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Weekend forecast: First Night and fireworks
First Night takes place on the last night of the year. Once that odd bit of semantics is out of the way, it becomes easier to understand why First Night St. Pete has been part of the downtown landscape for 30 years. It’s the only family-friendly, free New Year’s Eve celebration in the city.
For a plethora of reasons including residual pandemic woes, loss of sponsorship and a volunteer shortage, First Night was canceled in 2022. So while the 2023/24 edition, 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday (Dec. 31) at North Straub Park, is being touted as “the 30th annual,” it’s actually been 31 years since First Night was established in St. Pete.
Longtime event director Jamie McWade says there was a genuine concern that First Night St. Pete, which is part of a nationwide group of New Year’s Eve First Night events, might not return. “Thankfully, First Night St. Pete does have a lot of community support,” she explains. “And we’re seeing that as we’re getting out into the community and sharing that this event is coming back: A lot of people are coming up to us and saying ‘We’re so excited that you’re here! We don’t even care that it looks different.’”
Here’s what’s new:
It’s free. In years past, visitors bought commemorative buttons in order to gain admission to the various art, music and dance events. You can still purchase buttons – a new version is created each year by a local artist – as souvenirs. This year’s button is by Marc Lavesseur.
It’s in one place. Previous editions of First Night included concerts and other events scattered in up to 12 venues around the bayfront, like clues in a treasure hunt. This year, everything takes place in North Straub Park. “Even though we’re usually spread out through downtown, we have more activities happening in one park than we had in the past at 12 different venues,” reports McWade. “So we’re really kind of cramming a lot down there in North Straub Park.”
It ends early. With the last bell ringing at 8 p.m., First Night, which is alcohol-free, concedes the bayfront to the St. Pete Pier, which is not alcohol-free, for more adult fun and games, including the City of St. Petersburg’s midnight fireworks show.
First Night has a main performance stage, a dance stage, an interactive art village, a music village and a literary village.
For kids and their families, it’s four hours of activities, performances and other entertainment. Food trucks, snacks, and hot chocolate will be available for purchase, and guests are welcome to bring their own picnic food.
“First Night gives parents an opportunity to come to a safe location that’s alcohol-free. But with that said, we made sure, in putting our program together, that there is something for people who don’t have children, as well.”
Meanwhile, on the St. Pete Pier
The festivities begin at 8 p.m. – dovetailing with First Night – and include a live DJ (and a spinning disco ball) on the Spa Beach stage. All manner of food and drink will be available for purchase.
The City of St. Petersburg fireworks show starts at midnight, and should be visible from just about anywhere on the waterfront.
The SunRunner bus service will operate until 1 a.m.
More public fireworks for NYE
Treasure Island: Suggested best midnight viewing is Gulf Front Park, 10400 Gulf Blvd.
Clearwater: Sand Key Park will be closed to the public; best midnight viewing area is the southern part of Clearwater Beach. The fireworks, of course, will be visible all along the beach.
A professional touring company brings “Nutcracker” to the Mahaffey Theater for three performances Saturday. Publicity photo.
Weekend in the arts
Tonight (Thursday, Dec. 28) at the Mahaffey Theater: Comedian Fortune Feimster. Tickets for the 7 p.m. performance are here.
Principal artists from Ukraine, Japan, Russia and Europe headline Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet, the classical dance extravaganza, which makes its annual holiday-season visit to the Mahaffey Theater at 12, 4 and 8 p.m. Saturday. Tickets.
Las Vegas stage magician Jenn Kramer performs a 1 p.m. matinee Friday at Ruth Eckerd Hall. Tickets.
Sunday brings the annual Salute to Vienna New Year’s Concert. The 3 p.m. performance at Ruth Eckerd Hall features a full orchestra, conducted by András Deák, along with European singers and dancers. Tickets.
The Weekend Forecast appears every Thursday in the Catalyst.
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