Release Date: Wednesday, December 30th 2009
First Night showcases sober fun
Alcohol-free events offer family entertainment featuring local talent, two fireworks shows
POSTED: 11:48 a.m. EST, Dec 30, 2009
By Malcolm X Abram
Beacon Journal music writer
For 14 years, First Night Akron has offered New Year's Eve entertainment for families and anyone who doesn't want to spend the last night of the old year and the first morning of the New Year drinking and cavorting.
The alcohol-free event commandeers downtown Akron and gathers an array of largely local talent including musicians, artists and others for seven hours of activities all leading up to the big firework finale at the stroke of midnight. There is also a Kids Fireworks Show at 9 p.m.
Over the years, First Night officials have constantly tweaked the format to maximize the fun all while trying to take into account the mercurial nature of Ohio weather.
In 2008, 13,000 people rang in the new year at First Night Akron.
''One of the biggest things we've heard is 'if you can guarantee 60 degrees and sun, we'd definitely come.' Unfortunately, we live in Ohio not California,'' Lisa Knapp, communications director for First Night Akron, said laughing.
Since Jack Frost and Mother Nature do not take suggestions, officials have once again tweaked First Night to ensure the maximization of fun.
''One thing we heard the most is that people didn't really like that they had to travel so far from venue to venue to see all the acts they wanted, so this year we've condensed the footprint a little and give the people the experience they want,'' Knapp said.
In past years, First Night-goers had to choose from activities at as many as 25 venues, but this year there will be just as many activities as years past — about 90 — but in 10 venues, including Greystone Hall and the METRO Transit Center, which will be celebrating its first ''birthday.'' Additionally, the two fireworks displays, the Kids Fireworks and the grand finale at midnight, have been moved to Lock 3 Park. In previous years they have been at Canal Park.
Along with the smaller footprint, this year's theme is fittingly A Night of Firsts, and every artist and performer will either be debuting a brand new work or making their First Night debut.
Among the new faces and new works will be a songwriting workshop by local acoustic roots band Hey Mavis. Kids and their parents (with the help of the band) who sign up to participate at http://www.firstnightakron.org/hey-mavis will write a brand new song about their First Night experience. The song will be premiered at 8:30 p.m. on the stage of Lock 3 and the kids/co-songwriters will be able to join Hey Mavis on stage to perform the new tune. Hey Mavis will also perform at Greystone Hall later in the evening.
New performers include teen rock bands Case Sensitive, Chil and Stimulus, who will premiere original songs at the Akron Art Museum. Also new, Gypsies in the Palace, a ''trop-rock'' band that mixes original tunes with popular Jimmy Buffet covers, will make their First Night debut at the John S. Knight Center along with the Backporch Swing Band, which includes Ohio State Fiddle Champion Adam Jackson at Greystone Hall.
Popular return performers and activities include singer/songwriter Alex Bevan, the seventh annual high school competition First Night Idol at the John S. Knight Center, fortune tellers and METRO Birthday Clown at the METRO Transit Center and popular Beatles tribute band A Hard Day's Night at the Civic Theatre.
There will also be plenty of interactive events such as Pat Catan's Mask Making, a chance to make your own dream pillow and learn ''How Cassie Learned to Fly'' (hint: there is a dream pillow involved) and the opportunity to learn the finer points of clowning at a class during the New Salvino Show — all happening at the Shoppes at Akron Center.
While other cities have forsaken the First Night concept of family-friendly, booze-free entertainment, First Night Akron is still going strong and constantly working to ensure that Akronites and other Northeast Ohioans have a safe place to ring in the new year and also want to return year after year no matter what weather mood Jack Frost and Ma Nature are feeling.
''We've learned that we need to make this an experience that makes people want to leave their house on New Year's Eve to enjoy,'' Knapp said. ''For people who think that First Night is exactly the same every year, we've got some new and exciting things going on this year.''
Malcolm X Abram can be reached at mabram@thebeaconjournal.com or 330-996-3758.