First Night is Boston's New Year's Eve festival of arts and entertainment, with music, theater, art exhibits, dance, fireworks and a Grand Procession through the streets of the city.

It's a great way to spend New Year's Eve!

The fun starts at lunchtime with performances and exhibits opening. Buy a First Night button (about $15) and your contribution gets you into most of the events at no additional charge.

Even if you don't buy a button, there's plenty to see and do in the city center.

Weather permitting, fanciful ice sculptures are created on Boston Common, in Copley Square, and in several other locations.

A central event of early evening is the Grand Procession, with bands, performers in costume, and arts groups trouping along Boylston Street past Copley Square to Boston Common.

After the Procession a brilliant and surprisingly artistic fireworks show lights up Boston Common. It's still early enough for the children to be up and active.

	Pegasus in daylight...

Other events continue until after midnight. The MBTA usually operates extra subway train services, and in the later evening, until midnight, opens the turnstiles to all for free.

Started in 1976, First Night was an upbeat, creative alternative to the traditional New Year's Eve revelry that might feature wildness and alcohol and sometimes ended badly.

With First Night Boston, Bostonians found lots to entertain them, and many ways to celebrate that are creative, constructive and fun. More...

Other New England cities also have First Night celebrations, including Burlington VT, Providence RI and Stamford CT.

—by Tom Brosnahan

---

About First Night New Year's Eve December in New England January in New England New England Almanac New England's Seasons Boston Events About Boston NE Almanac