If You’re In Town, Downtown is Where the Action is This New Year’s Eve
First Night Westport-Weston invites merrymakers home for the holidays to this region’s largest, annual New Year’s Eve celebration, in downtown Westport. New Year’s will be ushered in with a wide variety of family-friendly activities and a joyous celebration of arts and culture. This year the organization introduces Karoake for would be stars, local songstress Michele Grace, and returning fan favorite, hypnotist Jim Spinnato. “First Night welcomes thousands of Fairfield county residents and visitors from all over to our city to share the music, family fun and fireworks side by side, and look forward to a bright 2018”, said First Night Board President Barbra Pearson-Rac. A First Night button is the ticket to all performances and venues, on sale now for $10 online, at Westport Town Hall and other locations around town. Button prices increase to $15 online and in all locations on December 15.
First Night’s festivities blend classic family fun, like train displays, horse drawn carriage rides, and fireworks with theater acts, vaudeville and an array of musical performances from Broadway, the silver screen, jazz and the blues. Kids rule Saugatuck School, courtesy of a generous donation from the Westport Young Woman’s League, with an indoor playscape, dancing and sing-alongs with Al DeCant the Singing Principal and Tom Webber, balloon twisters and caricatures. The Magic Genie and ventriloquist Jonathan Geffner return with special merriment.
Music for all ages from local entertainers starts with sizzling salsa in family Zumba class with Karen Liss, at Branson Hall. Next door, musical theater great Michele Grace performs favorites from Cole Porter, Broadway and the movies accompanied by award-winning jazz pianist, Chris Coogan, who will round out the evening with his quartet, at Christ Holy Trinity Church. Blues powerhouse and Rock and Roll hall of famer, Mark Naftalin returns for a two hour show at the Westport Historical Society. Atomic hot rock ‘n roll riffs will reign until 10PM at Toquet Hall by Fairfield’s School of Rock.
Town Hall will feature comedy hypnotist Jim Spinnato, direct from Mohegan Sun Casino, with a hilarious audience participation show. In addition, guests are invited to warm up and forecast their futures with an assortment of psychics reading tarot cards and palms, in Bigelow® Tea’s tearoom. The laughs continue with one act comedy plays in the lower auditorium, and John Stevens’ whimsical caricatures.
This diverse family entertainment celebration begins at 3:30P, December 31, 2017 with carriage rides found on Main Street, and continues outdoors with our community warming fire on Jessup Green, guided night sky star gazing with the Westport Astronomical Society, and a massive fireworks display on the river scheduled for 8:00PM. All performances are within walking distance, with free shuttle service from Jessup Green to Saugatuck Elementary School. Buttons can be purchased online and at Trade Joe’s, Westport Library, Westport Historical Society, Westport Town Hall and Weston Town Hall. First Night buttons can be purchased the night of the event at Town Hall and all venues for $15, cash and checks only, no credit cards.
First Night Westport ~ Weston would not be possible without the support of 2018 sponsors, partners and donors including: Bigelow® Tea, the Westport Young Woman’s League, Honda of Westport, Winston Preparatory School, Terex, Dattco, People’s United Bank, Westport Masonic Temple No. 65, Gway Printing, Westport-Weston Chamber of Commerce, and the towns of Westport and Weston.
For more information on First Night Westport – Weston 2018 please visit firstnightww.org or follow us on Facebook, at FirstNightWestportCT.
About First Night Westport – Weston
First Night Westport – Weston is a 501( c)(3) non-profit organization that produces the annual New Year’s Eve celebration in the city of Westport. The First Night Westport – Weston mission is to provide a family-oriented, substance free celebration open to all that celebrates the diverse artistic excellence of local performers. The festivities feature family-friendly traditions such as horse drawn carriage rides; Dennis the Train Man’s iconic train display; performances from local musicians and performing artists; and a spectacular pyrotechnic show on the Saugatuck River. All First Night Westport-Weston activities are open to the public and accessible with a First Night button. For more information and a list of events, visit firstnightww.org.