First night
December 31, Wednesday
Origin of the tradition
The First Night movement began in 1976 in Boston, when a group of artists and community leaders decided to mark the arrival of the New Year with a series of concerts, exhibitions, and street performances without alcohol. The initiative proved successful and quickly spread to other U.S. cities and later beyond them.
Main ideas of First Night
First Night is based on several principles:
* a celebration for the whole family and people of all ages
* safety and no alcohol
* affordability or free admission
* a focus on art, culture, and creativity
* involvement of the local community
This makes First Night not just a party, but a city cultural event.
How First Night is celebrated
In different cities the program may vary, but it usually includes:
* street parades and processions
* concerts and performances by musicians
* theatrical and circus acts
* workshops for children and adults
* art exhibitions
* fireworks or light shows at midnight
Events begin on the evening of December 31 and continue until the New Year arrives.
Where it is celebrated
At the peak of its popularity in the 1990s, First Night was held in more than a hundred U.S. cities. Especially well known are celebrations in:
* Boston
* New York
* Philadelphia
* Baltimore
* Portland
* St. Paul
Over time the format has changed, but the idea of public New Year festivals has been preserved in many places.
How people take part
Participants can:
* freely walk between venues
* choose performances that interest them
* take part in interactive activities
* meet local artists
* welcome the New Year together with fellow citizens
In many cities, special buttons or wristbands were previously sold that granted access to all events.
Significance of the tradition
First Night played an important role in showing that the New Year can be celebrated not only in bars and at private parties, but also:
* in an atmosphere of culture and art
* with the whole family
* in a safe and friendly environment
* with the participation of the entire city
It became an example for similar celebrations in Canada, Europe, and other regions.
First Night today
Today, the classic First Night format has not been preserved in all cities, but its ideas live on in modern New Year festivals and public events. Many U.S. cities continue to hold family celebrations with concerts and shows on New Year’s Eve, even if they no longer carry the name First Night.
Interesting fact
It was thanks to the First Night movement that Boston was long considered one of the centers of cultural New Year celebrations in the USA, and the format was recognized as a successful way to unite city residents of different ages and interests.
First night in other years
- 2021 December 31, Friday
- 2022 December 31, Saturday
- 2023 December 31, Sunday
- 2024 December 31, Tuesday
- 2026 December 31, Thursday