First Night Talbot 2013 Sponsors

American Legion Post 70 Talbot Candlelight Web Design Easton Bank & Trust E.E. Streets Memorial Post 5118 VFW Gipe Associates, Inc St. John Foundation Talbot Bank Talbot Optimist Club Talbot Partnership Town of Easton

Partial funding is provided by

Talbot County Arts Council with funds from the Maryland State Arts Council and the Talbot County Council.

Special Thanks To

All Volunteers and Performers Academy Art Museum Attraction Magazine Avalon Foundation Chesapeake Publishing Christ Church Christine U'Ren Easton Main Street Easton Police Department Historical Society of Talbot County Hot Off The Coals Oxford Commercial Talbot County Chamber of Commerce Talbot County Office of Tourism The Star Democrat Waterfowl Festival

Celebrating Our 19th Year As A First Night® ABOUT FIRST NIGHT® First Night® came into existence in Boston in 1976 to provide a community-wide, Non-alcoholic celebration of New Year's Eve through the Arts. This year, there will be more than seventy-five New Year's Eve arts festivals celebrated in cities and towns across the nation as members of First Night® USA. First Night® Talbot was created in 1994, sponsored by the Talbot County Chamber Of Commerce, and has been held in one form or another continuously since then! When the original grant funding expired, the community picked up the event as a Volunteer Board activity, created its own 501 (c) 3 non-profit corporation, and has relied on generous sponsors both corporate and individual for support ever since. All performers are paid, and most are from Talbot County or nearby. First Night Talbot 2005 enhanced the celebration of our community's local culture by adding two Crab Drop Celebrations - one at Midnight in the Mid-Atlantic at 9 pm and one at Midnight. The Crab Drop Celebrations, which are free and open to the public, have been going on ever since and now include a parade of Sea Creature Puppets created by First Nighters under the guidance of Debra and Eric of Dragon Wings, LLC The success of our event is due to the support of many partners in Talbot County and the commitment of numerous local volunteers. Volunteers are the backbone of all First Night celebrations and fund-raisers, and those who volunteer receive their admission buttons free. New volunteers are always welcome. "First Night" refers to the new year - new beginnings - retiring the old year with fondness and welcoming the new year with hope and optimism. We hope that local friends and visitors to our area for the holidays will share our sense of joy, gratitude and excitement for our Community. HAPPY NEW YEAR 2013!