Most law firms avoid posting jobs on Indeed or LinkedIn due to high costs. Instead, they publish them on their own websites, bar association pages, and niche legal boards. LawCrossing finds these hidden jobs, giving you access to exclusive opportunities. Sign up now!
published November 27, 2006
Lillian Africano
The concept was created in Beantown back in 1976 by a group of civic-minded artists and is now produced in some 150 cities throughout the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and New Zealand.
Boston's First Night is the most spectacular, a full day of indoor-outdoor entertainment starting at 1 p.m. at dozens of venues throughout downtown. Past celebrations have included an eye-popping laser show, colossal ice sculptures, glittering fireworks displays, music for every taste, comedy, magic, movies, puppets, animation and a grand procession reminiscent of Mardi Gras. Many Boston hotels offer packages that include buttons, New Year's Day brunch and parking.
In a quirky send-up of the Waterford ball drop in New York's Times Square, Port Clinton, Ohio, which calls itself the Walleye Capital of the World, has the Madness at Midnight Walleye Drop. Yes, that's right, after an evening of games and activities in heated tents, dancing the wallerena and sampling such specialties as walleye chowder, walleye tacos and walleye popcorn, this small town drops Wylie, a 20-foot-long, 600-pound illuminated fiberglass walleye from 60 feet in the air. Leading the crowd in the Lake Erie Wave will be the Walleye Festival queen and princess. (For non-anglers, the walleye is a highly prized freshwater fish, so named for its pearlescent eye.)
In Easton Maryland, the star of the First Night Talbot Celebration is not a fish, but a crab. After storytelling, music, dance, magic, children's activities and local gospel choirs, there are two countdowns, one at 9 p.m. for the kids and one at midnight, ending with the town's Crab Drop.
In Raleigh, N.C., known as the City of Oaks, midnight brings an acorn drop. Activities include the Children's Celebration, with family activities at the North Carolina Museum of History, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and on the Bicentennial Plaza outside of the museums. The People's Procession brings together thousands of neighbors who march through the streets. In the evening, there are 100 performances - music, comedy, theater and variety acts - in 25 downtown Raleigh venues, all leading up to fireworks and the descending acorn.
In Lancaster County, Pa., they drop all kinds of things: in Elizabethtown, site of an M&Ms factory, a big M&M drops at 7 p.m. (midnight in Elizabethtown's sister city, Letterkenny, Ireland). In Lititz, home to Sturgis Pretzels, a huge pretzel descends. And in Falmouth, midnight brings the annual stuffed goat drop.
First Night Escondido, Calif., a gala at the California Center for the Arts, features live music, festive crafts, a laser light show, rock-climbing wall and bungee trampoline, and ends with a fireworks extravaganza at midnight.
Mount Washington Valley, N.H., will ring in 2007 with an afternoon and evening celebration that includes horse-drawn rides, face painting, storytelling, clowns, a parade and family fun in Schouler Park. Indoor evening venues in North Conway village feature jazz, folk, Celtic, bluegrass and classic rock music. At midnight, a lighted sphere is lowered to the accompaniment of fireworks.
Charleston, S.C., has a citywide admission-free program with music from gospel to jazz, children's activities, comedy, dance, street entertainment and more.
First Night in Macon, Ga., features performances ranging from classical music to rock, from ballroom dancing to puppet shows. They take place from 7 p.m. till midnight in churches, restored historic theaters, galleries and other non-traditional performance spaces. Macon's Sweet Melissa and Miss Molly trolleys transport revelers from venue to venue. The finale: an outdoor concert and a midnight fireworks display from atop Coleman Hill.
First Night Alexandria, which runs from 7 p.m. until midnight (the children's venue opens at 5 p.m.), is the largest family-focused celebration in northern Virginia, featuring more than 60 bands, musicians and entertainers performing indoors in hotels and businesses throughout Old Town and Del Ray. Free shuttles transport holidaymakers from venue to venue, with fireworks at midnight.
Salt Lake City has a two-night celebration. On Dec. 30, from 6 to 10 p.m., the party includes an American Indian pow wow, music, performance art and children's activities. On Dec. 31, the Gallivan Center event runs from 6 p.m. till midnight and includes music, ice skating, roving performers and a fireworks finale.
Delray Beach in Florida has a fabulous first night, a major visual and performing arts festival that takes place on Atlantic Avenue from 4 p.m. till midnight.
Indianapolis offers a pair of events that work well for families with young children. The zoo opens on New Year's Eve from 5 till 9 p.m. Guests receive party hats, visit with the Radio Disney Party Patrol, tour the holiday-lit grounds and take in the dolphin show, bounce house and laser light show before the 9 p.m. countdown. The State Museum also rings the New Year in early, with an event that runs between 6:30 to 9 p.m. and includes magicians, clowns, crafts, live music, a performance by Dog Talk and a balloon drop and countdown at 8 p.m.
To find a First Night celebration near you, visit www.firstnight.com.
Gain an advantage in your legal job search. LawCrossing uncovers hidden positions that firms post on their own websites and industry-specific job boards—jobs that never appear on Indeed or LinkedIn. Don't miss out. Sign up now!
( 30 votes, average: 4.7 out of 5)
What do you think about this article? Rate it using the stars above and let us know what you think in the comments below.
Upload Your Resume
Upload your resume now to receive jobs targeted to your background and future career goals. 90% of members who found a job through LawCrossing posted their resume.
