First Night Virginia rings in the new

First Night Virginia is ringing in plenty of new attractions this year.

New this time for Charlottesville’s community New Year’s Eve celebration will be a laser show, a bowl game broadcast and the kickoff event for the city’s 250th anniversary observances.

The nTelos Wireless Pavilion will be home base for a variety of events throughout the day Saturday, starting with the inaugural First Night 5K race at 11 a.m. Saturday. Drake Van de Castle, First Night Virginia’s president, said that runners who sign up for the race will get free admission to First Night.

Football fans won’t have to choose between rooting for the Cavaliers against Auburn in the Chick-fil-A Bowl and welcoming 2012 with friends and neighbors on the Downtown Mall. The game will be shown starting at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Pavilion.

“That’ll be the first time we’ve had a live Comcast broadcast at the Pavilion,” Van de Castle said. “You can have your cake and eat it, too. You can come watch the game and still take in First Night.”

First Night fun starts well before that. The city’s Celebrate 250 photo presentation starts at 4 p.m., with images of city history appearing on the 30- by 30-foot screen that’ll be used later for the big game.

Lasertainment will present two laser shows in the Pavilion. One starts at 7 p.m., timed to appeal to families with young children and other early birds, and the other gets going at 11:30 p.m. — after the music of the Gladstones at 11 p.m. and before a digital ball drop at midnight to welcome the new year.

The Gladstones’ show will be the first live First Night musical event at the Pavilion since 2000, Van de Castle said.

While the city is marking its 250th anniversary in 2012, First Night will be counting down to its own 30th celebration, Van de Castle said. “That has created a nice synergy between the two groups,” he said.

And fans of the traditional First Night mix of performances and activities can relax, because there also will be a busy schedule of concerts, magic shows and children’s events.

The Omni Charlottesville Hotel will serve as headquarters, with admission wristbands on sale in the Atrium, magic performances by Eric Jones, the kids’ fest in the Ballroom, the Green Adventure Project in the Lewis and Clark Room and the Creation Station crafts area in the Monroe Room.

Mark Nizer will be back with three performances of his comedy, juggling feats and illusions at the Paramount Theater, at 4:45, 6:45 and 9:15 p.m., Van de Castle said. It’s the only First Night attraction this year to offer reserved seating.

The third show was added because “last year, we had lines out the Paramount,” Van de Castle said.

Comedian Bone Hampton will take the Paramount stage at 8 and 10:30 p.m.

In Vivo String Quartet, Barefoot Puppets and the Bent Theatre improv troupe will perform at CitySpace. Jeffersonland Barbershop Chorus will perform in First United Methodist Church’s small sanctuary, as will Janet Muse and Mike Dunn, while Albemarle Pipes and Drums, the Buzzard Hollow Boys and Carleigh Nesbit can be heard in the main sanctuary.

Monkeys in the House, Captain Shiny Pants and Buffalo Bill can be seen at Grace Covenant Church, while music fans can catch Billy Caldwell, the Deanes, the Downbeat Project and Soul Transit Authority in the sanctuary space at the Haven at First and Market.

Light House Studio will present its Short Film Showcase twice, at 6:45 and 8 p.m.

To plan your evening, visit www.firstnightva.org to see the full schedule.