First Night Akron

First Night® Akron is a major visual and performing arts festival created by and for the community to welcome the New Year.

Laser Light Show at the Akron Civic Theatre

First Night began in Boston in 1976 as a way to bring neighboring communities together in celebration, while providing an alternative way of ushering in the New Year. Today Binghamton, NY is the world headquarters of First Night International.

First Night admission buttons help support the cost of the celebration and provide admission to all events. Each city's button is a unique work of art.

Past button artists are: Don Drumm, Laura Bidwell, Mark Soppeland, Miller Horns, Joan Colbert, Michael Ayers, Leandra Drumm, Dan Cuthbert, Janice Troutman and Martha Kaltenbach.

First Night Akron founders are the City of Akron
and the Akron Beacon Journal. It is a program of Downtown Akron Partnership, Inc.