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Date: 11/16/2021
NORTHAMPTON – The 37th annual First Night Northampton will return to an in-person format for the 2022 New Year’s celebration.
On Dec. 31, the Northampton Arts Council is joining corporate partners, area businesses, performing artists, and downtown venues to celebrate New Year’s Eve. Described as the city’s longest running event, the goal of the celebration is to connect “thousands of people” for 12 hours of family-friendly entertainment from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m.
According to Steve Sanderson, the producer of the event, preparations this year were a little different compared to past years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and more coordination with the 20-plus venues hosting events was integral to ensuring the safety of everyone attending.
“It’s very important to make sure the venues are more safe for these times,” said Sanderson, adding that some of the venues hosting performances and other activities will experience some reduced capacity.
According to the First Night website, everyone who attends the event must provide proof of complete vaccination or a negative PCR test taken within the past 72 hours. Photos of your own vaccine card are permitted. Children under the age of 12 who cannot be vaccinated yet will be allowed to go but must always wear a mask and show a negative PCR test within the last 72 hours. All public-facing staff, volunteers, and stagehands at First Night will be fully vaccinated. Other mandates can be found on the website.
“It’s become standard stuff,” said Sanderson.
The day starts off at 12 p.m. on Dec. 31 at the Academy of Music for a circus performance filled with floor and aerial routines, according to Sanderson. A repeat performance will go off at 1 p.m. The day then staggers where multiple family-friendly events and performances will be occurring across the city.
“We have jugglers, musicians, yo-yo experts – from 33 Hawley, to First Church, to Edwards, to St. Johns – the first half of the day is all family-oriented events,” said Sanderson. There are countless performers set for the day according to event’s flyer including, Cloudbelly, Ray Mason, Yo-Yo Guy, Tom Knight Puppets, and much more. These events go on until about 6 p.m., which is when the firework celebration begins on the city’s parking garage.
According to Sanderson, the events following the fireworks ramp up with comedy acts, rock-n-roll and jazz concerts, as well as some other nightly performances before midnight. Then, 30 minutes before midnight, people gather at Hotel Northampton and greet the New Year with a countdown and “ball-raising” event.
The public is asked to purchase a First Night pin, which is their ticket to every performance venue in the city for that day and/or night. Pin sales are expected to begin at the beginning of December, and multiple locations in the Western Mass. area will be selling them. People can learn more about the prices for these pins by visiting the First Night website.
According to Sanderson, the Northampton Arts Council produces this event as a vital source of revenue for future arts program in the city, which will be important as the city makes an integral transition to a new phase of arts and community. Additionally, First Night is a celebration of the arts community in general. The 2021 event included 12 hours of performances in a virtual setting, streamed live on local television and the internet.
“It’s an important showcase for the city,” said Sanderson. “There’s new families coming to Western Mass. all the time and discovering what a wonderful downtown Northampton is. It’s a benefit for all businesses and residents.”
People can visit www.firstnightnorthampton.org for more information.