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NEPA residents have options in both Scranton and Hazleton

December 30, 2008

First Nights provide family fun

By Steve Mocarsky smocarsky@timesleader.com
Staff Writer
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Northeast Pennsylvania residents looking for a fun night with a variety of family entertainment options at a reasonable price on New Year’s Eve have a choice of two events close to home.

The city of Hazleton in southern Luzerne County will be host to First Night Hazleton 2009, offering 23 shows at 10 venues.

And to the north, First Night Scranton 2009 will offer 20 acts at 15 venues throughout Lackawanna County’s largest city.

Both cities’ events will offer new entertainment this year, as well as some returning favorites.

One of the new attractions in Hazleton will be Animal Junction – a traveling teaching zoo that will bring 12 exotic animals.

“Animal acts are always popular. One year we had a dog that did magic tricks, and people loved it,” said First Night Hazleton coordinator Lena Kotansky.

Other first-time appearances will include IllusionQuest, a full-stage magic show; The Pyramid Band, a big band from Buffalo, N.Y., performing the hits of Louis Armstrong, Tommy Dorsey, Duke Ellington, Glen Miller, Frank Sinatra and others; Tai Kim’s Kung Fu Lion Dance Team, for a Chinese New Year celebration; and Taikoza, a music and dance group reminiscent of performances in the Japanese section of Epcot Center at Walt Disney World.

Returning favorites include Twelve Twenty-Four, Northeastern Pennsylvania’s re-creation of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra that performs a combination of Christmas classics and modern songs with moving lights, a laser, snow machines and a string section; a life-size version of the Candyland game; and the Shakespeare Bard Senseless comic theater group.

The evening will also feature ice sculptures, free trolley rides between venues, horse-drawn carriage rides and a Grand Procession of Colors leading attendees to center city for a grand finale of fireworks at midnight.

First Night Scranton attendees can for the first time there see performances of the Vince Brust Dancers and the NEPA Tango Connection – two dance groups that specialize in ballroom dancing and salsa dancing, respectively.

“They are professional teachers who will perform and then give dance lessons to members of the audience,” said Jennifer Battista, director of communications and special projects for Scranton Tomorrow, the organization that coordinates the event.

Also new this year will be Dance Dance Revolution and Guitar Hero competitions.

And in commemoration of First Night Scranton’s 10th anniversary, the committee brought back some of the most popular performers from the first few years of the event, including Damian the Magician, storyteller Chris Arcangelo, historical comedian the Renaissance Man, The Brain Show interactive game show, and musical groups George Wesley and Exact Change, Battista said.

Also featured will be carnival rides, street performers, free shuttle service between venues and a countdown to 2009 at midnight with fireworks and an Auld Lang Syne sing-along.

Unfortunately, after 10 years, Scranton’s big end-of-year celebration could go the way of Wilkes-Barre’s, which hasn’t seen a New Year’s Eve event on Public Square since 2002.

Scranton Tomorrow officials decided to refocus on Main Avenue and other economic development programs, so there will be no First Night Scranton 2010 unless another entity takes over.

Many folks have said they miss Wilkes-Barre’s New Year’s Eve diamond drop at midnight. The “diamond” apparatus is stored in the Department of Public Works garage, according to Butch Frati, director of operations.

Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tom Leighton has said the city’s bleak financial condition prevented him from restarting the traditional event.

ON THE WEB

IF YOU GO

Visit www.scrantontomorrow.org for more information on First Night celebrations in Scranton.

First Night Scranton admission buttons are $10; seniors attending the bingo event and children under 5 are free. The discount deadline was Dec. 24.

Buttons can be purchased in advance in Scranton at Albright Memorial Library, 500 Vine St.; The Mall at Steamtown, 300 Lackawanna Ave.; Northern Light Espresso Bar, 536 Spruce St.; NOW Hair Studio, 132 Adams Ave.; Pizza by Pappas, 303 N. Washington Ave.; Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel, 700 Lackawanna Ave.; and The Trolley Museum, 300 Cliff St.; in Clarks Summit at Sanderson State Street, 509 S. State St.; and Everything Natural, 426 S. State St.; in Dickson City at Borders; in Moosic at the Lackawanna County Visitors Bureau, 99 Glenmaura National Blvd.; or at Price Chopper stores in Dunmore, Edwardsville, Taylor, Wyoming and Wilkes-Barre.

Call 963-7576 for more information.

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