New Year's Eve Festivities in St. Petersburg, Florida: Safe, Family-Friendly Events

Wherever we are on New Year's Eve, we look to see if there is a First Night. Being from Boston, where the first and largest First Night takes place, we are surprised when we don't find one. We are in the Tampa, Florida, area, and we found that St. Petersburg, Florida was having what they call "Transitions First Night St. Petersburg 2009" all around the beautiful downtown area.

What should we expect in St. Petersburg? We should expect lots of music, dancing, stories, fun ,and what is really amazing is we can expect fireworks on the hour starting at 8:00p.m. and ending at midnight when we can ring in 2009.

This is the 16th year that St. Petersburg is holding its New Year's Eve celebration. A variety of places will be holding all sorts of entertainment between 5:00p.m. and 12:00a.m.

You can download the schedule at First Night Pete where you can also buy tickets. They can be bought as well at Publix at Northeast Shopping Center, The Pier, The Chamber of Commerce (100 2nd Ave. N.), The Arts Center (719 Central Ave.), Florida Craftsmen (501 Central Ave.) and Interior Motives Gallery (1110 Central Ave.). At the First Night festival you can get a button (That is what the tickets end up being because you will wear it for the night. It will get you into the events.) at the First Night Information Tent which will be at Beach Drive NE and Second Avenue. The cost is $10 for adults and children ages 6 through 12 cost $5.00.

I will give you an idea of what you can look forward to:

The Blind Willie and Allen Moffatt Blues Allstar Review featuring the Raiford Starke band. They will be playing from 8:00p.m. to 11:30p.m at St. Peter's Cathedral at 140 4th Street North.

Bob Milne and his Ragtime Piano will be playing from 7:00p.m. to 11:30 p.m. at the First Methodist Church at 212 3rd Street North.

Two shows by the harpist Anna Kate Mackle will be at the St. Petersburg Opera. The times are 8:00p.m. and 9:15p.m.

At the Bank of America lobby at 360 Central Avenue you'll be treated to the 4-H Ballroom Dance Bicycle Brigade at 7:45p.m. and 8:45 p.m.

At Central Avenue between 2nd and 3rd Streets we can see Dundu Dole Urban African Ballet at two shows - 8:30p.m. and 10:30p.m.

The Tampa Bay Steel Drum Orchestra will be playing from 7:00 p.m. to 12:00a.m. This takes place at the Museum of Fine Arts Colonnade at 255 Beach Drive. N.E.

You can go ice skating (or glice skating as named on the placard) from 6:00 p.m. to 12:00a.m. at North Straub Park Beach Drive N.E. between 3rd and 4th Avenues. There are also a wonderful display of lights at this park and the one next to it so if you are anywhere in the neighborhood but can't be there on New Year's Eve head over to the Park.