Oil City’s ‘First Night’ Celebration to Offer Variety of Entertainment, Food, Fireworks

| December 20, 2016

first nightOIL CITY, Pa. – This year’s always popular First Night® Oil City will once again offer attendees a wide variety of outstanding entertainment complemented by two fireworks displays; a “Gusher Fireworks” display at 7:00 p.m. and a “Midnight Burst” will occur at midnight. 

The action packed family-oriented non-alcoholic celebration also will include outdoor bonfires at Justus Park and Central Avenue Plaza that are built by the City’s Public Works Department, with the Boy Scouts providing the wood and tending the fires.  Early evening activities will include hat making; craft making; and, a kickoff Cool Night Light People Procession that will begin at the Transit Building Gate (North Side).  As always, there will be great food available about town and a shuttle bus to transport people from venue to venue. 

Hat-making will take place in the ground floor hallway area of the National Transit Building ground floor hallway from 5:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.  Craft-making will take place in classrooms at the Trinity UM Church from 5:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., with church volunteers offering supplies, so people can make their own crafts; The Butler Clowns, featuring Dennis and Cheryl Butler, members of the Masonic Rite Family Clowns, will share their humor, magic, skits, balloons and music to entertain the young at heart while performing in classrooms at the Trinity UM Church; from 6 pm – 9 pm.

The Cool Night Light People Procession will commence at the National Transit Building Gate (North Side) at 6:45 p.m. and provide participants an opportunity to use noisemakers, wear creative hats, or wave “First Lights” or their very own LED creation as they dance, shout and make their festive journey down the street and all the way to Justus Park. The Cool Night Light People’s Procession is for self-expression and participation is encouraged. Later in the evening, everyone is invited to participate in the Transit Artist’s Drum Circle at the Transit Annex at 9 p.m. to help gear up for the New Year with noise and enthusiasm.

A myriad of unique and stellar entertainment will take place to help usher in 2017. Entertainment occurring on the City’s North Side includes The Birdman, trained specialists who provide attendees who are wearing their buttons an opportunity to have their photo taken with one of a number of beautiful exotic rescue birds; Cliff Hopkins; whose magic includes slicing a woman in half while she’s standing, making it snow indoors or defying the laws of gravity; Carol Weakland, who brings literary classics to life in an amazing one-woman production; Geoff Bach, an extremely skilled juggler and acrobat who engages audiences by using silent improvisational comedy; the Bulter Clowns, who combine humor, magic, skits and balloon tying to entertain the young at heart; and; Bill Sandusky of Erie Ice Works, who will spend the evening creating 6 block ice throne in the Town Square while people enjoy watching him work, then having their photo taken.

Entertainment occurring on the City’s South Side includes Talking Across The Line; featuring Michael Kline, Carrie Kline on guitar and guest Bill Corby on bass as they demonstrate their wonderful ability to use their music to educate audiences about historical and cultural events as they transport listeners to another place and time; Matt Gavula, Erie’s Piano Man, playing the songs of Elton John, Billy Joel, Garth Brooks, America, Matchbox 20 and more; Mitch Littler, a self-taught full-time professional musician who plays the slide guitar, drums, mandolin and harmonica; Caribbean Extravaganza, a versatile group of musicians originally from Trinidad and Tobago that presents an exciting choreographed show consisting of calypso songs and limbo … featuring Prince Pablo, Bobby Dee, Mornalisa, Sherrie, Curtain, Darrmorr, Isaac and Shemika; the Jay Vornedo Organ Trio East, featuring trombonist Jay Vonado , organist Steve Adams, and drummer Tom James. Kaleb Lewis, a talented artist who attended Tom Savini’s Special Make-Up Effects and, upon graduation, appeared on SyFy Channel’s FaceOff; will recreate his winning Snake God makeup while magically sharing  tips related to special effects, and Max Shang, a blues guitarist and singer who has become a local legend over a 40 year period of performing, composing and recording blues music.

First Night banners mark the location of each performance site.

A non-handicapped accessible shuttle bus will be running from 5:30 p.m. until 12:30 a.m. The North Side stop will in front of the National Transit Building.  South Side stops will be near the Grace United Methodist Church, the Masonic Hall and the Calvary Church.

Admission to First Night Oil City events requires the purchase of a button at a cost of $10 for adults, or $8 if purchased prior to Christmas.  Children 5 years of age and younger are admitted FREE.  With a button, attendees may choose to attend any of the 15 indoor events by purchasing and wearing their First Night Button.  Blinky buttons are worn by First Night Volunteers.  They donate their time to help make the events possible.  Advance button sales will take place at Oil City Library, Spilling the Beans, the Venango Area Chamber of Commerce, the Karma Coffee Company, Giant Eagle (Oil City & Franklin), and, at the Days Inn.

A comprehensive event schedule accompanies each button sold.  It contains all of the information you need regarding the events taking place on First Night. 

Button sale sites after 5 p.m. on New Year’s Eve will include The National Transit Building, Karma Coffee and The Days Inn on the North Side and at Spilling the Beans on the South Side.  Color changing “First Lights” are for sale on New Year’s Eve at these locations.

The members of this year’s First Night Committee included George Cooley, Jeff Corbett, Dan Feroz, Lynn Pacior-Malys, Bill and Robin Moon, Libby Williams and Susan Williams.

In order to continue the event from year-to-year, the Committee is always in need of additional members and community volunteers.  If you are interested in joining the committee, serving as a volunteer, or need additional information, please contact Susan Williams at the Venango Area Chamber of Commerce at (814)676-8521 or at: swilliams@venangochamber.org


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