18, 2007). "First Night getting new life: Organizers pare New Year's party". AllBusiness.com. Retrieved 2009-12-24.[ dead link ]
  13. 1 2 "All First Night Cities for 2013/2014 New Years Eve". First Night Alexandria. Archived from the original on 2013-12-18. Retrieved 2013-12-16.
  14. ↑ "New Year's Eve Celebration". Bright Night Providence. Retrieved 2009-12-24.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.