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First Night Montpelier 2011 - December 31, 2010!
For information about New Year's Eve- December 31, 2012, please click here: NYE-2012
Underwritten by National Life Group
First Night Finale under the Disco Ball in City Hall Plaza
Parade of Lights
Disco Party with DJ Don P
Lantern Launch
The Fire Organ by Antoinette Jacobson
Buy a Button!
VOLUNTEER: contact volunteer@montpelieralive.org
First Night Montpelier 2011 is a community festival on New Year’s Eve, produced annually by Montpelier Alive. First Night Montpelier 2011 will be our 17th – a tradition made possible by the dedicated work of volunteers, the strong financial support of businesses and individuals, and the wonderful creative output of our talented artists and community creators.
First Night Schedule-at-a-Glance
Press Release #1 November 22, 2010
Press Release #2 December 6, 2010
Press Release #3 Dec 17, 2010: WHAT'S NEW- 5 Highlights.pdf
WHAT: A family-oriented New Year’s Eve celebration centered on the arts, this year featuring a PARADE of LIGHTS, DISCO BALL PARTY and LANTERN LAUNCH in front of City Hall at 9:00 p.m. Dozens of Artists and Activities are featured, from Ice Staking to a Bubble Circus to the Vermont Philharmonic. Music, poetry, theater, dances, a road race, face painting and much more are included in the 89 hours or programming.
List of Artists & Activities
WHEN: Friday, December 31, 2010. Starting at noon, ending at 10:00 p.m.
WHERE: All over downtown Montpelier, Vermont, where over 20 buildings, churches, plazas and storefronts become stages for musicians, actors, dancers, and artists.
First Night Sites & Sponsors
THANK YOU ALL OF OUR SPONSORS AND DONORS!
WHO: All ages! The First Night celebration offers something for everyone!
WHY: To celebrate the arts and the creative spirit of Central Vermont with an alternative way of ushering in the New Year.
To bring neighboring communities of the city together in an accessible and affordable joint celebration.
To draw singles, couples, and families of all ages and ethnic backgrounds from all over the region.
To stimulate the local economy.
HOW: First Night is possible because of the support of artists, volunteers, sponsors, city departments, business owners, and media organizations. 200 volunteers work at button sales, set-up, clean-up and office help. For a two-hour shift, volunteers receive a button for admission to all events plus a meal ticket for the First Night Cantina.
HOW MUCH: Admission is a First Night Button: $10-15, depending on when and how many.
First Night Button Sales Locations & Prices
First Night Button Prices:
ADVANCE SALES: $12 for single button
$10 each for four or more buttons
DAY OF FESTIVAL: $15 for single button
$13 each for four or more buttons
Children 3 and under are free- no button required.
NOTE: Not all venues will have buttons for sale on the day of the festival. Buttons will be on sale only at the following venues on December 31:
Noon City Center – Your First Night Center
Noon Montpelier City Hall
2:30pm Union School
2:30pm Montpelier High School
SPECIAL PROMOTION! At Art Walk on December 10th, all buttons are $10 each, available in participating Art Walk locations.
BUTTON LOCATIONS
Montpelier: Capitol Stationers; Hunger Mountain Coop; Minuteman Press; Montpelier City Hall; Shaw's Montpelier; Slope Style Ski & Ride
Barre: Hannaford Supermarket; Barre Books
Barre-Montpelier Road: Kinney Drugs
East Montpelier: Bragg Farm
Northfield: Northfield Pharmacy
Waterbury: Merchant's Bank
VOLUNTEER
Montpelier Alive is seeking nearly 200 volunteers for button sales, set-up, clean-up and office help. There are positions for individuals, couples and families. In exchange for working a two-three hour shift, volunteers receive a button for admission to all events plus a meal ticket for the First Night cantina. Contact Charlene McCarney at 229-3228 or 485-8072 or email for information on volunteer positions.
TO VOLUNTEER contact Charlene McCarney CMcCarney@nationallife.com
VOLUNTEER - More than 200 volunteers help us stage the festival, from planning to set up to clean up
SPONSOR - More than 75 businesses offer financial and in-kind support; contributions keep button prices affordable
DONATE – Central Vermonters make contributions to help insure our success
PARTICIPATE – There is something fun for everyone, all for the price of one button
PARTNER – Collaborations with community artists and organizations are central to the First Night concept
CREATE – Artists, educators and youth build and present the program that delights thousands every year
To Volunteer: call Charlene McCarney, Volunteer Coordinator at 229-3228 or 485-8072 CMcCarney@nationallife.com
Or Contact:
Jimmy Swift, Festival Coordinator
Phone: 802.238.6888 (mobile) E-mail
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Here are some highlights of December 31st - First Night in Montpelier!
Re-Bop Records Extravaganza at Montpelier High School!
“Motor City Music for Minors" and More! Celebrating 21 Years of Re-Bop Kids
Marshfield’s Re-Bop Records celebrates 21 years of bringing together outstanding Vermont musicians with an ever-revolving group of talented kids. Montpelier High’s Smilie Auditorium will host a Re-Bop Family Concert, Alumni Showcase, plus concerts by Re-Bop friends Anais Mitchell and Tammy Fletcher. Smilie Auditorium is the site – our host is the Montpelier Public Schools; our sponsor is VSECU; our community partner is Montpelier’s Rotary Club; our program is Re-Bop Records & Friends.
PARADE OF LIGHTS, DISCO PARTY & LANTERN LAUNCH, 9-10 p.m.
The Finale to this year's First Night Celebration!
YES! Parade of Lights, Disco Party & Lantern Launch
Parade starts at Kellogg-Hubbard Library on Main Street to the Disco Party at City Hall Plaza, 9:00-10:00 pm
Bring Your Light to First Night! Welcome the New Year with lanterns, torches, glow-in-the darks, flashlights and other glowing, spinning objects! Come Dance!
Bring Your Light to First Night! Welcome the New Year with lanterns, torches, glow-in-the darks, flashlights and other glowing, spinning objects! Come Dance!
Janice Walrafen leads the Parade of Lights, starting at Kellogg-Hubbard Library, to City Hall Plaza, where under the Disco Ball atop City Hall, our very own DJ Don P will spin dubbing sounds for a Disco Party. Kerry Kaye Fire & Light will lead the Fire Spinners and perform in the Plaza. Antoinette Jacobson will play The Fire Organ! The Lantern Singers will sing! And our spectacular finale features the first-ever Central Vermont Lantern Launch!
Dj Don P spins for the Disco!
Antoinette Jacobson & the Fire Organ!
Kerry Kaye Fire & Light
Grand Opening at City Hall with Marko plus Wells & Woodhead's Vaudeville Revue!
Activities begin at 1:00 pm with a Grand Opening in City Hall’s Arts Center. The mesmerizing and comedic talents of Marko the Magician and Wells & Woodhead lead a cast of celebrities helping us “cut the ribbon” for First Night 2011!
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Buttons
Schedule Grid (Printable PDF)
Artists & Activities
Volunteer
SPECIAL EVENTS
Ice Skate!
Central Vermont Memorial Civic Center, Gallison Hill Road in Montpelier 1:00-3:30 pm
Cross Country Ski!
Morse Farm Nordic Center, County Road 1:00-3:30 pm
Swim!
First in Fitness, Granger Road in Berlin 1:00-3:30 pm
StoryWalk™
Begins at Kellogg-Hubbard Library Noon – 5:00 pm
First Night 5K Race
Court Street and Governor Davis Avenue, 3 PM
This last 5K road race of the year is organized by the Central Vermont Runner’s Club. Entry forms are available at www.cvrunners.org, or can be picked up at the Montpelier Alive office at 39 Main Street in Montpelier. Race day registration is located in the basement of the Pavilion Building starting at 1:45 PM. Download a race application here. Register early!
The ReStore Hat Making Workshop at City Center, 3:00-6:00 pm
One of the highlights of Montpelier’s First Night celebration is The ReStore’s annual hatmaking workshop. The ReStore will supply all the fun and funky recycled materials you need to make wild and wonderful creations. Great fun for all ages!
Lantern Making Workshop at City Center 4:00-7:00 pm
Led by Ellen Bloom & Emily Dwyer. Make your light and bring it to the Parade of Lights!
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BUT WHAT IS FIRST NIGHT?
It was started in Boston in 1976 by group of artists inspired to create a new kind of New Year’s revelry emphasizing community spirit. First Night, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that presents First Night Boston, the oldest festival of its kind in North America.
It was started in Boston in 1976 by group of artists inspired to create a new kind of New Year’s revelry emphasizing community spirit. First Night, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that presents First Night Boston, the oldest festival of its kind in North America.
The mission of First Night, Inc. is to build community and celebrate diversity through the arts.
There are currently 75 First Nights in the U.S. Organizers share a commitment to promoting the performing and visual arts as catalysts for unifying their citizens on New Year’s Eve (and beyond) through creativity, imagination, and participation.
Sponsorship opportunities are also available!
Be Part of Montpelier's First Night! Join us!
Buttons go on sale December 1st at locations throughout Central Vermont. Get yo
Advance Sales: $12 for single button
$10 per button for group purchases of 4 or more
Day of Festival: $15 for single button
$13 per button for group purchases of 4 or more
Children 3 and under attend for free!
Get your button for free by volunteering.
Wear your First Night button and take advantage of these free activities before heading downtown for more First Night fun! You can also buy your button at the door of these special events.
Vermont History Museum
Sponsored by: Vermont Historical Society Pavilion Building, Museum open 10-4 pm, free with First Night Button
Noisemakers Make & Take Workshop, 1-3 pm
Volunteer Profile
Dana Dwinell-Yardley
Dana's volunteer connection with Montpelier Alive began a few months back when she volunteered to help out with First Night. She also did some graphic design work for e-mail newsletters and posters when Phayvanh contacted her through the Onion River Exchange (ORE) volunteer bank. (In exchange for the hours she contributes doing graphic design, she has used her ORE credits to arrange for things like pet sitting, haircuts, and top-to-bottom house cleaning. Check out Onion River Exchange at www.orexchange.org.) READ MORE HERE.
Community Events
Join Montpelier’s Presidential Challenge to Walk or Roll 802 hours in the month of May 2013. Presidentschallenge.org
5/25- Family Bike Clinic and Ride, Montpelier High School 9am- Helmet fitting, safety instruction and practice in parking lot followed by an optional ride to 3-mile bridge & return on the Route 2 shoulder. Families with school-aged kids welcome.
5/27 – 5/31- On-Bike Safety Trainings for all Union Elementary School students in grades 4 and 5.
5/9 through 5/31: Walking Scavenger Hunt- Walk to 5 locations on the periphery of town and get punches on your Quest Card. Cards can be picked up a the five hunt destinations as of May 8th. Locations are Birchgrove Baking, Hunger Mt. Coop, Hubbard Park tower, North Branch Nature Center, and the VT State Info Center. Return punch cards to City Hall via mail or drop-off to be eligible for prizes!
Committee Meetings
6/5- MBA- 8:30 am- 9:30am
6/10- Design- 5:15pm- 6:15pm
6/13- Board- 5:30pm- 7:00pm
6/18 -Promotions- 11:00 am-12:00pm
What else is happening? Find out HERE!
Contact us anytime:
Montpelier Alive
39 Main Street
Montpelier, Vt 05602
director@montpelieralive.org
(802) 223-9604
Phayvanh Luekhamhan
Executive Director