NORTHAMPTON — Kim Tremblay sipped free hot chocolate and talked New Year’s resolutions as her family made its way to another event during Northampton’s 32nd First Night celebration.

“There are things like that that are just everywhere,” Tremblay, 46, said, pointing to the free hot chocolate stand put up by the non-profit Our Family Farms. “It’s so nice.”

She said she’d work to be happier in 2017.

At Northampton’s family-friendly First Night — presented by the Northampton Center for the Arts and PeoplesBank — families, friends and couples strolled down Main Street on the lookout for the next opportunity to revel, reminisce and look forward to 2017. 

A long line of people stretched out of the Academy of Music entrance Saturday afternoon, each person hoping to grab a spot in the theater hall to see a circus performance and catch the Expandable Brass Band play under the venue’s marquee.

In line, Steve Calcagnino, 69, of Northampton, said he used to be the director of the Center for the Arts years ago and helped coordinate First Night events.

He said buy-in from the business community, Center for the Arts organizers and visitors from Northampton and surrounding towns make it a growing, successful event each year.

“Efforts like this are always plural, never singular,” Calcagino said. “And people love it.

“It’s great to see it continue,” he added.

Jody Capelluti, 68, of South Portland, Maine, said he and his family choose a different city to go to each year. They’ve been to Boston. They’ve been to Quebec. And now, Northampton. 

“We planned this a year ahead,” he said, saying his son Andrew studies in the area.

Down the street, the Juggler Meadow Morris Men had set down their sets of Caribou antlers to dance with swords to accordian music. They said it was an English ritual dance tradition.

Geoff Rogers, 57, of Shutesbury, said the group started in 1980.

“I started in 1981,” he said. “I’m one of the new guys.”

He said he was moved when he originally saw the dancers.

“It was powerful and graceful and beautiful,” Rogers said. “And there was a lot of beer involved.”

Erica Walch, 47, of Springfield, had come up to see her friend play the trombone in the Expandable Brass Band. She held a cup of coffee in her gloved hands and had on a fox fur hat.

She had two New Year’s resolutions.

“One time I was buying a towel warmer in a store and the guy said ‘you treat yourself real good,’” Walch said. “So I, you know, want to do nice things for myself (this year).”

She also wants to “trust that God has a good plan for me.”

Chris Kubacki, 60, of Northampton was walking her Scottish terrier Izzie down Main Street and said she wasn’t really partaking in the festivities, which included fireworks that lit up the blackness shortly after 6 p.m.  

She said she’d spend New Year’s Eve in her house after a long holiday season traveling.

In the new year, she’d like to eat better and take Izzie on more walks.

“And we need to be nice to everybody,” she said. “People are so mean. I hate it.”

Lily Grob, 16, of Boston, said she comes to Northampton each year for New Year’s, party because she has family here.

“I like the whole feeling — everyone just coming together and ready to start the new year,” she said. “It’s a feeling of togetherness.”

She said she prefers Northampton’s New Year’s Eve celebrations over Boston’s because of the community feel.

“It’s much more festive up here,” she said. “It feels safe up here. Boston, not so much.”

Outside the Thorne’s parking garage, Dan Miller grabbed hot chocolate while Nicole Miller watched the kids play on a compacted pile of plowed snow before the fireworks began. She said coming to First Night to see fireworks has become somewhat of a tradition.

“It’s at a very kid-friendly time,” Nicole Miller said.

“I like to slide down,” 3-year-old Liam said of the snow pile.

What was 7-year-old Alison’s favorite part of New Year’s Eve?

“I like the fireworks,” she said.

She won’t be staying up until midnight, her parents said.

Contact Jack Suntrup at jsuntrup@gazettenet.com.

 

 

 

 

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