First Night has been a Westport mainstay for 19 years.
But — unlike many local institutions — organizers seem content with low-key marketing.
There’s a button-choosing contest, some newspaper inserts, and posters and displays around town. But they don’t bombard the media with dozens of requests for coverage, and they don’t email updates every time they add a new Scottish dancer to their entertainment roster.
So I’ve decided to do some publicity for them.
First Night is one of those reasons why you move your young family to Westport. It’s traditional, it’s fun, it goes on for several hours, there’s plenty to do, you see friends and folks you haven’t seen all year, and — well, maybe this is the reason some people don’t like it — it’s alcohol-free.
This year’s lineup includes an antique car parade down Main Street; music from For the Heart, Chris Coogan, Mark Naftalin, Leslie Orofino, Bob Lasprogato and (of course) Washboard Slims and the Bluelights; puppets, ice sculptures, ballroom dancing, animal caricatures, square dancing, fortune-telling, drumming, face painting, food — and, at 10;30 p.m., a laser show set to music over the Post Road Bridge.
Buttons ($15; children under 2 go free) are available at www.firstnightww.com, and at all venues — the library, Toquet Hall, Westport Family Y, Christ & Holy Trinity Church, Seabury Center, Historical Society, Town Hall, TD Bank and Moja Cafe — the day of the event.
Oh, yeah. That day is Monday: December 31. First Night is the last night of 2012.
This was fun last year but really needs some organizing. Last year the lines were horrific inside the Westport Y and they gave out tickets to get your caricature done but the Westport Fire Marshall had come and asked people to go to other venues as the lives were long …. So some folks who had a ticket to wait in line for the caricatures then left to go outside and watch the fireworks, when they were done they would cut the line of all those that were waiting patiently and tell us that their number came before my number. Let me tell you – some people believe they are elitest! I will never bring my family to this again.
Not a very Happy First Night!
Zzzzzzzz
Leo, did you attend? I guess you were sleeping. Happy New Year to you Leo!
Dan, You didn’t mention the guy who brings all his model trains. Everybody likes to watch those.
Jo Ann