What Is First Night®?

History of First Night  

First Night revives the ancient traditions of marking the passage of time in a present day context. It was created by a group of civic-minded artists in Boston as a meaningful alternative to traditional New Year's Eve revelry. Offered to the city as a finale to its Bicentennial events in 1976, First Night Boston also began a new tradition, bringing neighboring communities together through a joint celebration.

Each year thereafter, other communities began to ask the founding members of First Night Boston for assistance starting their own similar celebration on New Year's Eve. In time the International Alliance of First Nights was born and in 1993 First Night International became a stand-alone non-profit entity. First Night International authorizes and monitors the use of the First Night name, promoting community, creativity and cultural diversity through all of its activities and services.

What Is First Night International?
First Night International is the umbrella organization, which fosters the First Night concept born in Boston in 1976, and now mirrored in 130 cities in the US, Canada, Great Britain and New Zealand. We help fledgling organizations start First Night festivals in their community. And we assist all First Night celebrations through an annual conference, workshops and seminars, shared ideas, a member's newsletter, marketing and management models, in-service training, a comprehensive web site and much more.

- First Night® International - 2005