First Night® Morris County, the largest of its kind in New Jersey, will celebrate its 16th anniversary ringing in the New Year on the Morristown Green this New Year’s Eve. More than 10,000 people typically attend the event.

A non-alcoholic celebration of the arts and culture, First Night® Morris County attracts families, seniors, singles and anyone who is looking for an inexpensive, fun way to ring in the New Year. First Night® Morris, in partnership with its artistic programmer, the Arts Council of the Morris Area, features more than 300 artists in more than 90 events that evening, ranging from dance, music, theatre, to visual arts, comedy and magic. The celebration begins at 7 p.m. and ends with fireworks at midnight to ring in the New Year. First Night® Morris County 2008 offers several features certain to make this New Year’s Eve a special one:

• First Night® Overnight: First Night® has joined with Hyatt Morristown to offer participants a choice of special rates and packages to extend their celebration into the next morning.
• First Night Fireworks: There will be two fireworks displays, both visible from around the Morristown Green. Fireworks are scheduled for 9:15 p.m. and midnight.
• First Chance: A $20 ticket or a book of five (5) tickets for $100 is your chance to win more than $20,000 or one of three other cash prizes. Proceeds go toward supporting First Night® Morris County. Lottery will be drawn on Jan. 1, 2008. Winners need not be present to win.
• First Night® Wishes for the World: Sixth-graders throughout Morris County have been working in their foreign language classes to write their 2008 Wishes for the World. Children’s wishes will be read before each performance.
• First Night® Performances, Exhibits and Activities: More than 300 performers will offer everything from blues, bluegrass, jazz, 60s rock and roll, folk and  ‘Tween pop, to classical choral and instrumental music, comedy, theatre, magic, international dance (South Indian, Yiddish and Chinese) and music (Andean Music, Russian, Klezmer, Native American), unicycles, juggling and storytelling. From pianists extraordinaire or Kit’s Kaboodle interactive family theatre to one of the country’s top Theremin players, First Night® Morris County features artists geared toward every age and interest.

Performances take place in venues within walking distance of the Morristown Green, including The Community Theatre at Mayo Center for the Performing Arts, Morristown High School, county administration buildings and numerous places of worship in the immediate area.

First Night® Morris County 2008 buttons, which serve as admission passes to the 26 performance venues, will be on sale at over 30 retail locations and online beginning December 1. First Night® Morris 2007 admission buttons – which provide access to all events and programs -- cost $15 each or $50 for a family four-pack and may be purchased in advance at local stores and other button outlets. On New Year’s Eve, buttons will be sold for $18 each. There is no charge for children 4 and under

First Night® Wishes for the World:
Contributed by Ms. Siese's Spanish class at Mt. Arlington School

My dream is to eliminate homeless people.
Mi sueno es que eliminar los desam parados.

I hope that they stop world hunger.
Espero que eliminar hambre en el mundo.

My desire is for the war in Iraq to end soon so my uncle and
all the soldiers will come home for the holidays.
Mi deseo es que los soldados y mi tio vuelvan con sus familias pronto.

I wish that all the poor people can get money for what they need.
Mi esperanza es que a yudar necesiados econmicamente.

First Night Command Center Hours at the Hyatt of Morristown:
Friday, December 21 – Friday December 28 from 10 am to 6 pm.
CLOSED CHRISTMAS EVE AND CHRISTMAS DAY.
December 29 and 30 from 10 am 8 pm
December 31 from 9 am to midnight.

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