FIRST NIGHT IS:

A community celebration of the New Year through the arts. It is a major visual and performing arts festival created by and for the community to welcome the New Year. It is a public celebration that revives the ancient tradition of marking the passage of time with art, ritual and festivity in a present day context.

Why We Are Known as "First Night"

A new year is a new beginning. It is a time to discard the old, to forget the problems of the past, and to look ahead with hope and optimism. The name "First Night" symbolizes this forward look over the technically correct words "Last Night." The name is also a symbolic reference to the opening night of performances. Finally, people tend to remember words that are in odd or illogical combinations. Therefore, the words First Night, associated with positive feelings and memorable experiences, are unforgettable.

Similar cities with populations close to Port Huron have successfully held First Night Celebrations for the past 10 years with recent attendance of over 100,000 people. The anticipated attendance for Port Huron's 8th First Night celebration is 5,000  people.

First Night International ® has spearheaded the evolution and staging of First Night celebrations through-out the world for over 20 years. Their president is one of the original founders of the First Night concept back in 1976 when the first celebration was held in Boston, MA.

First Night is a non-profit organization. Additional information can be found at http://www.firstnightintl.org.