Find Your Center - Things to Do - First Night Charlotte

Polymorhpic Plasitc Parade made Tipis from discarded plastic and locally harvested bamboo.

The Gay Men's Chorus of Charlotte, a 30-member ensemble, sang a cappella and accompanied.

Lee Baumgarten with the Cultural & Civic Arts Center of Pineville spent the day creating this art.

Happy New Year! Raising the Crown has become a tradition in Charlotte for welcoming the New Year!

A show for the record books, the pyrotechnics show was sponsored by Wachovia/Wells Fargo

Try to resist Simply Irresistible, our First Night Audience couldn't get enough!

Simply Irresistable the Southeasts hottest party band kept the crowd dancing all night long!

Spiral joined Simply Irresistable on stage contorting and acrobatically flipping through hoops!

Spiral amazed audiences as she spun hoops all over her body, acrobatically flipping through them.

Resolution Balloons were the talk of the night! Release your regret of 2009 or your hope for 2010

Caricature Artist drew Charlotteans in their favorite places around Center City!

David Garibaldi creates six-foot portraits of pop icons in minutes to music.

Sarah Mullen, Celtic Harpest entertained audiences in the 200 S. Tryon building.

Simply Irresistable on the Duke Energy Stage was the highlight of the night!

Spirit of the Lotus Dance Company performed a wide range of belly dance styles!

Sweetbriar Jam plays up tempo, bluegrass music, and thier only 10-15 years old!

WBTV news anchors Maureen O'Boyle and Paul Cameron led the countdown to midnight!

Walsh Kelley School of Irish Dance entertained the crowd with their traditional costumes and dances

Charlotte Dance Festival presented their unique blend of aerial and contemporary dance in the Atrium

2020 Kids lets parents play too, they got to tell us what they love to do in Center City.

Kids gathered to watch magic shows and storytellers from all over the region!

First Night Kids is a great event for Parents and Kids!

David Garibladi creating Ronald McDonald with brushes and his hands!

The Silver Foxes even came out to to help ring in the New Year!

First Night Venue signs made it easy to find all the different performances!

The Hamburglar is having too much fun to worry about getting burgers!

The band has the crowd on their feet dancing and singing!

Crowds Gathered for the People's Processional and the Kids Countdown!

Sponsored by My School Rocks, these noisemakers were a hit!

David Garibaldi painted Rondal McDonald in minutes to a packed house!

Cheerwine bottles made great noisemakers for the People's Processional.

Charlotte's Art Car had flames coming out of the roof! A great part of our People's Processional!

The Magic School Bus even showed up for the fun!

Hardin Minor was our Grand Pu Bah of the People's Processional, kicking off First Night 2010!

Kids could create their own Ronald McDonald!

First Night Kids was sponsored by McDonalds!

We had music from all different cultures!

Crowds begin to gather to kick off First Night Kids!

McDonalds handed out apples to keep the kids energized!

From inflatable slides to mascots, First Night Kids was the place to be on New Years Eve!

2020 Kids was a hit! They drew a mural of what they want most in their center city!

The Kids loved the storytellers, where they got to use their imaginations!

Ronald is pretty impressed with David Garibaldi's work!

Wilson from Fox News Rising's Wilsons World get the crowd excited for the People's Processional.

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FIRST NIGHT CHARLOTTE

JOIN US FOR CHARLOTTE’S MOST EXCITING, IMAGINATIVE AND UPLIFTING CULTURAL EVENT OF THE YEAR! OUR CELEBRATION FEATURES A FANTASTIC ARRAY OF EVENTS & ACTIVITIES FOR ALL TO ENJOY IN A SAFE, ALCOHOL-FREE ENVIRONMENT.

Call for Performers & People's Processional Applications are due NO LATER THAN MAY 31ST!

Event Schedule

Dec

First Night Kids

First Night Kids is perfect for the entire family, and kicks off First Night Charlotte. Kids of all ages can enjoy the music, dance, theater, history, science and much more. First Night Kids is scheduled between 3 PM and 7 PM with events and performances at a variety of locations including ImaginOn, Levine Museum of the New South, Spirit Square &... more

Dec

First Night Charlotte People's Procession

Join hundreds of Charlotteans as we celebrate the ritual of New Year's Eve with the annual People's Processional... a parade for the people, by the people! Wear a mask, dress in your funniest costume, or carry a banner to welcome the new year, do whatever your heart desires just join the growing list of participants... *Subject to change more

Dec

First Night Charlotte Evening Programming

A fun filled evening of music, dancing, art and more! From painters to aerialist. Magic to bands. A wide array of talents will keep you entertained until it is time to countdown to midnight! HAPPY NEW YEAR! more

Presenting Sponsors

A Lifestyle Guide to Charlotte’s Center City!

FIRST NIGHT CHARLOTTE

Event Schedule

First Night Kids

First Night Charlotte People's Procession

First Night Charlotte Evening Programming

Presenting Sponsors

Announcements View All

2011 People's Processional Application Now Available!

2011 Call for Performers Now Available!

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A Charlotte Center City Partners Event