First Night Fredericksburg is a community celebration of the New Year that brings together family and friends for an evening of fun and entertainment.  "First Night" symbolizes the look ahead, with hope and optimism to the New Year.  The event features many artists in dozens of different venues in downtown Fredericksburg and culminates with the traditional Fredericksburg dropping of the Pear at midnight.
 

CalypsoNuts (http://www.calypsonuts.com/) will be our headline act at the Visitor Center tent. The CalypsoNuts play a large variety of songs and things with an emphasis on the Island feel. Real honest to goodness steel drums and the ability to play them make this possible. Jimmy Buffett music from the worn out to the obscure is always on the menu, while Island favorites and foolishness grace the plate as well. Not limiting themselves, The CalypsoNuts also lace their repertoire with oldies, standards, country and blues tunes. The audience never knows exactly what to expect when these two characters take the stage! Their award winning contests and games are not to be missed when the crowd becomes both the contestants and the judges.

Kamara Cloud (http://www.kamaracloud.com/)(listen to Kamara Cloud), East Forester (http://www.geocities.com/efmusic56/),  (listen to East Forester), and Elysium (http://www.elysiumrockshard.com/) (listen to Elysium) will be playing in the teen venue at Spanky's Lot. A musical production from Stage Door Productions and the area's "Singing EMT" Palmer Allen will be performing at the Library. R. Bruce (http://www.rbruce.net/), Laurie Rose Griffith (http://www.laurieandpeter.com/), Pete Mealy (http://www.laurieandpeter.com/) and Kent Ippolito will be at Picker's Supply Concert Hall. Black Hats and Diamonds will be teaching and performing country western line dancing.  Oriental Dancing by Pearls of Rhythm (http://www.kawakib.com/Pearls.html), Celtic music by Moch Pryderi, Folk music by Bob Gramann (http://www.bobgramann.com/) and performances by the Sheffield Consort will also be contributing to this years event. If you are in for a little mystery, we will have that too. Entrée Act , a traveling dinner murder mystery troupe will be at Saint George's Church. Kamp Kreatures (http://www.kampkreatures.com/), magic by Les Jongleurs (http://www.lesjongleurs.iwarp.com/custom.html)and an expanded Children's Activity area will certainly keep the little ones celebrating!  We will be roasting chestnuts once again and offering FREE Trolley Tours and horse-drawn carriage rides to First Night button holders.

Button sales will begin on December 16. Buttons can be purchased at the Library Headquarters, Porter Library, Salem Church Library, Snow Library, Fredericksburg area Wawa stores, Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania Visitor center, Cards n' Cones, and Whittingham.

Buttons are:
$6.00 for adults
$4.00 for senior (50+)
$4.00 for child (ages 6-12)
Under 6 Free

Be at The Heart of The Party: Volunteer!
More than 3,000 people are expected in Downtown Fredericksburg for First Night and YOU can be at the heart of the party - the lifeline of First Night's success! We have tasks for hundreds of volunteers -  from button checkers to stage managers and volunteers manning street barricades. If you have volunteered in previous years, join us again! If you have never volunteered with First Night, no time like the present!

Individuals, families, and groups are welcome to apply.  All volunteers receive a complimentary First Night button allowing them full access to the night's activities when they are not on duty.

To volunteer, contact:  Kimberly Herbert, kherbert@fburg.city.state.va.us, 540 372-1216, fax - 540 372-6587.
 

Kimberly S. Herbert
First Night Coordinator
Economic Development & Tourism
City of Fredericksburg, Virginia
(540) 372-1216    Fax (540) 372-6587