City Celebrates! New Year’s Eve 2011
Organized and presented by AHA! & the City of New Bedford

Arrive early and stay late! Ring in 2012 with fireworks in Custom House Square - and be home in time to watch the ball drop in NYC Times Square.

Sponsored by Bristol County Savings Bank
Fireworks presented by

AHA! and the City of New Bedford present City Celebrates! New Year's Eve 2011 in the heart of the downtown historic district. The evening is sponsored by Bristol County Savings Bank.

Join the AHA! partners for a FREE family-friendly evening in Downtown New Bedford from 4:30 to 9pm — but feel free to arrive early and stay late! The fireworks at 9:00 are presented by Blue Cross-Blue Shield.

“Every SouthCoast resident is invited to join us in downtown New Bedford for what promises to be an evening of fun and family-friendly entertainment,” said Lee Heald, program director for AHA!

“We’re ringing in 2012 with a warm sense of community. The downtown partners have come together to pull this off, and it looks to be a fabulous night for all of SouthCoast to share together,” Heald said.

FREE programming from 4 to 9pm includes:

• The night kicks off at 4:30pm from City Hall with Mayor Scott Lang leading the festivities. He will be joined by Miss New Bedford and Miss New Bedford Outstanding Teen as well as Showstoppers and the steel drum ensemble from UMASS Dartmouth. Be sure to wear a great hat for the Annual Hat-Review!
• Make hats with Artworks! from 2-4pm or bring your own for the hat contest at City Hall.  
• The Seaman’s Bethel hosts an Ecumenical Church Service from 5-6pm.
• Fire & Ice! Check out real fire-eaters on the Whaling Museum Plaza (18 Johnny Cake Hill) starting at 6pm & on Purchase Street in front of the Star Store at 7pm. AND watch live ice sculpting at Custom House Square starting at 4:30pm.
• If you’ve got kids, we’ve got activities! Head to the New Bedford Public Library (613 Pleasant St.) for Symphony Tales at 5:15 and a “Little Women Tea” with the New Bedford Drama Club at 6:30 & 7:30pm.
• The always popular Toe Jam Puppet Band performs at 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30pm at the YMCA along with face painting by Lulu the Clown.
• Take your kids for crafts and games with the 19th Century Ladies at the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park Visitor Center (33 William Street) from 5-7pm.
• Enjoy storytelling with Karen Chace at Artworks! 6:30 & 7:30pm
• Hit up the Family Magic Workshop with Jedlie’s Magic Circus! Happening at BCC, 6 & 7:15pm.
• Street performance with the Suspenders (fire-eaters, jugglers and more!) on William Street, 5:30-7:30pm.
• Warm up in City Hall with some complimentary hot chocolate while taking a guided tour by students from NBHS ROTC (5-9pm) or chatting about New Year's resolutions with Mayor Lang (6:30-8:30pm).

Music lovers, you’re in luck! What a night we have in store for you:

• Traditional Celtic Music with Eddie Dillon at the Celtic Coffee House from 5:30-7pm and Aoife Clancy in the Seamen’s Bethel 6:30-8pm.
• Head to the Ginger Grill to hear NB's very own Caliph, Doc Lek & Common Ground, 6:30-8:30pm.
• Holiday music in Cape Verdean style with the Vincent and Jasper Duo at Celia’s Boutique from 4:30-6pm.
• More fun with the Showstoppers! Check them out in the Zeiterion Penler Space, 6-7pm.
  
• Scott Correia plays grand piano at the Star Store UMass-Dartmouth CVPA from 5:30-7pm.
• Jazz with The Jim Robitaille Trio, 5:30-7:30pm in the Whaling Museum Theater.
  The Museum is closed to the public, enter theater via William Street side entrance.
• Paul Nagel and Bill Miele perform at the New Bedford Art Museum, 5:30 & 6:15pm.
• Swing dance with the The Hep Cats as they play at Bristol Hall from 5-6:30pm.
• Dance up a storm with Pumpkin Head Ted at Gallery X from 5-8pm.
• Folkies, head to Café Arpeggio from 5-8pm for a Special New Year's Eve Concert!
  Matt Borrello - singer/songwriter 5:30-6:30 with Special Guest Brian Strange sittin' in
  Barbara Phaneuf - singer/songwriter/musical playwright - 6:30-7:30
  Art Tebbetts - "New Bedford's troubadour" - hosting & performing 5:00-5:30 & 7:30-8:00
  
• Fado sensation Ana Vinagre will play at the National Park from 7-8pm.
• UGLYgallery hosts local hip-hop DJ.
• Modern Human rocks at The Garage on N. Water Street, 7:30-8:30pm.
  
  

And, of course, don’t miss the FIREWORKS
in Custom House Square at 9pm!

Besides all these great FREE events, downtown’s museums, art galleries and unique boutique shops will be open all day and will stay open late for the New Year’s celebration.

AHA! (Art, History, Architecture!) partner restaurants will be open all night long for dinner, live music and spirits perfect for counting down to 2012. Pick up Night-of schedules at the participating sites the week of the event.