For the 14th year in a row, downtown St. Petersburg hosts the Bay area's most well-attended booze-free New Year's Eve celebration, First Night. This year's family-friendly event opens with "Midday at Midtown," during which six venues along 22nd Street S. — the Royal Theater, St. Pete Clay Company, the Manhattan Casino, the Carter G. Woodson African American History Museum, the Johnnie Ruth Clarke Health Center and St. Pete College Midtown Center — host a series of pre-Night diversions, including hands-on activities, puppet shows, a bicycle rodeo, and live music by the Brian Ransom Ceramic Band, Jose Valentino and the Jazz Band, Rose Bilal, Sterling Magee, T.C. Carr, Tracey Purcell and Souls Harvest Praise Team.
Downtown gets rolling at 5 p.m.; the following is a breakdown of several participating venues and scheduled performances:
The Arts Center, 5-9 p.m., 719 Central Ave. The center hosts a variety of children's activities as well as a musical petting zoo by the Second Time Arounders, a theater workshop by American Stage, performances by an Asian youth dance troupe and Vivace Violins, and a "People's Procession" that forms at 8 p.m. and proceeds down Central Avenue to the Bubble Stomp at First Street N., where it disbands.
First Central Tower, 7-10 p.m., 360 Central Ave. The reflective building serves as the backdrop for bell ringing by the Lutheran Church of the Cross Handbell Ringers, and a cappella sacred and secular chamber music singing by Chorus Angelorum.
Museum of Fine Arts, 7-11:30 p.m., 255 Beach Drive N.E. The museum stage features shadow stories by Pollyzoom and performances by Brazilian rhythm makers O Som Do Jazz.
The Pier, 5-11:30 p.m., 800 Second Ave. N. The inverted pyramid otherwise known as The Pier hosts a slew of activities, including face painting, music and dance by the Applause Performance company, story telling by Talespinners, starwatching with the St. Petersburg Astronomy Club and performances by mixed-ability dance troupe, REVolutions Dance.
Straub Park, 7-11:30 p.m., Bayshore Drive and First — Fifth Avenue N.E. A stage is set up on the northern end of the park and attendees can see live Cuban jazz and dance music by Freddy Montes y Su Son while taking part in (or simply watching) the Great Explorations Bubble Blast and a 100-drum community drumming circle. At the park's southern end, attendees enjoy dancing, music and games at T.A.S.C.O.'s Country Music Fest, and a "Water Words" Labyrinth, which is described as a meditative exercise where participants can reflect on water and their impact on the environment.
The Studio@620, 7-11 p.m., 821 First Ave. S. In conjunction with their Illuminations exhibit, the Oiseaux Sisters host Shadow Gardens, an interactive shadow puppet event. Find out more by visiting thestudio@620.com.
Other event highlights include live guitar performances by Mayor Rick Baker and Same Stone at the St. Pete Museum of History (7:45-8:15 p.m., 335 Second Ave. N.E.); ballroom dancing demonstrations, intermittent open dancing and country line dancing at the Bank of America Tower (7-11 p.m., One Progress Plaza); performances of the children's mystery, Bunnicula, at American Stage (4:30, 6 and 7:30 p.m., 211 Third St. S.); and spirited bluegrass performances by the Bluegrass Parlor Band at First Methodist Church (7:30-11:30 p.m., 212 Third St. N.).
A mid-event fireworks display occurs at 9 p.m. on the waterfront, with the impressive pyrotechnics finale occurring at the stroke of midnight.
For a complete schedule of participating venues, performers and artists, to get directions, or to print a map of the area, visit firstnightstpete.com.
Sun., Dec. 31. Admission buttons are $8 in advance/$10 day of for adults, and $5 for ages 6 to 12; children 5 and younger enter for free. For more information, call 727-823-8906. —Leilani Polk
This article appears in Dec 27, 2006 – Jan 2, 2007.