By MADDY VITALE
How about ringing in the New Year trying your hand at country line dancing, listening to the sounds of the ’70s, ice skating, enjoying amusement rides or watching a magician?
Well, you could do it all and more — a total of 70 shows and activities — for First Night 2020 at 20 locations in Ocean City.
For just $20 a person the all-inclusive admission buttons are good for every event and activity beginning at 4 p.m. and going until 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 31. The night is capped off with a brilliant display of fireworks.
It is one of the biggest family-friendly events around, showcasing an array of entertainment in an alcohol-free environment for all ages and giving New Year’s Eve revelers plenty of special memories as they ring in 2020.
But First Night buttons are going fast, Director of Community Services Michael Allegretto explained. And while the event is able to accommodate up to 10,000 attendees, he urged people to purchase their tickets as soon as possible to ensure a button.
“Buttons sales have been going well,” Allegretto noted.
He added that he expects button sales to really increase over the coming weekend with mild temperatures bringing more and more people into town.
There are plenty of reasons why First Night is so popular among families.
“It is a great family event since there is something that appeals to every age group,” Allegretto said. “There are fun family activities, like the inflatables, family quiz show, country line dance experience, and rides at Wonderland Pier.”
Buttons can be purchased at firstnightocnj.com or by calling 609-399-6111. You can also purchase tickets in person by visiting the Roy Gillian Welcome Center on the Ninth Street causeway, City Hall’s Welcome Center at 861 Asbury Avenue or the Welcome Center at the Ocean City Music Pier (10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday).
New entertainment and activities for First Night 2020 feature the legendary disco sounds of the Trammps, Disney’s Imagination Movers, the Duprees with the Ocean City Pops Orchestra, an interactive Country Line Dance experience, the Harlem Wizards Basketball Stunt Act, the Hegeman String Band, the Legacy Band, the family musical “Elephant & Piggies: We Are In A Play” and much more.
The rides at Wonderland Pier will return this year, and other returning favorites include the ice-skating rink, inflatables, Salazar Magician, Dan Cain Mentalist, the Philly Keys Dueling Piano Show, magician Chad Juros and the Men of Broadway.
Allegretto said some of the really great activities for families include watching the Imagination Movers, Harlem Wizards basketball show, Dan Cain the mentalist, and Chad Juros the magician.
“As the night progresses there will some fun bands to ring in the New Year with the likes of the Trammps at the Music Pier, the Duprees at the Tabernacle, and the Legacy Band at the Civic Center,” he added.
Last year, Special Events Coordinator Michael Hartman noted that First Night continues to grow in popularity because it is family-friendly fun for all ages.
He said the First Night buttons have become keepsakes for people through the years because of the memories they have created.
First Night was founded 28 years ago and modeled after an alcohol-free New Year’s Eve celebration in Boston that marked the nation’s bicentennial in 1976.
The first celebration in Ocean City included 25 entertainment acts at five different locations with about 800 people attending, a far cry from the bigger acts and crowds of today.
Allegretto summed up the First Night experience, “A great night can be planned for families to enjoy together.”
For more information and schedule updates, visit firstnightocnj.com.
