First Night in St. Johnsbury

A New Year’s Eve tradition for 18 years, the 2010 edition of First Night St. Johnsbury will be full of performers new to the event along with old favorites we wait all year to see!
The program has been put together in collaboration with Catamount Arts. The evening starts early -- at 4:00 pm -- and continues to the stroke of midnight, when fireworks light up the sky.

The schedule includes musicians of all kinds, dancing, films, comedians, artists, magicians, and even a hypnotist! As always, First Night is a family-friendly and safe way to usher in the New Year. Wear your warmest clothes and walk around town to the 16 venues, all located within a few blocks of each other on or near Main Street, Eastern and Western Avenues. “Information Central” will be at the Information booth at the corner of Eastern and Main, and parking is available in several lots.

The whole schedule can be found at www.firstnightstj.com, but we’ll point out a few of this year’s highlights:

• The Mellow Yellow Experience, a tribute to 1960s music
• Hypzotique Bellydance Circus, performing Middle Eastern dance appropriate for the whole family
• The Mike Fortier Band, with classic country music
• Swing North big band music
• The Three Apple Storyteller (Judith Witters) with tales and legends from around the world
• Valley Improv with quick-paced comedy
• The Woods Tea Company, now a trio, playing their famous folk music

There is so much more, including three planetarium shows at the Fairbanks Museum and (outdoors, of course) the “fireartists” Dancing Djinn, who will be raising the ball at midnight. Folks who want to participate in the action have plenty of choices, including a “Messiah” singalong with the North Country Chorus, karaoke all evening, printmaking with the artists of Gato Nero Studio, and both swing and square dancing, lessons included.
With so much fun, there has to be food, too, and First Night has lots of it! Everything from snacks to full dinners to a pancake and sausage supper will be available in several local churches, at Catamount Arts, the St. Johnsbury School, and St. Johnsbury Academy’s Streeter Hall.
Buttons for First Night are available at many local banks and merchants in St. Johnsbury and the surrounding area, and those locations are listed on the First Night website. Catamount Arts also sells the buttons online. Before December 31, the price is $12. If you wait until New Year’s Eve, the buttons cost $17. The student price is always $12, and preschoolers are free. Volunteers for First Night receive a free button. You can also be a special supporter of First Night with a blinking button for $28, which helps make the whole evening possible for everyone.
More information about First Night is available on the website, www.firstnight.com, or by calling             802-748-2600      .

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