The New Year is off to a good start, with some help from First Night Morris County.
This 28th annual edition of the family-friendly, alcohol-free celebration splashed music and comedy across Morristown, with a pair of fireworks shows for punctuation.
More than 100 artists performed in 16 venues, offering something for young and old, and everyone in between.
Recruited by Morris Arts, the eclectic roster included mentalists and reptiles, dancers and symphonies. You could meet Mark Twain’s doppelgänger, prance with a pirate, and hear healthy doses of classic rock, Balkan folk tunes and Tin Pan Alley hits.
Although a bit smaller in scope than in prior years, many venues appeared full, and patrons who paid $25 for admission badges seemed pleased.
“We loved it, all the activity. It was perfect,” said Emine Uygur, whose came with her family from Montclair to experience their first First Night.
Even Mother Nature caught the holiday spirit, serving up seasonal temperatures with only a spritz of moisture.
Craig Schlosser, director of First Night Morris County, said badge sales topped last year, when the weather was bad, and should help the nonprofit venture build up its reserves.
The warming center at the Masonic Lodge, a performance venue, was busy: Volunteers served 21 gallons of hot cocoa and 750 home-made chocolate chip cookies, according to Drew Jardine, a lodge member.
Stay tuned for more sights and sounds from this entertainment extravaganza!
MorristownGreen.com is a proud sponsor of First Night Morris County.
MORE COVERAGE OF FIRST NIGHT MORRIS 2020
