| |
|
|
|
|
FIRST NIGHT FUN!
Visit Historic Old Town Alexandria & Be Part of the
D.C.-Area’s Biggest First Night Celebration. Kids Under 12 FREE!
It’s technically the “last” night of the year but for a growing
number of families, New Year’s Eve has come to mean something
different.
Wishing to celebrate the start of a New Year but without the
craziness of alcohol, families have embraced First Night events in a
growing number of communities throughout the United States. First
Night events are alcohol-free, public celebrations that mark the
passage from the old year to the new with art, ritual and festivity.
The “first” First Night was created by a group of civic-minded
artists in Boston as a meaningful alternative to traditional New
Year's Eve revelry. Offered to the city as a finale to its
Bicentennial events in 1976, First Night Boston also began a new
tradition, bringing neighboring communities together through a joint
celebration.
In the Washington, D.C. area, the biggest such First Night
celebration is held in historic Old Town, Alexandria. This year, New
Year’s Eve falls on Saturday December 31. First Night Alexandria
will again offer families an alternative way to ring in the New Year
by focusing on a celebration of the performing arts with music,
magic, dance, comedy, puppet shows, and midnight fireworks
extravaganzas. The event is alcohol free, kid friendly, safe and fun
for all.
Alexandria’s First Night gets underway with a special kick-off event
will be held at 5:00 PM on December 31st at the Embassy Suites Hotel
(1900 Diagonal Road). Most entertainment at the various venues
begins at 6:00 or 7:00 PM (consult the First Night website,
www.firstnightalexandria.org for details).
The year admission remains $10/person (children under age 12 are
free!) if purchased before December 26. After the 26th, the
admission cost is $15.
Hotels in and around Old Town are offering special First Night Fun
Packages. Visit the First Night Website and click “Where to Stay”
under First Night Fun on the homepage. One of the easiest ways to
get to First Night Alexandria is by METRO. The King Street Metro
station is conveniently located and a good starting point for many
of the venues in Old Town. Free Alexandria transit “DASH” bus
service is provided to all the venues as well making getting around
quite easy.
This year 28 different venues are scheduled with a big variety of
entertainers sure to please attendees of all ages, ending with a
spectacular fireworks show at the stroke of midnight at the George
Washington Masonic Temple.
Several locations in nearby Del Ray will also participate this year
including Caboose, Del Ray Artisans, Del Ray Dreamery, St. Elmos and
the Mt. Vernon Rec Center.
Entertainment will feature the area’s best local performers. Back by
popular demand include Alexandria’s own world-renowned Scottish
fiddler, Bonnie Rideout. Also: Bill Kirchen, Teddy the Clown, Mike
Rose the Magician, Lump Dog, Zydeco Craze, the Not So Modern Jazz
Band and Ruthie and the Wranglers among others. Other venues will
feature a variety of entertainment sure to please all and several
venues will have activities and entertainment especially for the
young and young at heart!
Talented Teens will compete at the Third Annual Teen Talent Contest
at the Durant Recreation Center. Winners will get cash prizes and
the opportunity to perform at the 2006 First Night event! Among the
nearly one dozen competitors of this, our own “Alexandria Idols” are
Carbon Copy – doing Dave Matthews Band hits, Alexi Von Guggenburg on
piano and the singer and dancer act known as Angel performing
originally composed and arranged song.
For additional information and to purchase admission in advance,
please visit
www.firstnightalexandria.org
|
|
