The Northampton Arts Council is thrilled to present our city’s 39th annual New Year’s Eve celebration and festival of the performing arts, which takes place on December 31, 2023. The event falls on a Sunday this year, and we look forward to welcoming enthusiastic crowds at the venues and on the streets downtown. First Night continues to be a unique opportunity to celebrate the cultural vibrancy of our community while sharing time with friends, neighbors, and visitors. We’ll witness a fireworks display at 6:15 pm. We’ll gather outside the Hotel Northampton for a “ball-raising.” A bargain-priced pin is still the ticket to over 75 arts and entertainment performances.
The celebration kicks off at noon at the Academy of Music with two performances of SHOW Circus Studio’s “Let There Be Light.” At 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., “Bugaboo Revue” will be presented by Talking Hands Theatre at at Hallie Flanagan Theatre at Smith College. The A2Z Yo-Yo Team and Mad Science of Western New England will be in the 1-4 p.m. slot at Theatre 14 at Smith College.
Throughout the afternoon, jugglers, magicians, dancers, puppets, a cappella voices, plus classical and contemporary music will flood various downtown streets and venues.
Of course, the fireworks display at 6:15 p.m. will light up the sky and top off the afternoon. The annual skyward illuminations will jam the downtown streets with fans as the pyrotechnics are launched from the roof of the John Gare Garage. The fireworks also signal the start of evening fun, with a wide range of entertainment offerings. These include a performance by the beloved Northamptones at the Academy of Music at 7 p.m. followed by Aisha Burns at 8 p.m., Mary Lambert at 9:15 p.m., and Soul Magnets at 10:15 p.m.
More info can be found at First Night Northampton.org.
Parking:
On First Night, there is free on-street parking. All of Northampton’s municipal lots are free EXCEPT for the downtown parking garage. Smith College parking lots and the Smith College garage on West Street are complimentary and open to the general public. There are also lots at Forbes Library, the Northampton Senior Center, and the Northampton Community Arts Trust at 33 Hawley Street.
Please remember that access to and from the E.J. Gare Parking Garage will be restricted from approximately 4:30 PM to 6:45 PM because of the fireworks display. The same is true for the adjacent municipal lots.
Similarly, parking is restricted at 8:00 PM in order to empty spaces adjacent to the Hotel Northampton for the ball-raising (see graphic). Please do NOT park at bagged meters or in areas that are clearly marked as restricted.
