Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, December 10, 1993 TAG: 9312140269
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By MELANIE S. HATTER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
It's starting an hour earlier, at 6 p.m., because last year people began arriving before organizers were ready, said Sandy Tibbs-Robinson, president of Roanoke Festival in the Park. More than 10,000 people participated in last year's event.
"The [dry] weather pulled the people out," she said. "That helped us a lot."
Like its predecessors, the third annual First Night again will be held on Norfolk Avenue between Second and Fifth streets, in and around the Virginia Museum of Transportation, and at the YWCA on Franklin Road.
The first event, in 1991, drew 4,000 people.
First Night celebrations started in 1976 in Boston by concerned citizen Zeren Earls, who wanted a safe, alcohol-free event with activities for adults and children. Roanoke joins 104 other cities in the United States and Canada that pay to use the official First Night name and receive assitance from the organization's Boston headquarters.
"It's a celebration of the lively arts," said Wendi Schultz, executive director of Festival in the Park. First Night is interactive, she said. People can get involved in art through workshops from dancing to mime to balloon sculpture.
Participants can decorate First Night's ``grand marshal,'' a 50-foot Chinese dragon. They can scribble their New Year's resolutions on the Resolution Mural.
The Regents return for an open dance in the Commonwealth Building. Other musical performers include variety band Pacha Mama, the Roanoke a cappella gospel group Men of Distinction, acoustic guitarist Pat Pollifrone and jazz group Ensemble Europa.
Teen-agers can dance the night away at a Teen Video Dance Party. Youngsters and grown-ups alike can break pinatas, make maracas, Mardi Gras masks and explore other cultures and their celebrations. They can bring a swimsuit and towel for Mini-Horror Flicks in the YMCA pool or take part in miniature golf on Norfolk Avenue.
First Night 1993 will conclude with a torchlight processional, led by the Chinese dragon, at 11:45 p.m. from the steps of the courthouse down Third Street to the Virginia Museum of Transportation. There, the countdown to the new year will begin, and a fireworks display will ring in 1994.
The event relies heavily on volunteers, Schultz said. Last year, about 200 to 250 helped, but this year Shultz hopes to get 300. More helpers means they can spend half the time enjoying the festivities instead of working all evening, she said.
The admission buttons are $5 for adults and $3 for children 2 to 12 if bought in advance, and $7 and $5 at the entrance. Buttons can be purchased at Domino's Pizza, 7-Eleven Food Stores, Harris Teeter Super markets, Heironimus, Valley View Mall's customer service center, Virginia First Savings Bank, Bank of Floyd, Southwest Virginia Savings, NBC Bank, Bank of Fincastle, the YMCA, The Virginia Museum of Transportation, Roanoke Athletic Club, N&W Federal Credit Union, Davidsons & Davidsons Outdoors, Audiotronics, B&D Comics, Corned Beef & Co., Parlor Days and the Roanoker Restaurant.
For more information or to volunteer, call 342-2640.
by CNB