New Year’s Eve is going to be a bit more fun this year as First Night Maplewood South Orange returns after a two-year hiatus.
Headlining the event will be the Jersey Shore rock and roll party band, The Nerds, who will be joined by a variety of entertainers and artists who will be performing throughout the evening with activities and fun for all ages.
Additional details will be announced in the coming months.
First Night is being held jointly for the Maplewood and South Orange communities, offering family oriented, alcohol-free activities for both adults and children.
Held at Columbia High School, 525 Academy St. Maplewood, First Night festivities begin at 5 p.m., on December 31, 2014 and continue until 10 p.m.
A volunteer Board comprised of residents from both Maplewood and South Orange is organizing First Night. Funding for the event is made possible through title sponsors including BCB Community Bank and Atlantic Health/Overlook Medical Center, as well as the Township of South Orange Village, the Township of Maplewood, the South Orange-Maplewood School District and the South Orange Performing Arts Center.
“I am thrilled to help bring First Night back to our community,” said Michael Goldberg, President of the First Night Board. “The prior Board laid a solid foundation upon which we could re-establish the event. I am so excited to have so many new volunteers who want to bring the event back and take it to the next level. With our generous sponsors and incredible headliner, this will be the best New Years Eve ever.”
President of the First Night Board Michael Goldberg promotes First Night at the National Night Out event on August 5.
The First Night program began in Boston in 1976 as a cap to the nation’s bicentennial. The event’s goal is to broaden public appreciation of the visual and performing arts while offering an alternative to the traditional New Year’s Eve celebrations that typically focus on alcohol and drinking.
There are now several hundred First Night cities throughout the United States and Canada. However, Maplewood/South Orange are the only Essex County communities to present a First Night celebration this year.
To volunteer, get more information, learn ways that you can become a sponsor or purchase an ad in the program visit the website.
