Downtown St. Petersburg's booze-free New Year's Eve celebration, First Night, celebrates its 15th year with plenty of fun and creative activities and amusements for families to enjoy.
The event kicks off at the Soulful Arts Dance Academy with a free dance lesson followed by a mini-dance concert featuring the academy's pint-sized talents (4:30 p.m., 290 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. N., St. Petersburg).
Downtown festivities get rolling at 5 p.m. The following is a breakdown of several participating venues and their scheduled events:
The Arts Center, 5-8 p.m., 719 Central Ave. The center hosts New Year's Eve hat- and mask-making activities for kids. Other diversions include scientific arts by Mad Science, performances by Vivace Violins, a musical petting zoo, and meet-and-greets with Science Center animals. A Bubble Stomp led by the Youth Arts Corp kicks off on Seventh Street next to center at 8 p.m.
First Central Tower, 7-10 p.m., 360 Central Ave. The Lutheran Church of the Cross Bell Ringers play bells of all sizes and Chorus Angelorum presents a cappella sacred and secular chamber music. Both takes turns performing throughout the evening.
Baywalk, 6:45 p.m.-midnight, 146 Second St. N. The Baywalk festivities begin with a zydeco dance lesson taught by local enthusiast/practitioner Jerry Carrier. Savoy South hosts swing dancing afterwards from 7 p.m. to midnight.
St. Pete Museum of History, 7-11 p.m., 335 Second Ave. N.E. St. Petersburg Times writer Jeff Klinkenberg shares stories about Florida and his experiences in the field; Munekache Marionettes with Raquel Ache Leonard presents "A Night of International Marionettes;" and artist Paula Allen projects shadow art on the museum's east wall.
The Pier, 5-11:30 p.m., 800 Second Ave. N. The St. Petersburg Astronomy Club sets up several of its large telescopes along the Pier approach for those interested in doing some New Year's Eve star-watching. Other Pier enjoyments include two dance shows by Applause Performance Company, traditional folk tales, tall tales and other stories by Talespinners Ann Wilson and Maurine Nicols-Olin, and classical guitar playing by musician Marius Kozlowski.
Straub Park, 7 p.m.-12:30 a.m., Bayshore Drive and First — Fifth Avenue N.E. Stages are set up on the northern and southern ends of the park, with community drumming on the north stage and live zydeco music by LeRoy Thomas and the Zydeco Roadrunners on the south stage. A TASCO-hosted "Party in the Park" dance for teens takes place from 7:30 p.m. to midnight, Dundu Dole African Ballet and West Florida Ballet perform at various points during the evening, Great Explorations hosts a Bubble Blast, and the Pier Aquarium's "Way to Go Green!" labyrinth features a slew of green ideas. Attendees are encouraged to add their resolutions to the boat-shaped New Year's Eve Resolution Fire Sculpture created by artists Robert Stackhouse and Carol Mickett. The sculpture will be set on fire at 11 p.m. under the supervision of the St. Petersburg Fire Department in celebration of its 100th anniversary.
Other event highlights: Caribbean music by the Tampa Bay Steel Orchestra at the Museum of Fine Arts stage (7-11:30 p.m., 255 Beach Drive N.E.); "Sideway Stories from Wayside School" at American Stage (6 and 7:30 p.m., 311 Third St. S.); jazz favorites by the Bay City Jazz Sextet at St. Peter's Cathedral (7-11 p.m., 140 Fourth St. N.); and live music by Mountain Memories Bluegrass Band at The Plaza Courtyard & Shops (7-11:30 p.m., 111 Second Ave. N.E.).
The usually extraordinary pyrotechnics finale occurs 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 $10 for adults, and $5 for ages 6 to 12; children 5 and younger enter for free. For more information, call 727-823-8906.
