First Night 2011 Expected to Bring Many Performances, Thousands of People to Morristown

With almost 100 performances at over two dozen locations throughout Morristown, First Night Morris County has in its 19 years become the biggest and one of the most widely attended First Night events in the state.

Starting at 7 p.m. Dec. 31, Morristown will again be transformed into what First Night Artistic Programmer Lynn Siebert calls "a party town, but a nice party town, a family party town." 

Siebert, as artistic programmer and director of arts participation and communications for the , said with all the work that goes into this well-attended event, planning pretty much starts for the next one as soon as the last one ends.

"It really doesn't stop," said Siebert, who has been the artistic programmer for the event since 2006. "I try to get going on it by July. I have to have everything put together by the end of October."

In order to provide something for every discriminating taste, Siebert and company, which includes about 125 volunteers, have cast their nets very wide, seeking talent from all corners of the world. Events include circus and magic acts for the children; dancers from China, Japan, Ireland and South America, among other regions; a performance by the Harlem Wizards stunt basketball team; The Mayhem Poets, a poetry slam group; Taikoza, a Japanese taiko drumming group; The Redhawk Dance Troupe, a Native American performance as part of the Redhawk Native American Arts Council; The Hip Pickles Drum Group, which has won multiple drum and percussion awards; and the Frank Vignola Trio, whose namesake was once credited as "one of the five greatest guitar players alive today" by electric guitar pioneer Les Paul, Siebert said.

Performances will be held all over the town, from  and the  on one end, to  on another, to the , which also serving as First Night Morris County's command center. People can walk from event to event or take a free shuttle, provided by Atlantic Health, which will be making loops around town all night.

While many acts are new for 2010, there are a number of regular favorites returning to First Night, including Morristown native and jazz pianist Rio Clemente, who has been involved with First Night Morris County for almost the entirety of its existence.

"It seems like it was yesterday it started," the Morristown High School graduate said. "It's an exciting thing for me. It's kind of reminiscent to when I was in school, every time I'm on stage."

Clemente will be joined by several musicians for his performance, including singer Sandy Sasso. "It should be a lot of fun," Clemente said. "I always look forward to this night."

In addition to the arts, two fireworks displays will be held, at 9:15 p.m. and midnight, said Debbie Williams, a First Night Morris County board member.

She noted that all of these performances and events will be available to patrons either in packages of four (for $20 an admission button, $25 on New Year's Eve), or a value package of four buttons for $70, until Dec. 30. Children under five are free.

"It's a great night for singles, for couples, for families, grandmas and grandpas," Williams said. "It's geared to appeal to all ages and interests. It's a spectacular event."

First Night Morris County will run from 7 p.m. to midnight, Dec. 31, in Morristown. Button purchases can be made either online or at . For more information, visit www.firstnightmorris.com.

Click here for a map of Morristown and where events will be held.