Organizers are saying First Night Bradford 2006 promises to be
even more explosive than last year, with more entertainers,
activities and family-oriented fun.

The local New Year’s Eve celebration allows area residents to
participate in the national annual First Night program, which aims
to provide a drug and alcohol-free, family-geared New Year’s Eve
celebration of the arts.

Financial crisis and a lack of volunteer support forced
organizers to cancel First Night Bradford 2003, but a change in the
way the committee collects and uses its funds has allowed the event
to grow and expand over the last couple of years.

Committee chairman Chuck Brooks said Tuesday night that this
year’s theme is “Families, Friends, Community Spirit.”

“There are three parts to it,” he said, adding “this year’s
theme is really what the whole First Night program is about. It’s
an opportunity for families and friends to come together and
celebrate New Year’s Eve. The different venues and arts help to
develop the community spirit, making for a happy holiday and a
great new year.”

Brooks emphasized there were many and new programs geared toward
children of all ages, as well as adults.

Darla Oaks, entertainment chairperson for committee, said the
program this year is definitely bigger than last year.

Oaks said those planning to attend can expect the traditional
First Night firsts, including first swim, first bowl and first
skate. There will be many musical performers on hand at the
different locations, featuring everything from local talent from
Barbara Pedersen and Christa Scheler to acts from out of the area –
the John Kytic Quintet, Tunescape, Fieldstone and the Tom Gestwicki
Trio, to name a few.

There will be a children’s carnival at the YMCA again this year,
with inflatable mazes, rides and a fun house. “Just Clowning
Around,” a clown act that involves audience participation, and
Jason Reilly’s Frog show should be huge hits with the kids, Oaks
said. The huge frogs that are part of Reilly’s “Frog Bog Island”
show are “as big as dinner plates,” she added.

First Night Bradford 2006 also boasts comedians, the Scanlan
Irish dancers, the Mountain Laurel Harmonizers, art shows, Karaoke
and DJ music, a rock music show for teenagers, wildlife
presentations, a ventriloquist, “comic conjurer” David Rojahn,
impressionist Joey Vincent, Elvis impersonator Art Hibbard and the
debut of burgeoning performer Alissa Shembeda -ðthe winner of the
Floyd C. Fretz Middle School American Idol-type contest earlier
this year.

“I’m excited,” Oaks said. “There is a lot … a lot to do. I can’t
decide what to see myself.”

Oaks said the committee tried to incorporate more activities for
younger children and are getting things started a little earlier
this year. About 1,500 people came downtown for last year’s
festival, organizers reported.

The annual fireworks display and “ball drop,” courtesy of Kessel
Construction, is set for midnight on Veterans Square that
Saturday.

First Night buttons, the one-time admission ticket into most of
the evening’s events, should be available next week, Brooks said,
at the following locations:

County National Bank, Northwest Savings Bank, National City
Bank, Hamlin Bank, the Bradford and Kane areas Chambers of
Commerce, the YMCA, Between Four Walls, WESB/WBRR Bradford radio,
Byllye Lanes, Gigi’s, Tops Friendly Markets, Crosby Mini-Marts, the
Christmas Shop, Parkview Supermarket, W. Smith Trustworthy
Hardware, America’s First Christmas Store, Tina’s Hallmark and the
Main Street Mercantile.

Buttons for children under 5 are free. Buttons will be available
at the different venues, Brooks said.