First Night Springfield Returns New Year’s Eve

Downtown Springfield will once again ring in the New Year with art, music and family-friendly activities as the Springfield Area Arts Council hosts the 39th annual First Night Springfield on Wednesday, Dec. 31.

The alcohol-free celebration runs from noon to 8:30 p.m. and will feature live performances, hands-on arts activities and a fireworks display, weather permitting. This year’s event highlights the 100th anniversary of Route 66, a historic roadway closely tied to Springfield’s identity.

Tickets are on sale now for $25 for adults ages 16 and older. Youth 15 and under are admitted free. Admission includes a collectible First Night Springfield button, which serves as the event ticket and is available to the first 500 ticket buyers. Tickets may be purchased online or in person at the Hoogland Center for the Arts box office.

Festivities begin from noon to 5 p.m. at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum with children’s crafts and live performances. Scheduled performers include Cowboy Randy, students from the Hoogland Education Program, DJ Dino-Mite and others. First Night Springfield attendees will also receive free admission to the museum during this time. Free ice skating will be offered from noon to 4 p.m. at Union Square Park for all attendees and downtown visitors.

Evening activities shift to the Hoogland Center for the Arts from 5 to 7:45 p.m., featuring performances by N.I.L.8, Ben Bedford, Johnnie Owens, The Muni, Springfield Theatre Center, FReSH RAiN and additional artists. Children’s crafts will be available from 5 to 7 p.m., hosted by the Garvey Tubman Cultural Arts and Research Center and the Fae Folk Art Collective. From 6 to 7:45 p.m., the Sangamon Watercolor Society will lead watercolor painting activities for all ages.

The celebration concludes with a fireworks display at 8 p.m. at the corner of Fourth Street and Capitol Avenue, offering families an early evening finale while still leaving time for later New Year’s celebrations.

Free parking will be available in the garage next to the Hoogland Center for the Arts. Paid parking is available in the garage next to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, along with free metered parking throughout downtown where available.

A full schedule of events can be found on the Springfield Area Arts Council’s website. The council is located in the Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St., and is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. More information is available at springfieldartsco.org.