Springfield Area Arts Council’s signature event is First Night® Springfield, a family-friendly, handicapped-accessible, and affordable event.

This year’s First Night Springfield is the city’s 33^rd annual New Year’s Eve Celebration of the arts, presented by the Springfield Area Arts Council on December 31, 2019.

First Night originated in Boston in 1976 as a family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebration. Springfield’s First Night was the first in Illinois and remains the longest running.

We will open First Night Springfield on the afternoon of New Year’s Eve—Tuesday, December 31—with FREE children’s hands-on creative activities and entertainment in three areas at Springfield High School from 1:00 to 4:00 P.M.

At 4:15, Mark Gifford will present a  theatre organ concert in the Springfield High School auditorium.  $5 admission or a First Night wristband.

5:00 marks the start of the evening’s entertainment on multiple stages at the Hoogland Center for the Arts and the Lincoln Home Visitors Center.

The traditional First Night fireworks display will begin at 8:00 P.M. at Fourth Street and Capitol Avenue.  The fireworks are designed by Nostalgia Pyrotechnics under the direction of Carl Steinmacher.

Following the fireworks, another round of First Night performances will begin at the Hoogland Center for the Arts and the Lincoln Home Visitors Center.  

The celebration concludes at 11:15 so that attendees can get home or to a favorite spot to ring in the New Year.

First Night Springfield admission wristbands:  For adults, the cost is $18 when purchased by December 30 or $20 on December 31.  Tickets are $5 for children ages 5 through 18.   Under age 5, free.  Wristbands are available in-person at the Hoogland Center for the Arts box office or online at www.hcfta.org.