First Night Photo Gallery

What Is First Night?

First Night is a community celebration of the New Year through the arts. It is an alcohol-free, public festival that marks the passage from the old year to the new with art, ritual and festivity. All First Night Celebrations are licensed by First Night International and adhere to a set of standards.

This event offers a wide variety of artists with a broad range of appeal. They are held in both indoor and outdoor venues in close proximity to each other. Affordable admissions buttons provide entry to all First Night performances.

New Year's Eve is a time for renewal and new beginnings. It is an opportunity for the community to look ahead collectively with hope and optimism and appreciate their common bonds. The name "First Night" symbolizes this look forward rather than the technically correct words, "Last Night."

Each First Night Celebration is identified by the date of the New Year the event welcomes. For example, First Night 2004 will be celebrated on December 31, 2003. All cities that host a First Night Celebration observe this guideline.

First Night began in Boston in 1976 as a unique way to celebrate the arts and the New Year. Now an international phenomenon, First Night will take place in more that 220 cities this year.

Since 1994, First Night Fredericksburg has become a holiday tradition and city treasure. Beginning at 6:00pm and ending with the midnight Pear Drop, downtown Fredericksburg is the stage where revelers enjoy - and sometimes join in - the multiple, simultaneous, and continuous performances and activities by our region's diverse artists. Held in historic churches, Old Town streets and businesses, all First Night sites are alcohol free, allowing our city's celebration on New Year's Eve to be an event that everyone can enjoy.

First Night Fredericksburg's mission and goal is to provide a safe, entertaining, and family friendly alternative to traditional New Year's Eve celebrations. In so doing, we broaden and deepen our city's appreciation of the visual and performing arts through an innovative, diverse, and high-quality New Year's Eve program which offers the Fredericksburg community a shared cultural experience that is accessible and affordable to all.

This year Saffire- The Uppity Blues Women and The CalypsoNuts will be headlining our event.  Special guest will be Today’s Superstar Anthony Campbell. Fredericksburg comedian R. Bruce will be joining Saffire at the Library and Gerry Maddox will play your favorite beach music with The CalypsoNuts at the Visitor Center Main Tent. Kamara Cloud, Vinyl Epitaph and Anousheh Khalili will be playing in the teen venue at Spanky’s Lot. A children’s musical production from Stage Door Productions and The Opera Clown, Tessitura, will be performing at the Presbyterian Church. Vertical Landing along with Laurie Rose Griffith, Pete Mealy and Kent Ippolito will be at Picker’s Supply Concert Hall. Colonial Dancing by the Rappahannock Historical Society Dancers, Celtic music by Jim and Holly Lawrence, Folk music by Bob Gramann and performances by the Harry Wilson Quartet will also be contributing to this year’s event. An interactive puppet show by Kamp Kreatures, magic by “Presto” and the Children’s Activity area with fun and games highlighted by Radio Disney will certainly keep the little ones celebrating!  We will be roasting chestnuts once again and offering FREE Trolley Tours to First Night button holders. Clowns, strolling musicians and many other surprises will be along the 10-block area of downtown Fredericksburg.
 
GET INVOLVED!

Volunteer!
Lend a hand for an hour or two on December 31 and receive a FREE button to the event. Manning barricades, stage managers, art & crafts and admissions are just some of the areas where your help is needed. Area restaurants donate refreshments in our Hospitality Area and all volunteers
are welcome to stop in.

Be A First Night Sponsor!
Contributions from area governments, businesses and individuals are the primary resource for First Night. Sponsorship incentives are available.

Join the Committee!
Be where the action is!  Share ideas and help organize this
event year around.
 

Buttons will go on sale December 15 at the following locations:

• Central Rappahannock Regional Library: Headquarters, Porter, Salem Church and Snow Branches
• Fredericksburg Area Wawa Stores
• Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania Visitor Centers
• Cards ‘n Cones and Whittingham

For more information contact:
Kimberly Herbert
First Night Coordinator
kherbert@fburg.city.state.va.us
(540) 372-1216 ext. 205
1-800-260-3646