It is time for Saint Johnsbury’s 16th annual New Years Eve celebration. First Night is an action packed. community driven, alternative to traditional New Year’s eve celebrations. A wide range of performances including theater, dance, music, movies, and tons of tasty refreshments make this the place to be for a fun, family oriented, Northeast Kingdom New Years.
New Year’s Eve marks the 16th annual First Night festival of the arts in St. Johnsbury. Anyone sporting this year’s green First Night button can enjoy all kinds of entertainment. The thousands who have been celebrating together every New Year’s Eve since First Night St. Johnsbury was born in 1993, hear music from many traditions, including folk, pop, rock, blues, bluegrass, Broadway, sacred, silly, contemporary and classical piano. You can see ballet dancers, puppets, a magician, a hypnotist and comedy shows. You can dance the night away to Big Band swing or hot rock. The kids can also work off some energy with the giant inflated obstacle course and moon walk and enjoy craft activities and radio-controlled cars at the Family Fun Fare.
With over fifty different acts and activities in over eighty separate performances at almost twenty venues on and just off Main Street, starting at 4 pm and continuing on through to the midnight fireworks finale, you’ll never be bored! When not enjoying entertainment, you can buy food and beverage at several churches and other venues. And the free late night pancake supper is always popular.
So what’s new at First Night this year?
Phenomenal baritone Geoffrey Penar will sing in St. Johnsbury for the first time since graduating from the Academy. Now a vocal performance major at Eastman School of Music, Penar still has people talking about his portrayal of Jean Valjean in the Academy’s the production of Les Miserables. Public Radio listeners may have heard Geoffrey sing on “From the Top,” a weekly program featuring outstanding young classical musicians from across the country.
The Wood’s Tea Company has welcomed Patty Casey to their group and First Night welcomes back “Vermont’s hardest working folk group.” Casey will also offer a solo set in her persona as one of Vermont’s best known singer-songwriters.
Jay Sprout
Director
First Night Saint Johnsbury
Adults can purchase your First Night Buttons for $10 before December 31st, and $15 on New Years Eve. Students attendent for $10 and small children are always free. You can pick you your buttons at any of the locations below.
All area bank branches of: Passumpsic Savings Bank, Union Bank, Community National Bank, Merchants Bank, Wells River Savings Bank, Woodsville Guaranty Savings Bank St. Johnsbury: Price Chopper, Natural Provisions, Catamount Arts, Caplan’s Army Store, Frogs and Lily Pads, Boxcar and Caboose, Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital, Fairbanks Museum, R/C Toy Box Barnet: Barnet Village Store,West Barnet Quick Stop Danville: Marty’s First Stop Lyndonville: Shear Sensations, Lyndon Freighthouse Littleton: Village Book Store, Coffee Pot Restaurant , Shaw’s Supermarket
Phone orders can be made through Catamount Arts at 748-2600 or toll-free at 888-757-5559.
You can find more information about First Night and the evening schedule at http://www.firstnightstj.com/
Have a safe and happy New Years…See you in 2009!
When you think “Vermont”, you might think about sleepy Sunday mornings at a local bed & breakfast, maple syrup, or the Breakfast Skillet at the Miss Lydonville Diner- but anyone that has visited the Northeast Kingdom (or at least seen pictures) visualizes a rugged outdoor terrain that is both beautiful and imposing. The rambling hills call to you, beckoning you to commune with nature and to find yourself, but you’re no Lewis & Clarke, and like many tourists you may have only enjoyed the view from the scenic overlooks off of I-91. Take off your chinos, switch off your iPhone, and strap on a bike helmet, enjoying the Northeast Kingdom just got a whole lot easier- it’s time to hit the Kingdom Trails.
