Colorful hats, squeaky horns and light-up toys could all be seen and heard on Charlottesville’s Downtown Mall where thousands gathered Saturday to ring in 2012.
First Night Virginia, in its 30th year, offered a host of New Year’s Eve events, which kicked off with the inaugural First Night 5K race at 11 a.m.
Images of historical Charlottesville flashed across a 30-by 30-foot screen at the nTelos Wireless Pavilion in the afternoon, marking the first of the city of Charlottesville’s Celebrate 250 events.
A series of events celebrating the 250th anniversary of the city’s founding in 1762 are scheduled throughout the rest of the year.
“We’re very excited to be celebrating anniversaries together,” said Drake Van de Castle, First Night Virginia president. “We’re thrilled with the turnout. The weather held up and the laser show was a hit.”
Later in the evening, University of Virginia football fans gathered at the Pavilion to watch the Chick-fil-A Bowl, in which the Cavaliers took on Auburn, on the big screen.
Monique Harold, who attended the festivities with her daughter, Camille, 7, said she appreciated the opportunity to enjoy a family-friendly New Year’s Eve event.
“We saw Mark Nizer and then we saw the magic show, which was a lot of fun,” she said. “There’s so much stuff to choose from.”
Camille talked excitedly about the show.
“He swallowed all these ping-pong balls and then blew them up out of his mouth,” she said, describing the way entertainer Eric Jones juggled with his tongue.
Dancers filled the Omni Ballroom as children waited anxiously in line for the next magic show.
“I’ve really enjoyed listening to the music and watching her have fun,” said Stefani Beluw, who attended the events with her daughter, Jersie, 4. “We actually just found out today that this was going on, so it’s our first time going. I’m very impressed and we’re having a lot of fun.”
Wishes and resolutions for 2012 shared through Twitter flashed across a screen near the carousel on the Downtown Mall.
“Get more than one haircut in 2012,” one read, followed by, “get my house out of foreclosure.”
First Night began in Boston in 1976, to bring neighboring communities together for a celebration, according to organizers. Charlottesville’s First Night Virginia was the second in the nation to begin the tradition, and the event has attracted hundreds of thousands of people in its 29 years.
“It’s a community celebration of arts and entertainment for all the generations,” Van de Castle said.
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