From staff reports
There will be some old faces and some new faces performing at First Night Oil City. The event which will be held from 5:30 p.m. until midnight Sunday, Dec. 31, is marking its 20th year.
Having begun on Dec. 31, 1997, the action-packed family-oriented non-alcoholic celebration will showcase numerous popular performing groups from among the 224 uniquely different groups that have performed at least once in prior years, according to the First Night planning committee.
Entertainers who will join the celebration this year include: RPR Band which include former members of Tanglefoot who were winners of the best vocal group at the 2007 Canadian Folk Music Awards; Ireland’s piano man Cahal Dunne; Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin impersonators Charlie Stayduhar and Bob Morelli; blues artist Mitch Littler who sings vocals and plays multiple instruments; The Butler Clowns who will bring humor, magic, skits, balloons and music to the event; Captain Magic, also known as magician Tom Mclaren; actress, author and storyteller Carol Weakland will bring literary classics to life; 12-string guitarist Neil Jacobs who performs gypsy, world, jazz, Balkan folk, classical and modern fingerstyle music and Bill Sandusky of Erie Ice Works who will work on an ice sculpture.
Other 20th anniversary First Night events will include two fireworks displays – a large display at 7 p.m. and send-off burst at midnight, a Cool Night Light People’s Procession, hat-making, craft-making; outdoor bonfires, a Transit Artists Drum Circle at 9 p.m.; and the opportunity to take photos beside an ice throne sculpture located at Towne Square.
Hat-making will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the ground floor hallway area of the National Transit Building ground floor hallway. Craft-making will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. in classrooms at the Trinity United Methodist Church, with church volunteers offering supplies, so people can make their own crafts.
Special entertainment for children and their families include the Butler Clowns, featuring Dennis and Cheryl Butler, members of the Masonic Rite Family Clowns, who will share their humor, magic, skits, balloons and music to entertain the young at heart while performing in classrooms at the Trinity United Methodist Church; and Carol Weakland will be portraying Professor McGonigail from Harry Potter.
The Cool Light People Procession will commence at 6:45 p.m. at the National Transit Building gate on the North Side and provide participants an opportunity to use noisemakers, wear creative hats or wave “First Lights” or their very own LED creation as they dance, shout and make a journey down Seneca Street and into Justus Park.
An admittance button must be purchased and worn by attendees prior to entering any performance venue. Detailed program booklets are available at the sites where buttons are sold and they identify performance times and venues as well as First Night tips and other information.
The buttons must be shown to volunteers who will be at entrances and wearing both “blinky” buttons and volunteer ribbons.
Regular buttons will cost $10 each and jazzed up “blinky” buttons will sell for $15 each.
Buttons are available for purchase at the following locations: Venango Area Chamber of Commerce, Days Inn, Karma Coffee, Transit Arts Gallery, The Sleep Shoppe, Oil City Library and Spilling the Beans Coffee House.
On New Year’s Eve, buttons will only be available after 5 p.m. at Spilling the Beans, Karma Coffee and the National Transit Building.
Two vans will be available from 5:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. for transporting First Night revelers about town throughout the evening and until just beyond midnight. The buses will regularly stop on the North Side of town at the Visitor’s Center near McDonald’s and on Center Street adjacent to the National Transit Building. South Side stops will be made on East First Street in front of both the Grace and Calvary United Methodist churches.
First Night Committee members include George Cooley, Jeff Corbett, Dan Feroz, Charlotte LaVerde, Martha LaVerde-Heise, Lynn Pacior-Malys, Bill and Robin Moon, Ron Shoup and Susan Williams.
“Please do join us for our 20th anniversary and a fabulous evening of family fun, fireworks, fanfare, children’s events, and stellar entertainment brought your way by the Oil City Arts Council and our many wonderful sponsors,” committee members said.
For additional First Night information, people may contact Susan Williams at the Venango Area Chamber at (814) 676-8521 or at swilliams@venangochamber.org or follow the event on Facebook.
Snapchat and Twitter will be a part of the fun this year, committee members added.
