First Night Calls it Quits in 2012

The organizers will be on hiatus

First Night of Maplewood and South Orange will not take place in 2012. The Board of Directors of First Night notified the town administrators that the group, "finds that it does not have sufficient volunteer resources to enable it to produce a full scale event for December 31, 2012." However, the current Board is available to help new volunteers take up the cause, organizing a family-friendly New Year's Eve event for South Orange and Maplewood. "We urge any individuals or organizations in Maplewood and/or South Orange to consider taking over this project that has provided our communities with twenty years of New Year’s Eve fun. The retiring board of directors will be available to offer their advice and experience to anyone interested in …

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Livingston Taylor Headlines First Night

New Year's Eve celebration in Maplewood/South Orange features the singer-songwriter -- and the circus!

First Night Maplewood/South Orange, the New Year’s Eve celebration, opens at 5 p.m. Saturday with clowns, jugglers, and performing mutts. Yes, you read that right. The circus is back. This year, new performers — some who worked at Big Apple — put on a new one ring circus at Maplewood Middle School in Maplewood. Because of the circus’ popularity, there will be two shows — one at 5 p.m. and one at 6:15 p.m. at Maplewood Middle School. The circus is designed for people of all ages. Also returning are Doug the Amazing Balloon Sculptor, face painting, a karate demonstration, beadmaking, and Mary Kao’s origami workshop. The doors at Maplewood Middle School, 7 Burnett Street in Maplewood, open at 4:30 p.m. A wonderful menu of food from La Vera …

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Holiday Season 2010

First Night Maplewood-South Orange Aims to Be the Best Night

The family-friendly New Year's Eve celebration is moving to South Orange Middle School this year — with fireworks at Floods Hill.

First Night Maplewood/South Orange may be hitting its 18th year, but it's still a child at heart. The family-friendly Near Year's celebration which runs from 4:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Friday, is bursting with the stuff of children's dreams. Organizer Connie Cosgrove promised us "storytelling, crafts, magician, puppet theater, a crazy chemistry show, a ventriloquist, hip hop, a subway musician, and the best balloon sculptor ever! Oh, and fireworks at 6:30 p.m." This year the venue has moved to the South Orange Middle School, 700 Ridgewood Road, South Orange. But you've got to move outside to Floods Hill for the fireworks. The "ticket" for this event is a wristband that works for one-time use. Wristbands will be available at the door for…

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