The 41st annual First Night First Day celebration will again usher in the New Year in spectacular fashion with a two-day joyous celebration of arts, culture and family-friendly activities, in partnership with the City of Boston, on December 31, 2017 and January 1, 2018.
The organization also announced this year’s ice sculpture theme, Enchanted Forest, and headlining musical act, Eli “Paperboy” Reed, popular local soul-inspired singer and songwriter. All events are completely free and open to the public.
“First Night in Boston is a celebration that brings thousands of residents and visitors to our city to ring in the New Year, something we always look forward to. Not only do these festivities bring residents from all across the city and region together, it gives us a unique opportunity to reflect upon and celebrate this past year side by side while looking forward to a great 2018.” – Mayor Walsh
Again this year, NBC Boston will televise First Night festivities live on December 31 from 6pm to 7pm (returning to live coverage after Sunday Night Football), necn from 6pm – 12:30am, and on Telemundo Boston from 11pm to 12:30am. IHeart Radio will also serve as the exclusive radio partner.
In addition to the signature sculptures in Copley Square, the event’s popular third annual Ice Gallery will be incorporated into a new interactive digital/mobile scavenger hunt to encourage participants to stroll through the Back Bay to view the ice sculptures generously provided by the business owners of Newbury and Boylston Street. Families and kids of all ages will be “enchanted” by magical forest themed ice sculptures crafted by artists into dragons, unicorns, castles, and mythical creatures.
Event classics will also include an array of family entertainment, the People’s Procession at 6pm, and family fireworks courtesy of the Mugar Foundation at 7pm on the Boston Common. The magical evening culminates with the highly anticipated “Copley Countdown,” a multi-sensory display of live music, dazzling light show and pyrotechnics in Copley Square.
The diverse entertainment program will get underway at noon on December 31, 2017 in Copley Square and continue throughout the day and evening with a robust line-up of local performers. Headliner, Eli “Paperboy” Reed, is a modern day soul singer. He grew up in Brookline, MA but his music has taken him all over the world and back. His songs have been featured in major television and films and in Spring 2018 he’ll be releasing his sixth studio album. The full entertainment schedule will be announced in early December.
For more information on First Night First Day Boston 2018 please visit www.FirstNightBoston.org or follow on Facebook, @FirstNight onTwitter, @firstnightboston on Instagram, or follow the conversation using #FirstNightBoston.
About First Night Boston:
First Night Boston is a 501 (C) (3) non-profit organization that funds the annual New Year’s Eve celebration in the city of Boston. Called First Night First Day, the two-day, city-wide celebration features family-friendly traditions such as a parade down Boylston Street; hand-crafted ice sculptures; performances from local musicians and artists, and of course, the highly anticipated “Copley Countdown” to the New Year, that kicks off the much anticipated spectacular midnight pyrotechnic show. Boston Public Library will also offer family friendly entertainment options. All First Night First Day Boston activities are free and open to the public. For more information and a list of events, visit www.firstnightboston.org.
