First Night Northampton 2008
Once again, the Center for the Arts and the Daily Hampshire Gazette ask you to join us in welcoming a new year. On Monday, December 31st, First Night Northampton will fill the city with family-friendly festivities from noon until midnight. This time, everything will be coming up "silver" because 2008 marks the Center's 25th anniversary year-truly a day to celebrate community arts!
As always, we're expecting an enthusiastic crowd and look forward to large audiences throughout the afternoon and evening. We'll open the day with traditional energy at the Center for the Arts. Get there at noon for a special anniversary performance followed by a family parade with lots of surprises and a "silvery" theme that takes us from Main to Masonic to Center Street and back to Pulaski Park. What to do next? With a classic array of entertainment options at venues throughout downtown, Northampton's signature annual event is filled with talent and creativity.
You asked for it, and you've got it! Our fireworks display from the roof of the city's parking garage is scheduled for the whole family to see at 6:15 p.m. There's lots of time for everyone to find a good spot for viewing. After that, it's back to a program of music, dancing, and merriment that culminates the customary raising of the ball from the roof of the Hotel Northampton at midnight.
A single bargain-priced button opens the doors to every event at every venue. Buy one early, and check out the accompanying performance program as well as the logistical tips below to plan the perfect day. This is a party you won't want to miss!
Penny Burke, Executive Director
Northampton Center for the Arts
First Night Logistics
Parking: December 31st is a municipal holiday, and there is free parking in city lots. Also-Smith College lots and the Smith College garage on West Street are free and open to the general public. Please remember that access to and from the E.J. Gare Parking Garage will be restricted from approximately 5:45pm to 6:45pm because of the fireworks display. The same is true for the adjacent lots.
Button Sales on December 31st: Best bet is to buy your First Night buttons in advance of the event at one of the many vendors listed below. On December 31st, button sales are limited to the following locations: TD Banknorth at 175 Main Street (open until 10 pm); Faces; State Street Fruit Store; Hotel Northampton; Cooper's Corner in Florence; A.J. Hastings in Amherst. They are also for sale at the door of these performance venues: Academy of Music; Center for the Arts; Sage Hall; Theatre 14.
At the venues: In order to accommodate our audiences and to make things easier for the volunteers, please cooperate by lining up at entrances in an orderly fashion and exiting the venues after each performance. This also keeps things running on time. Note: Most shows are offered twice, so if you don't make it into the first one, you'll probably catch the second.