Your Guide To First Night Boston 2014
There are lots of exciting changes in store for First Night Boston this coming New Year's Eve.
This year's countdown to the New Year will be centered in Copley Square with a stunning 3D projection display.
The day-long Family Festival and popular Grand Procession are back, along with talented musical artists, ice sculptures and of course – fireworks.
BUTTONS
Buttons to access all of the indoor First Night festivities will cost your family less this year. The buttons are available for just $10 each, and get you into all of the shows on a first come/first served basis. Children under 4 are free.
You can buy your First Night button online, in person at ArtsBoston's BoxTix booths in Faneuil Hall and Copley Square, or at metro-Boston Bank of America branches and CVS stores. Premium seating for the hottest shows is available at an extra cost (learn more).
DAYTIME
Long a centerpiece of First Night Boston, young and old are invited to the Family Festival inside the Hynes Convention Center.
This year's highlights include a puppet festival by the Puppet Showplace Theatre, aerial artists from Simply Circus, the music of Ellis Paul, bike stunts, dance troupes and face painting. New this year, First Light features three rooms of interactive light exhibits.
The headliners of the daytime events are acclaimed family musicians Dan Zanes & Elizabeth Mitchell.
After dusk, the Grand Procession kicks off its route from Boylston Street to Boston Common. First Night organizers promise this year's parade will be "bigger and brighter than ever before."
NIGHTTIME
As day turns into night, the focus turns back to music inside the Hynes Convention Center, where Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Patti Smith and Grammy Lifetime Award winners The Blind Boys of Alabama will be in concert. Bluegrass artist Sierra Hull and Jazz musician Donald Harrison, both Berklee alums, will be performing over at their alma mater.
Outside in Copley Square, headliners Gentlemen Hall will be among the artists performing on the Copley Stage, which will be flanked by those famous First Night ice sculptures.
Meanwhile, a stunning visual art display will be projected onto the façade of the Boston Public Library, like none you've ever seen. The projected animation and video installation by Zebbler Studios will transform the library beginning at dusk. The final ten minutes of 2013 will feature a unique projected video piece about the history of Boston.
FIREWORKS
There will be two fireworks shows to ring in the New Year, one at a family-friendly time.
The Family Fireworks show launches from the Boston Common, at the corner of Boylston and Charles, at 7 p.m. It's approximately ten minutes of pyrotechnics, at a time the youngest family members can still enjoy.
Then as the clock strikes twelve, the Midnight Fireworks will erupt over Boston Harbor to usher in 2014.
ON TV
If you don't plan on being in Copley Square as the clock approaches midnight, you can still enjoy all the magic that is First Night Boston – on your TV.
Once again, WBZ-TV will be broadcasting the festivities live, beginning at 11 p.m., right through the midnight fireworks.
