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James E. McGreevey |
William D. Watley |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
Contact: Karen Wolfe - 609.292.2523 |
| First Rate First
Night Celebrations Trenton, N.J. (December 15, 2003)—First Night celebrations offering a wide variety of performances for all ages are coming up on New Year’s Eve across New Jersey. "First Night celebrations offer affordable family entertainment with children’s attractions starting as early as afternoon, followed by performances for the grownups ‘til the big countdown," says Nancy Byrne, executive director of New Jersey's Office of Travel & Tourism. Ten communities are hosting First Night celebrations throughout New Jersey, including Teaneck and Ridgewood, both in Bergen County; Summit, Union County; Maplewood/South Orange and Montclair, Essex County; Morristown/Morris Township, Morris County; Mount Holly, Burlington County; Haddonfield, Camden County; Toms River, Ocean County and Ocean City, Cape May County. The First Night celebrations lure tens of thousands of people to their parades, professional music, dance, magic, mime, storytelling, comedy performances and visual arts. Some of the communities hold their event at one site, while others use various sites nearby. The price of admission varies in each community, ranging from $5 to $15 per person. Many offer discounts for children or those buying in advance. Regan Young, chairman of the First Night New Jersey Coalition, said First Nights are worthwhile even for families who don’t want to stay out late because many offer children’s programs in the afternoon or early evening. For example, in Mount Holly there is a pet parade at 5 p.m. followed by a puppet workshop, said Young, who is also one of the officials planning the First Night in Mount Holly. “We do our big fireworks display at 9:30 p.m. so young children can see them and still not get home too late,” Young said. “Many of the First Night attractions are for the whole family. You don’t have to be a kid to enjoy seeing a magician and you don’t have to be an adult to enjoy hearing a jazz band.” For more information about First Night Mount Holly, call (609) 914-0811 or visit www.mainstreetmountholly.com. In Teaneck, the event begins at 2 p.m. and includes parades, a salsa band, arts and crafts, face painting, a Mother Goose storyteller, a disc jockey and showcase of teen bands, jazz, blues, Caribbean and Dixieland bands, dancing and comedy. For more information, call (201) 287-9730 or visit www.tcacarts.org. Ridgewood’s celebration starts at 4 p.m. with children’s activities including an interactive art gallery, a musician and storytellers, followed by 7 p.m. fireworks. Also, the Liberty Science Center will be there with a human transporting machine, a star-gazing dome for viewing constellations and “Science Sportacular,” an exhibit demonstrating the relationship between science and sports. There will also be a men’s singing group and other singers and musicians for adults. For more information, call (201) 447-1739 or visit www.firstnightridgewood.org. Summit’s First Night begins at 3 p.m. with children’s offerings including music, magic, storytelling, puppet shows, face painting, juggling, clowns and a fireworks display at 7 p.m. The evening also features a cruise ship theme with singing, dancing and other musical performances from various countries, culminating with a larger fireworks show at midnight. For more information, call (908) 522-1722 ext. 22 or visit www.firstnightsummit.org In Maplewood/South Orange, there will be two showings of arts performances, the first at 3 p.m. and later after 7 p.m. fireworks. There will be dancers, acrobats, a magician, a puppet show, an origami artist to teach all ages how to do the Japanese art of paper folding, a comedic folk singer, a swing band and a ventriloquist. For more information, call (973) 763-4778 or visit www.firstnightmapso.org. In Montclair, the evening will include a variety of entertainment, including a Phoebe Snow concert, the Flying Mueller Brothers, a band that interacts with the audience, plus the New Jersey Ballet, magicians, puppet shows and gospel, blues, folk and Brazilian music. For more information, call (973) 509-4910 or visit www.firstnightmontclair.org. In Morris County, First Night begins at 7 p.m. Nearly all events are in Morristown. The only exception is an 8 p.m. play at a theater in Morris Township. Other events include a parade, fireworks, a puppet show and juggler. For more information about Morris County, call (973) 455-0708 or visit www.firstnightmorris.com. Haddonfield’s First Night begins at 6 p.m. and ends with midnight fireworks. There will be 20 acts across town, mostly indoors, including singers, dancers, jazz, classical and Dixieland bands, magicians, jugglers and comedians. For more information, call (856) 429-4700 ext. 300 or visit www.firstnighthaddonfield.org In Ocean County, First Night will start with the carousel, arcades and skeeball on the Boardwalk in Seaside Heights. That will be followed by a wide variety of shows in churches and schools in nearby Toms River, and midnight fireworks over the Toms River. For more information, call (732) 286-1889 or (609) 660-0346 or visit www.firstnightoceancounty.org. In Ocean City, some of the Boardwalk amusements will also be open, in addition to concerts by the Ocean City Pops Orchestra and Back Beat, a Beatles tribute band, and many other attractions. For more information, call (609) 525-9292 or (609) 525-9300 or visit www.firstnightoceancitynj.com For more information, visit www.jerseyarts.com or www.firstnightnewjersey.com or call 1-800-THE-ARTS. For more information about First Nights worldwide, visit www.firstnight.com. For information and brochures on touring, dining, places to stay, maps or to reserve your copy of the 2004 New Jersey Travel Guide, contact the New Jersey Office of Travel & Tourism, at 609-292-2470; or visit the website at www.visitnj.org
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