First Night Boston 2010 – Holiday Events in Boston, MA

Without too much protest, we decided to throw First Night Alexandria out there before Boston, but not even a week later we decided it just wouldn’t be right to pass up the original. First Night Boston is where this unusual New Year’s Eve tradition got started.

Thirty-three years ago, in fact. In 1976, a small group of Boston artists and performers came together to do New Year’s Eve a little different. Rather than with black-out binge drinking, they had the controversial idea of celebrating with music and art in an alcohol-free, family-friendly environment. Sacrilege, maybe, but a hit nonetheless.

There are now more than 200 First Night events held every New Year’s Eve around the globe. We may well get to more of them, but today we’re all about First Night Boston, one of the most popular New Year’s Eve events in Boston.

The name’s a bit of a misnomer. For one, this isn’t the “first” night at all; it’s the last night of the year. And second, First Night Boston has gotten so big that “night” doesn’t really describe it either. Activities kick-off as early as one o’clock in the afternoon, and you can bet they keep the show stages bouncing all the way through midnight.

Kid-aimed programming fills the Hynes Convention Center at the FedEx Family Festival, starting at 1:00. Family comedy, storytelling, music and circus entertainment make up the eleven-hour bill. Throughout the afternoon, locations all over Boston will host special events, from tours at the Harbor to Fluxusignment 57: A Bicycle Powered Shadow Puppet Theatre at Boston Common. (Never seen such a thing, but I’d definitely put it on my list).

Choose your activities wisely and head for the Hynes Convention Center at 5:30 for the Grand Procession. This annual parade has been a part of First Night Boston since the beginning, and this year’s theme – “Earth, Air, Fire, Water (and Dragons)” – promises to be awesome (because of the dragons).

With evening officially upon you, the most fascinating acts, and the crowds to watch them, will be out in full force. Believe me, these Bostonians don’t need drugs and alcohol to get a little weird. Along with the poetry slams and jazz groups you’d expect, you’ll also find stuff like Aesthetic Evidence, a (and I quote) “partially-scripted, partially-improvised element-themed audio-visual environment, inspired by spoken human voice recordings.” There’s also a Shakespeare cabaret act, so that sounds good.

In classic First Night fashion, First Night Boston ends in fireworks. The skies of Boston Harbor with flash and pop as a kaleidoscopic canvas of skittering stars dances overhead. (And for you sissies who can’t stay up that late, there’s a 7:00 p.m. show, too).

There’s so much more to do at First Night Boston than you reasonably can, so take the time to study the schedule, consider venues and transportation and plan your night. While it can be fun to just walk around and see what you find, most groups will have more luck with a game plan. View schedule and other information here.

The only bummer is that it costs a lot of money to put on that much entertainment, and the sponsors just can’t cover it all. Gain access to all First Night events with the purchase of the 2010 First Night Boston Badge for $18 per person, on sale now either online or at dozens of retail stores throughout the Northeast. View badge information here.

For hotels in Boston, we often stay at the Holiday Inn Boston at Beacon Hill. It’s a great part of town – lots to see and do – and considering that the rates are always surprisingly low. There’s even more incentive now, because the hotel is offering a “Boston New Year’s Eve Package” featuring two badges to First Night Boston along with accommodations and breakfast. Done and done.

Have fun at New Year’s Eve in Boston, Massachusetts.

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