After more than 2 decades of “First Night”s, Tuesday marks the 2nd New Year’s Eve without the long tradition.
It ended last year. Several factors — including fewer volunteers, decreasing corporate sponsors and dropping attendance — led to the end of the family-friendly, alcohol-free event.
In a few years, First Night will join other season celebrations — Festival Italiano, anyone? — in the “remember when?” category.
For now, here’s a fond look back at First Nights past:
Horse-drawn sleighs roamed downtown. Photo/Dan Woog)
Fireworks over the Saugatuck (Drone photo/John Videler for Videler Photography)
A mother wrangles her young son at the Saugatuck Elementary School bounce house. (Photo/Dan Woog)
The Westport Astronomical Society hauled out some serious telescopes. (Photo/Dan Woog)
And, for good measure, let’s remember the Christmas crane that towered over Westport just 4 years ago, during the construction of Bedford Square.
(Photo/Wendy Cusick)
