Big crowd expected for Saratoga's First Night

PHOTOGRAPHER: Patrick Dodson

First Night Coordinator Alix Jones, right and front desk manager Emma Huneck, left, pose with First Night pins at Saratoga Arts on Tuesday, December 30, 2014.

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For more information or to purchase buttons, visit www.saratoga-arts.org/firstnight/online or call Saratoga Arts at 584-4132.

With only few First Night buttons remaining at Saratoga Arts, coordinator Alix Jones joked that she might soon be scrambling in search of an errant one that dropped somewhere around the building.

More than 8,500 buttons were distributed by Tuesday afternoon, leaving a relatively sparse 500 at the Broadway location, one of several places designated to sell the First Night collectibles, which allow entrance to First Night events. With sales continuing online, she predicted the few boxes of buttons she has left will vanish before the annual New Year’s Eve festival gets underway.

“There’s a good chance we’re going to sell out,” she said. “We’re on track.”

And that means the Spa City could expect one of its largest First Night crowds since an estimated 20,000 people turned out in 2011. Though temperatures are expected to dip into the high teens before the New Year rings in this evening, the forecast is far more forgiving than recent years, meaning Jones expects big crowds for the 70-plus acts hosted at 30 venues around downtown.

“This year I think will probably be our best year since 2011,” she predicted.

Billed as upstate’s largest New Year’s Eve event, Saratoga’s First Night is celebrating its 19th year in existence, making it one of the oldest. This year’s theme is “Art After Dark” — homage to the many artists locally and regionally who will perform up until the very end of 2014.

As in the past, First Night will include a wide variety of musical acts, including blues, rock, country and just about everything in between. Jones said the goal this year is to bring an eclectic blend of acts so that there’s something of everything for patrons to watch.

“We do try to make it new every year,” she said. “It’s about bringing new arts to the community.”

This year’s celebration features a new teen and young adult showcase, highlighting some of the area’s top young performers. The evening will feature performances by Talia Denis, a 13-year-old up-and-coming pop star, the college-age Hawkeye Band and alternative rockers Good Fiction.

First Night will also feature a stage devoted to some of the most talked about indie rock bands in the Capital Region, including Olivia Quillio, Beaked Whale, Great Mutations, and Bear Grass. The Orange, a popular band during the late 1990s, will play one of their first shows since reuniting.

The celebration will also draw acts from the New York City area. Retro combo Miss Tess & the Talkbacks, soul-funk outfit the Nat Osborn Band and witty cowboy-country rocker Jack Grace are all slated to play at venues around Saratoga Springs this evening.

First Night will also welcome the popular local band Sirsy for the first time. Though duo Melanie Krahmer and Rich Libutti have played shows in the city before, this will be their first performance during the New Year’s Eve celebration.

It’s very local for us which is fun for us,” Krahmer said.

The group is also expected to debut several songs from the new album they’re now recording. Krahmer said the opportunity is unique because they’ll get a chance to play before fans of all ages.

“We’re excited to do an event like this with the city and something that’s open to all ages,” she said.

The event will begin with the annual 5-kilometer run around Skidmore College at 5:30 p.m. All 1,500 bibs for the popular race sold out over the weekend.

Musical acts begin at 6 and will continue until midnight. As always, First Night will ring in the New Year with a fireworks display in Congress Park.

This year’s display will be located at the north end of the park behind Canfield Casino, meaning the best place to view them will be on Spring Street. As a result, city police will shut down traffic between Broadway and Circular Street starting at 11:15 until foot traffic from the fireworks clears.

CDTA buses will again offer free service to those who show First Night buttons on all regular Saratoga bus routes and two special shuttles. The free rides will extend from 4 p.m until 1 a.m. The authority will also offer free bus service at all regular bus stops from 8 p.m. through 1 a.m. as part of the Capital Region Stop DWI effort.