Release Date: Tuesday, December 9th 2008
Join the Lights & Beats in the Streets Kids Procession at First Night Akron 2009
Akron, Ohio - Throughout the month of December, visit the Kinderzone at Lock 3 Park in Downtown Akron to create
hands-on crafts just for kids that you can bring back to carry in the Lights & Beats in the Streets procession to the
Mainstage at First Night Akron.
Kids will have the opportunity to create a variety of different crafts at the Kinderzone throughout the month of December.
When you bring your craft back to Lock 3 for the First Night Make & Shake activity from 5-8 p.m. on December 31 you
can add glow-sticks, noise-makers and other special touches. If kids didn't get to make a craft before the event, they can
join in the fun and create one from scratch that night. Kids and families will then be invited to shake their creations in the
Lights & Beats in the Streets procession that will march from Lock 3 to the Mainstage at 8:15 p.m. for the Kids
Countdown Show at 8:30 p.m. and the Kids Fireworks Show at 9 p.m.
Go green this year and bring your own recycled water or pop bottles and empty containers that can be turned into a
percussion instrument to the Kinderzone on First Night to create your shaker! If you have extra containers that you would
like to donate, please drop them off at Lock 3 during Kinderzone hours (listed below). Materials will be provided to those
who do not bring a bottle or container.
The Kinderzone is open through December 30, Tuesdays-Fridays from 6-8 p.m., Saturdays from 12-2 p.m. and 6-8 p.m.
and Sundays from 3-5 p.m. Special hours on December 22 and 29 from 6-8 p.m. and December 24 from 3-5 p.m. Visit the
Lock 3 website for details about Kinderzone activities.
During special Celebration of Diversity days at the Kinderzone on December 17, 21, 22 and 27 parents can enter a
drawing to win a four pack of First Night Akron admission buttons and a gift certificate to a downtown restaurant. The
drawing will take place on December 29.
About First Night Akron
Now in its thirteenth year, First Night Akron is a New Year's Eve celebration unlike any other! This family-friendly, alcoholfree
celebration of the New Year brings the community together to experience a brief moment in time while creating
lasting New Year's Eve memories. Entertainment and fun featuring music, dance, theater, visual and interactive arts will
delight everyone throughout 18 different venues in downtown Akron! For a complete schedule of events, visit
www.firstnightakron.org.
Admission buttons give you access to all 18 First Night venues and nearly 100 performances and projects. Buttons are
$10 and children under 10 are admitted FREE when accompanied by a button-wearing adult. Buttons are on sale at Acme
Fresh Markets, participating FirstMerit Bank branches, Akron Beacon Journal Customer Service Desk, Borders Books &
Music at Chapel Hill, Carolyn's Cupboard in Wadsworth, The Library Shop on Main, Lock 3 Park and Stage Left Boutique
at the Akron Civic Theatre. Buttons and First Night Akron souvenirs may also be purchased online until December 23 at
www.firstnightakron.org.
First Night Akron is a program of the Downtown Akron Partnership. Founding partners are the City of Akron and the Akron
Beacon Journal.
Thank you to our generous First Night sponsors! Platinum Site Sponsors: Acme Fresh Markets, Akron Beacon
Journal, Akron Community Foundation, City of Akron, GAR Foundation, Knight Center of Digital Excellence and John A.
McAlonan Fund. Gold Stage Sponsors: Cummins Bridgeway Power, FirstMerit Foundation, The Goodyear Tire &
Rubber Company, John S. Knight Center, METRO, OMNOVA Solutions Foundation and The Welty Family Foundation.
Silver Project Sponsors: The Mary S. and David C. Corbin Foundation, County of Summit, The LeBron James Family
Foundation, Labels & Letters, National City, Pat Catan's, Roetzel & Andress LPA, The Sisler McFawn Foundation and
Think Media Studios. Bronze Activity Sponsors: A. Schulman, Inc., Akron Aeros, Apple Growth Partners & Summit Data
Communications, Bridgestone Firestone Trust Fund, Brouse McDowell, LPA, Cohen & Company, CPAs, ComDoc, County
of Summit ADM Board, CVS Caremark, Eliokem, GOJO Industries, Inc., Lockheed Martin, Meggitt Aircraft Braking
Systems, The Margaret Clark Morgan Foundation, R.C. Musson & Katharine M. Musson Charitable Foundation and Ohio
Department of Alcohol & Drug Addiction Services. Special Friends: The Maynard Family Foundation, Miller's Party
Rental Center and Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition. Official Radio Partner: WKDD.
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