Westport’s 22nd annual First Night celebration kicked off this afternoon.
The weather was perfect — no rain, sleet or ice, but just enough of a wintry nip in the air to make it New England-y — as kids, parents and grandparents strolled from site to site.
First Night continues through 10 p.m. tonight. Fireworks are set for 7:30 at Jesup Green — right near an outdoor warming fire, stargazing telescope and kettle corn.
Happy New Year!
A mother wrangles her young son at the Saugatuck Elementary School bounce house.
A face painter gets ready for action.
First Night can’t happen without volunteers. The crew at Saugatuck Elementary School included (from left) First Selectman Jim Marpe, his wife Mary Ellen, Rob Hauck and Johanna Rossi.
Dennis the Train Man is a popular attraction at the library. The retired conductor punches a ticket for a very intrigued youngster.
The Survivors provided swing music in the Westport Library’s Great Hall.
Buses provide transportation between downtown and Saugatuck Elementary School. Enjoy the crane — it won’t be there for First Night 2017.
The Westport Astronomical Society sets up a telescope outside the library. With the sun down now, the viewing is better than when this photo was taken.
A mixture of old and new: a horse-drawn carriage passes Bedford Square construction on Church Lane.
Barbara Pearson-Rac — shown here at Town Hall — is the mastermind behind Westport’s First Night.
