On Saturday, for the 32nd time, New Year’s Eve revelers hit the streets for Northampton’s First Night festivities. The event kicked off with performances by the SHOW Circus Studio and the Expandable Brass Band at the Academy of Music and continued for 12 hours at 20 downtown venues. Theater, dance, music, comedy and entertainment for children were among the offerings.
“The programming has so much variety,” Andy Helgerson of Erving said. “If you’re a jazz person, they have jazz. If you’re a poetry person, they have poetry. There’s something for every person.”
Avril Averill of Easthampton helped his son, Logan Averill-Cilam, 4, who was dressed as a dragon, drum in the new year with facilitator Ellen Clegg, who is the founder of Wellness Empowerment Drumming in Northampton.
“He’s a good-luck dragon,” Averill said.
Mariann and Jeff Millard of South Hadley, who moved there in 2014, spent their first-ever First Night dancing to the beat of L’il BeeDee and the Doo-Rites at the World War II Club.
“I love swing dancing, and he’s a really good sport about it,” Mariann Millard said, referring to her husband. They also took in the fireworks and had dinner at the ConVino Wine Bar.
Joe and Alison Morse of Northampton worked as volunteers again this year, something they’ve been doing for about 15 years.
“It’s a chance to give back to the community,” Joe Morse said. “It’s a lot of fun. I like to meet all the people and say hello.”