THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, December 28, 1995 TAG: 9512280850
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ROBERTA T. VOWELL, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 136 lines
HAMPTON ROADS is ringing in the new year to the tune of a Chinese dragon dance, the crackle of a bonfire of regrets, the bang of fireworks and the harmony of musical groups from opera to African-American gospel.
It's First Night Norfolk, with revelry from 3 p.m. Sunday to 12:30 a.m. Monday, spread through Ghent and downtown Norfolk.
``This will be a really memorable, special way to celebrate,'' said Karen Scherberger, executive director of Festevents, which is presenting the event.
``You can be part of the New Year without being up until midnight,'' she said. ``What should be really appealing to area families is that they can come down and be part of it for a few hours. Or people can come for the whole day and night, or just for the fireworks.''
Free trolley service will shuttle revelers around the 26 sites, and a shuttle will run from Military Circle Mall to downtown.
``We don't want people to work at having a good time,'' Scherberger said. ``It's a very welcoming, very inviting event.''
Festivities include a re-creation of a Chinese New Year, creation of a mural on the downtown flood wall, a citizen's parade, street performers, bands, plays, dance and fireworks. Many activities are free, but all admissions are included with the purchase of a special button ($5 for adults, $3 for children).
About 50,000 people traditionally have attended the New Year's Eve fireworks in Town Point Park. First Night organizers expect to have about that many for the fireworks, with about 50,000 more attending the other events.
First Night began in Boston 20 years ago and is now held in more than 150 cities. Virginia Beach sponsored a First Night celebration at the Pavilion several years ago, but it was poorly attended.
``The difference between Virginia Beach and our program is that they set up one site, just at the Pavilion,'' Scherberger said. ``They didn't have time to develop it into a multi-faceted event. Ours is at 26 sites, and ours is centered around the performing arts.''
In fact, arts groups were asked to help create the event.
``As opposed to Festevents coming to them and saying, `This is what it's going to be,' we asked the arts groups to be part of the conceptualization,'' Scherberger said.
Festivities begin at 3 p.m. as Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim and City Council lead a procession from Blair Middle School to the Hague. Anyone can join the parade; Festevents has encouraged residents to decorate the parade route.
``We want a relaxed, festive neighborhood feeling,'' Scherberger said.
Along the parade route - and at other First Night events - will be positioned sculptures representing regrets and resolutions. The idea: Write down your own regrets about the past year and your resolutions for the coming year and add them to the sculptures.
At the Hague, a burlap sack full of regrets will be loaded onto a dragon boat and sent out to the harbor. ``It symbolizes sailing away with our regrets,'' Scherberger said.
The regrets eventually will arrive at the d'Art Center, where they'll become part of a giant bonfire.
``It'll be a mass absolution of all our regrets,'' Scherberger said. ``They'll all go up in smoke.''
From the Hague, the action moves to downtown Norfolk, with activities at Harrison Opera House, Chrysler Museum, Main Street, Virginia Ballet Theater, Waterside, Wells Theater, the YMCA and YWCA, Nauticus, the Waterside Marriott, Queen Street Baptist Church, Kirn Library, Friendship Park Pagoda and Town Point Park.
``We see it as a flow, from Ghent through downtown,'' Scherberger said. ``It's like a rhythm, going through the city and having a crescendo in the park.''
While no alcoholic beverages will be served, participants may patronize restaurants in the area for a bite to eat and drink.
``It's an alternative event,'' Scherberger said. ``New Year's Eve has traditionally been a forced event. You get dressed up, you spend a lot of money, you drink too much champagne, you feel awful the next day. What a way to start the New Year!''
First Night highlights include:
Workshops between 1 and 3 p.m., where revelers make flags, wind chimes, masks and costumes. The finished products can be proudly worn and brandished at other First Night events.
Giant wind chimes built along the parade route for merrymakers to ring. Those chimes and others created in workshops will be erected into a mammoth sculpture in Town Point Park.
A Virginia Symphony ensemble of flute and harp performing at 5 p.m. and a brass quintet at 6 at The Chrysler Museum.
Virginia Opera's presentation of ``Hansel and Gretel'' at 5 p.m. at the Harrison Opera House.
Creation of a family mural on the downtown flood wall beginning at 5 p.m.
Performances at 5, 6 and 7 p.m. by the Virginia Ballet Theatre at its studio.
The African-American Heritage Singers of Richmond at Queen Street Baptist Church at 8 p.m.
The Albert Norton Williams Society Band beginning at 8 p.m. at the Marriott.
Shadow dancing on the steps of the Customs House on Main Street, beginning at 8 p.m. Participants frolic in front of powerful lights to cast giant shadows.
A Chinese New Year experience at the Friendship Park Pagoda, complete with a 100-foot-long dragon, at 11 p.m.
Fireworks and the traditional dropping of the lighted ball at Town Point Park at midnight. MEMO: PENINSULA PARTIES
New Year's Eve parties similar to First Night Norfolk are being staged
on the Peninsula, too.
First Night Williamsburg, in its third year, will take place from 6
p.m. to midnight at numerous sites in the heart of the historic
district. The vast schedule includes big band or contra dancing, and
concerts featuring jazz, blues, gospel, classical, country and Broadway
music. Storytelling, puppets, juggling and artwork round out the family
entertainment. Tickets are $6 in advance; $10, day of event; ages 5 and
younger, free. Call (804) 877-7821.
In Newport News, a ``Century Celebration'' is being staged from 5 p.m.
to midnight in Hilton Village. Billed as a no-alcohol block party for
families, the event celebrates the city's 100th anniversary with music,
entertainment, a parade and fireworks. Tickets are $5; $3 for kids.
Call (804) 247-1896.
- Teresa Annas ILLUSTRATION: Photo of First Night Norfolk buttons
Festevents color photo
Beginnings: The First Night concept started in Boston (above),
eventually spreading to more than 150 cities.
KEYWORDS: NEW YEAR'S EVE by CNB