First Night 2007 is celebrating 15 years of bringing a a family friendly, community celebration of the Arts on New Years Eve to Historic Downtown Monterey and the Historic Custom House Plaza State Park.

THANK YOU!

Steering Committee
Mike Bennett – Logistics/Vendors
Lynn Bennett – Button Sales
Andy Gilhooley – Performing Arts
Nina Parris – Starlight Parade
Mary Bronzan - Website

First Night Board of Directors
Ellen Martin – Executive Director
Mike Bennett - President
Bill Wiltschko –Treasurer
Mary Ann Kleine - Secretary
Barbra Alexander
Susan Britton

The Mission 

The mission of First Night Monterey, Inc. is to bring families together and unite our community in all its diversity through the visual and performing arts. First Night Monterey, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization and a member of First Night International.  Programs are designed to appeal to people of all ages and backgrounds and to broaden and deepen public appreciation of the arts. The centerpiece of First Night Monterey is our alcohol-free celebration on New Year's Eve in downtown Monterey.

The Organization

The First Night concept was created in 1976 by a group of citizens in Boston. The tremendous success year after year now inspires millions in over 200 cities throughout the U.S., Canada and beyond. First Night is a registered trademark of First Night International. For more complete information on First Night in other cities or on how to start a First Night in your own city, please call (607) 772-3597 or visit the official web site at www.firstnight.com

First Night Monterey premiered in 1993 to wide acclaim. Today thousands of residents and tourists alike rate all the programs very highly. They talk enthusiastically about the spirit of joy and hope that makes First Night so valuable to them and their families. Our volunteer core has grown from 50 to 500; the audience has grown from 9,000 to 40,000; and participation as a performing or visual artist becomes more competitive each year. First Night Monterey has won awards for promoting the arts, building community, and creating innovative programming.

Profile of The Family Arts Celebration

• We were the Official Millennium Celebration for Monterey County
• Wide variety of musicians, dancers, singers, poets, and more
• Classical, folk, jazz, children's, rock and world music and dance
• Performances, exhibits and arts activities from 3 PM to midnight
• 50 venues downtown -- indoors, outdoors and historic sites
• Multicultural in all respects -- sharing traditions and visions for the future
• Carefully selected, high quality presentations
• Welcoming atmosphere for people of all ages and abilities
• Affordable, accessible, and alcohol-free celebration of New Year's Eve
• Over 40,000 children and adults expected this year

Outreach Workshops

First Night Monterey works in collaboration with local organizations to move "at-risk" youth and seniors from the periphery to center stage. Professional artists lead these 30-hour workshops throughout Monterey County during the year. For more details, click here: First Night Works!

Community Feedback

"Once again, on behalf of the City Council, the citizens of Monterey, and every person who has attended First Night Monterey, we thank you for building a stronger and healthier community through the arts, for strengthening families, for uniting our community, for making our community a better place, and lastly, for giving us a celebration that stays within our hearts throughout the entire year." - Mayor Dan Albert, City of Monterey  

"Best year. We saw Broadway, Parade, Monterey Brass, Opera, Golden Bough, Feynman. All did a wonderful job!" - P. Little, Carmel

"We have been attending First Night in Monterey and Santa Cruz (split about evenly) for the past ten years. We thought the entertainment we saw last night was the best ever. Thanks for the great choices." - L. and R. Cooper, by email

Directions to First Night Monterey Office