Art by Felicia Olin ; Design by Karen Nickerson

2021 First Night^® Springfield

Springfield Area Arts Council’s signature event is First Night® Springfield, a family-friendly, handicapped-accessible, and affordable event.

First Night® originated in Boston in 1976 as a family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebration. Springfield’s First Night® was the first in Illinois and remains the longest running.

This year’s First Night® Springfield was the city’s 34^th annual New Year’s Eve Celebration of the arts, and it was a unique one.

The year’s event was the first virtual First Night® Springfield and featured performances from Springfield, Illinois, and Monterey, California, and Saint Petersburg, Florida.

Yes, it was First Night® coast to coast!

If you missed the First Night premiere, you can watch all the performances right here: https:/www.youtube.com/watch

This event is being presented FREE as our gift to the community after a harrowing year. However, First Night Springfield is not only the Arts Council’s signature event, but also our biggest annual fund-raiser.  Our event sponsors help us pay area performers. If you can, please consider donating now. No gift is too small to make a difference.