First Night Offers Entertainment for All on New Year's Eve in Ocean City, N.J

As 2007 draws to an end, the City of Ocean City, NJ is gearing up for it's annual First Night, Ocean City's New Year's Eve celebration, scheduled to begin 4 p.m., Monday, December 31^st and lasting until midnight. Admission to this year's holiday gala, featuring 60 entertainment programs at 14 locations (see map) in downtown Ocean City concluding with a fireworks display at midnight, weather permitting, is $14.

First Night, an artistic and cultural celebration occuring from late in the afternoon until midnight in many towns throughout the United States, originated in Boston.Offered to the City as a finale to its Bicentennial events in 1976, First Night was created by a group of artists as an alternative to traditional New Year's Eve revelry. According to First Night International there will be 114 First Night celebrations held this year from across the US and in Canada and New Zealand.

An opening ceremony to kick things off in Ocean City will be held 4 p.m. at the Music Pier, which is located on the Boardwalk at Moorlyn Terrace, featuring a ribbon cutting and greeting by City officials, face painting and entertainment by the Main Stage Singers, a group of young artists from the New Jersey area, who will be performing both Disney and Broadway tunes. Rounding out the performances at the Music Pier will be Japanese Drummers from 6-8 p.m. and a "Tribute to the Beatles" by Back Beats from 9-midnight.

At the Civic Center, Fifth Street and the Boardwalk, young revelers can enjoy an indoor carnival-like atmosphere from 4-8 p.m. bouncing about four giant-sized inflatables: a Moonwalk (all ages), a Single Lane Giant Slide (all ages), a Krazy Katerpillar and Wally the Whale (children up to100 lbs.) Later from 9-midnight the Grease Band will perform "oldies" from the 50's & 60's. Across the street from the Civic Center at Gillian's Wonderland Pier, Sixth Street and the Boardwalk, older kids or kids at heart won't want to miss the amusement rides, which will be open from 5-9 p.m.

The Ocean City High School, Sixth Street and Atlantic Avenue, will be hosting several programs throughout the evening for both young and old. In the school's Community Room, will be performances by the barbershop quartets "Here We Go Again" and "Sea Chords" from 5-7 p.m., Carl Howell will delight the audience with folk music from 7-9 p.m. and pianist Andrew Hink will take center stage from 9-10 p.m. In the auditorium, a fully staged family-oriented musical called Seussical will be offered from 6-8 p.m. based on the works of Dr. Seuss, of course. From 9-midnight, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's, Charlie Thomas of the Drifters, will be hitting notes from "Under the Boardwalk" and other greatest hits. From 6-9 p.m. in the school's auxiliary gym catch Jungle John's educational reptile show featuring "Wally Gator," a 5 1/2 foot American alligator and "Julius Squeezer," a 12-foot albino Burmese python. Dave Smith, who recently performed on NBC's America's Got Talent will perform his One Man Slideshow, a juggling, comedy and vaudeville act, from 9-midnight. In the school gym, Mike Cabot, impressionist and comedian, will be performing his hilarious impressions of today's hottest celebrities from 6-9 p.m. Wrapping things up with a Fleetwood Mac Tribute will be the multi-talented musical group Rumours from 9-midnight.

At the Ocean City Tabernacle, which is located a short walk from the High School at 500 Wesley Avenue, storyteller Jim Albertson will present some stories and songs related to the wassail and winter solstice from 6-8 p.m. The OC Pops will present a Lollipop Concert from 9-10 p.m. From 10-midnight the OC Pops Orchestra will take to the stage once more performing a variety of popular music and Broadway show tunes.

The Ocean City Primary School, Fifth Street and West Avenue, will showcase a Chinese Opera based on the history and legends of Chinese culture from 5-6 p.m. Broadway by Request featuring the Shaken Not Stirred Players will take to the stage from 6-8 p.m. to perform Broadway tunes requested by the audience. From 9-11 p.m. Chad Juros will amaze and dazzle the audience with magic from his ropes, rings and swords.

St. Peter's Church, which is located at 501 E. Eighth Street, will be presenting two venues. In the Stainton Room things get rolling at 5 p.m. Visual Expression Marionette, western puppet art show, will be playing from 5-7 p.m. Followed by the comedy and magic act of Brian Eslich from 7-9 p.m. EL Live featuring Ted Prior, one of the world's premier Elvis performers, will wrap things up from 9-11 p.m. In the church's sanctuary,

Cape Choral Choir will be performing popular and classic choral music from 5-6 p.m. Main Stage Singers, a group of young performing artists from the New Jersey area will entertain with Disney and Broadway songs from 6-8 p.m. Lastly, the 5-member acapella doo wop group, the Doo Wop Singers, will be performing songs from the 50's, 60's and 70's from 9-11 p.m.

St. John's Church, which is located at Tenth Street and Central Avenue, will also be presenting two venues. In the Church Hall, Karen Buckley will present her critically acclaimed program featuring original songs and turtle display from 5-7 p.m. Next up will be the comedy and juggling act of Give-n-Take Jugglers from 7-9 p.m. Comedian Joel Weintraub will wrap things up from 9-11 p.m. In the Sanctuary, Gospel music will be offered from 6-9 p.m. followed by a performance by harpist, Mary Took from 9-11 p.m.

In the Garden Room at the Flander's Hotel, 11^th Street and the Boardwalk, music and dancing are scheduled for the evening. First up will be Irish Dancing from the Cummins School of Dance from 5-7 p.m. The authentic sound of New Orleans takes center stage when the Dixieland Band takes over from 7-9 p.m. Bob Ferris' Big Band Orchestra serves as the backdrop for ringing in the New Year from 9-midnight.

A new addition to this year's event will be the First Night Food Court. Offered by members of the Ocean City Restaurant Association, the Food Court will be held in the Ocean City High School cafeteria from 3-10 p.m. Tickets are $16 for adults, $8 for children under 12. The adult menu includes seafood soup, chicken escarole, salad, stuffed loin of pork, sautéed seafood, sautéed crab cake, coconut shrimp, pasta, chicken florentine, tilapia, turkey and stuffing, vegetable medley, General Tso's Chicken, House Lo Mein and dessert crepes. The children's menu includes chicken fingers, macaroni and cheese, hot dogs, pasta, ice cream sandwiches and water ice pops.

Admission Tickets and Transportation Information for First Night

First Night Admission Buttons ($14) and food court tickets are available at City Hall Annex, 901 Asbury Ave., in Ocean City from 9 a.m. till 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Orders will be taken by phone at 609-525-9300. Payment may be made with Visa, Master Card, Discover and American Express.

The one admission price ($14) entitles visitors to seats at all programs except for the following: Tickets to the Ocean City Pops Orchestra and Seussical, the Musical, are $1 extra. Drifters' tickets featuring Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member, Charlie Thomas, carry an extra charge of $3, as do performances of Back Beats, a tribute to the Beatles.

Parking will be free throughout the City. Jitney transportation to entertainment sites will be available free from 6 p.m. till midnight, see map for pick-up and drop-off locations.

References:

First Night Ocean City. http://www.firstnightocnj.com

First Night International http://www.firstnight.com