Mayor Bill Haslam at the button launch event, November 25, 2008.
Thank You!
Thanks to everyone who made First Night® Knoxville 2009 a success! Our artists, volunteers, sponsors, crew, and staff all contributed to create the best New Year’s Eve party Knoxville has ever seen.
We have already begun planning for First Night® Knoxville 2010. We will use what we learned from this year’s event to make next year even better.
Don’t forget that your First Night® Admission Button can be used throughout the month of January to receive discounts at a number of Market Square District businesses.
About First Night® Knoxville
First Night® is a family-friendly, alcohol-free New Year’s Eve community celebration of the arts. The celebration began in Boston in 1976 and has grown to an event that attracts hundreds of thousands of celebrants each year. Since then the event has expanded to over 100 cities in 30 states across the country, as well as internationally into Canada and New Zealand.
Knoxville held its inaugural New Year’s Eve celebration last year to great success. This year, the event expands to multiple entertainment venues throughout downtown. Our current line-up of featured acts includes musicians, storytellers, magicians, dance groups, and puppeteers.
We project that attendance will double this year to over 20,000 thanks to the success of last year’s event and a significant increase in publicity for this year’s celebration. Along with an expansion in venues we will begin selling First Night® admission buttons prior to the event. These buttons serve as admission to all entertainment venues associated with First Night® and will provide the button holders with great discounts on New Year’s Eve and through the month of January. You may purchase buttons online or at designated vendors though December 30th, 2008.
Also part of our First Night® expansion this year is the addition of a Children’s Festival in the afternoon leading up to the evening’s festivities. This festival will lead into the processional that will lead into First Night®. For the youngest children we will have an early countdown and fireworks around 9:00pm. Click here for the latest schedule information.