New Year’s Eve is a day celebrated with family and friends, reminiscing on the year past and ringing in the new. Once again, New Year’s Eve in Haddonfield will be filled with music, magic, comedy and fireworks for its annual celebration, First Night.
Organizers of this year’s First Night celebration promise a fun-filled evening of world-class entertainment for adults, families and children alike. For $15, residents and visitors can enjoy more than 30 performances that have been scheduled from 6 p.m. to midnight on Dec. 31 at 15 indoor venues along Kings Highway from Haddonfield Memorial High School to beyond the PATCO Hi-Speedline.
“This is a night of great fun and enjoyment for all people. We offer world-class headliners who tour the world, a KidZone and a wide selection of entertainment from all genres … All this for just $15 per button. Where else could you find such an exciting way to welcome in the New Year and beautiful venues in warm historic buildings? It’s a bargain,” Director of Entertainment Jane Mathers said.
The first First Night was in Boston on Dec. 31, 1975. It was organized by a small group of artists who sought an alternative way of celebrating New Year’s Eve, where artists and musicians could perform and the emphasis wasn’t on alcohol. Haddonfield’s First Night, modeled after Boston’s, started in 1998 and has been held ever since.
“It is a perfect town for the event because of all the beautiful and historic venues available for the performances,” Mathers said. “The aim of First Night is to provide a better appreciation of the performing and visual arts on New Year’s Eve, and to give South Jersey residents and the tri-state area a night of great entertainment in an alcohol-free environment at a very affordable price.”
Headliners include Tommy Cash, with a musical tribute to his brother, Johnny; the Grammy Award-winning Trammps of “Disco Inferno” fame; the Tartan Terrors with Celtic musical mayhem; the Incredible Boris, an international hypnotist/comedian; and the Spencers, winner of the prestigious International Magician of the Year award.
Cash was approached to start a tribute to his brother after he passed away. It ended up being a success, and since then he has travelled around the world singing his songs as well as his brother’s. Cash said he is looking forward to performing in Haddonfield again, as he has before, and will be opening with his brother’s famous song “Ring of Fire.”
“I think that it is a family show that everyone can enjoy — men, women, teenagers and children. I’m looking forward to performing an hour show on New Year’s Eve in Haddonfield,” Cash said.
The evening will get started, appropriately, with music and magic for the youngest revelers. KidZone, at the Haddonfield Middle School, will feature the Paisley Pickles, a popular local group, supported by magician Brian Richards, a perennial kid favorite. Frank Dellorco of the Paisley Pickles said they are all about making people happy through music. From performing, to creating, to helping charities, the Paisley Pickles do it all. This is the Paisley Pickles’ fourth year performing at First Night and they are happy to be back.
“(Haddonfield) is a very family oriented town and there are great acts every (First Night). The kids go bonkers and get very excited to celebrate the New Year. We love to rev them up and get them more excited about the day. We love playing in Haddonfield,” Dellorco said.
For KidZone, the Paisley Pickles will perform some of their well known songs such as “The Pickle Boogie,” “Dance with Me” and “Pie for Breakfast” as well as music that appeals to adults. Designed to appeal to children to age 9, KidZone will swing into action at 6 p.m. and end at 8:30 p.m., giving families ample time to make their way to Kings Highway for the countdown and fireworks.
“It’s a great experience. We usually have the opportunity to play right before the fireworks, so we get everyone jazzed up and then send them off to the fireworks for a great time,” Dellorco said.
The variety of entertainment at First Night is quite expansive. In addition to the headliners and the KidZone entertainers, featured performers include a classical opera singer, Cody Austin; a Sinatra tribute singer, Marty Babitz; a cello quartet; a close-harmony, Andrews Sisters-style trio, Hotsy Totsy; a female barbershop choir Jersey Sound Chorus; a John Denver-style singer-songwriter, Christopher Westfall; a popular late-night-TV comedian, Andy Pitz; Haddonfield Plays & Players with a tribute to Broadway; Haddonfield School of Music, featuring teachers and students in its studios near the speedline; and the Philadelphia Ukulele Orchestra.
Off the highway, the Markeim Arts Center will offer an art activity for children from 5 p.m. From 7 p.m., a musical duo will entertain visitors to “Diamonds are Forever,” an art exhibit celebrating the art center’s 60th anniversary in 2016.
For admission to all of these events, attendees only need to have $15 First Night buttons, which are available at the Haddonfield Information Center, 2 Kings Court, online and at various other outlets throughout the area. Seller locations can be found on the First Night website, along with detailed information about all aspects of the event, at www.FirstNightHaddonfield.org. To keep current with developing First Night Haddonfield news, check Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
