Forget the drinking, forget the overpriced glass of champagne, but bring the kids. Akron's 8th annual First Night celebration attracted tens of thousands to the streets of Downtown to visit almost 20 venues presenting over 70 artists, from University of Akron's Steel Drum Band to the Dave Marshall Hot Swing Jazz Band to "a gentle spoof of the city we love," performed by the Weathervane Community Playhouse (can you imagine a Cleveland theatre group spoofing NEO politics?). Highlights included Akron band Speedbump (pictured here), Hank Williams impersonator David Church, and the frequent bus service, making the evening more than pleasant...

With the streets jammed all night long thanks to extraordinarily good weather (although with only 3 outdoor venues, the party would have gone on even in the snow), a massive crowd followed the Street Beat Drummers in a parade through Downtown and gathered at the Mainstage area at 9PM for the first (mock) countdown and fireworks display of the evening, this one for the kids.

David Church pulled off an earnest set of Hank Williams that brought an aura of down-home credibility to the proceedings, while sporting a master mullet. Kids could make it and take it away at the Akron Museum of Art and Summit Artspace, among others. 60's pop stylists The Rebeats livened up Inventure Place, The National Inventor's Hall of Fame, while Beatles tribute band Hard Day's Night graced EJ Thomas Performing Arts Hall at the University of Akron.

Thousands packed into the incredibly beautiful Akron Civic Theatre, a jewel unmatched in the region since it's recent renovation, for a free laser show. Unfortunately, laser shows have not improved much since the last time you saw one, although it's always impressive your first time around.

Dance, karaoke, theatre, magic, face painting, a Baptist choir, an art walk, headliners Colin Dussault's Blues Project, and the inevitable Elvis impersonator (courtesy of the Amazing Grace Land Ministries) rounded out the evening, offering more than you could possibly check out, even if you did ride the jammed bus.

Maybe the best part was seeing thousands of people out with their families on the streets past dark, clutching event guides and discussing what they were going to see next.

Buttons for $10 (kids under 9 were free) got you into everything for free. Add in the cost of some food (available everywhere, including the two dozen open restaurants Downtown) and the whole schmear would cost a family with kids about $50. Where did you spend your $$ and time on New Year's?

Read Mulready's Free Times commentary at www.Free Times?.com

Review by Cool Cleveland creator Thomas Mulready

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