Family-friendly NYE celebration features 30 live performances, 8 stages
Send out 2015 in a blaze of
performing arts, fireworks and creativity and celebrate a new year at
First Night Springfield. The Springfield Area Arts Council-hosted
celebration is Springfield’s 29 th annual New Year’s Eve arty party. The
First Night tradition began in Boston in 1976 as a family-friendly way
to ring in the New Year while celebrating the performing, visual and
spoken arts. The tradition quickly spread to other cities, and
Springfield is proud to host the longestrunning First Night celebration
in Illinois.
The theme
of the 2016 celebration is “Downtown to a fine art,” which is fitting
as the event turns downtown Springfield into a venue, with 30 live
performances taking place across eight stages.
As
in years past, First Night kicks off on Thursday afternoon with free
children’s activities and entertainment at Springfield High School from
1-4 p.m. All performances and activities presented here are curated
specifically for young minds. Events include clay sculpture with
“Mayor’s Award for the Arts” winner John T. Crisp Jr., the DePriest
Puppets, a learn-to-play harmonica workshop with Mark Russillo, the
Central Illinois Irish Dancers and more. Also at Springfield High
School, Mark Gifford will perform a concert of popular organ favorites
from 4:15-5:45 p.m. The annual First Night buffet dinner occurs from
5-7:30 p.m, and will feature eclectic favorites from a variety of genres
by professional vocal artist Monica Hay. Reservations for the dinner
were required by Dec. 22.
Evening performances are slated to begin at 6 p.m., and feature a variety of acts sure to please all ages and preferences.
Highlights include dulcimer
and jawharp playing, as well as stories and more from Mike Anderson,
one of the most sought-after speakers/performers in the United States
and Canada; comedy by local funnyman Blake Stevens; and Mark Gifford and
Damien Kaplan’s Dual Piano Show, which was created specifically for
First Night 2012 and still runs strong today.
All
performances will cease at 7:45 p.m., so that attendees may find spots
for the annual pyrotechnics display at Fourth Street and Capitol Avenue.
The fireworks tradition continues thanks to sponsor Horace Mann. This
year’s display is designed by Nostalgia Pyrotechnics and will be
directed by Carl Steinmacher.
The
second round of performances begins at 8:30 p.m., and will continue
through 11:15 p.m., so that attendees have time to travel to their
preferred spots for ringing in the New Year. The second round of acts
include dynamic percussion from the Kevin Lucas Orchestra, which
features marimba, saxophone, flute, drums, percussion, guitar and bass;
the Springfield Muni performing song selections from their upcoming 2016
schedule; live, improvisational comedy by the Portuguese Rodeo Clown
Company; jazz vocals by Johnnie Owens; magic by Eldon Roark; and much,
much more.
Similar to
last year, admission will be via wristbands, available for purchase all
throughout December. Wristbands are $15 for adults, though the price
will increase to $18 per band the day of the event, and $5 for children
ages 5-18. A family pack, which includes 2 adult’s and 2 children’s
wristbands, is available via the Hoogland Center for the Arts box office
or the SAAC office for $30. Regular wristbands can be purchased at both
Springfield Schnucks locations; at County Market locations in
Springfield, Sherman and Chatham; at Recycled Records; at Robbie’s
Restaurant; at the Hoogland Center for the Arts Box Office; and online
at http://hcfta. org. For more information about First Night, including
biographies, information and photos of performers, visit http://
springfieldartsco.org/first-night.
