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First Night Facts

A cast of thousands--2000s, that is--takes to dozens of stages for the biggest New Year's Eve event in tow WEBWALL 2000 AND Lisa Dale Miller's Millennial Burn are only two of the dozens of events, performances and day-long presentations lined up for First Night Santa Cruz. Venues for most events are along Pacific Avenue or the surrounding blocks, and admission to all (except the Artists of the Year event at Santa Cruz High School) comes with purchase of a First Night button. First Night buttons are $10 general/$5 for youth under 18 available through Dec. 30 at locations countywide (call 425.7277 or visit www.firstnightsc.com for information) or on Dec. 31 at a button booth at Pacific and Soquel avenues for $15/$5. All performances are first-come-first-served, and most have extensive waiting lines. (The Artist of the Year event has reserved seating for each of three shows, available with ticket purchase and a First Night button.) Parking in downtown Santa Cruz is free beginning at 3pm New Year's Eve, but quickly fills to capacity. First Night offers free shuttles from parking lots at the County Building, 701 Ocean St, Santa Cruz, after 5pm or Costco, 220 Sylvania Ave, Santa Cruz, after 3pm. Also, the Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District allows riders with First Night buttons to travel free along routes to and from downtown Santa Cruz. Bus service on selected routes runs until 1am. The Artists of the Year event brings together nearly all of the county's artists of the year for collaborative performances in the newly renovated auditorium at Santa Cruz High School, 415 Walnut Ave., Santa Cruz. Each of nine presenting artists of the year takes 15 minutes for performances of their works, often world premieres of new ones done in collaboration with other artists of the year. On the program are current artist of the year Morton Marcus, as well as Tandy Beal, Lou Harrison, Linda Burman-Hall, Lynda Watson, Jack Zajac, Charles Hilger, James Houston and Doug McClellan. Three artists present for each of three shows. Tickets are $5 per show, available in advance by calling 425.7277 or visiting www.firstnightsc.com. Performers and Venues Actors' Theatre Deuces Wild, David Beaudry, Cindy Kalmenson. Boys and Girls Club  Young at Art. Atelier Gallery  My Dinner With Amelia. Calvary Church  Georgiana Bruce Kirby Choir, Susan Kessey, Esther's Klezmer Band. Calvary Parish Hall  Roberto the Magician, Estradasphere, Mayim. Calvary Parish Yard  Labyrinth Walk. Cathcart Street  Art cars. Cinema 9  Zun Zun, Sitar Power, Keith Greeninger & Water. City Council Chambers  Market Square, No More Romeos. Civic Auditorium  Slow Gherkin, PIE DJs, Community Youth Arts Project. Del Mar Theatre  Daniel Menendez, Vocamotion, Reverend Rabia, Mary McCaslin, RCF Trio, Mary McLaughlin, Eleazer Cortes, Lowery and Thrasher. Georgiana Bruce Kirby School  Homefire, Hoo Tza Tza. Holy Cross Chapel  Barbara Telynor, Denise Swanson. Holy Cross Church  Cabrillo Symphonic Chorus, Ariana Newcomer. Holy Cross Hall  Kuzanga, Santa Cruz Bay City Opera. Kuumbwa  Steve Czarnecki's Soul/Jazz Quartet, Smith Dobson Quartet, Claudia Villela. Library Meeting Room  Bethany Kilzer, Tom Cuthbertson, Front Street Poetry Group. Louden Nelson Auditorium  Kids on Broadway, Dancenter, Shanachie. Louden Nelson Dining Room  Live Wire, Ben James & Judy Claire, Pamela Pesto Perfect. Main Stage (Town Clock)  Boom Squad, Sunugal Ballet, Crawdaddy, Hilife Express. Metro Center  Togodo, Reverend Moses Yao. Motion Pacific  No Limits, Yogamotion, Boom Squad. Museum of Art and History  Young Musicians Showcase, Webwall 2000, Lisa Dale Miller's Millennial Burn. Palomar Ballroom Pickleberry Pie Sock Hop, salsa/swing/tango lessons. Palookaville  Banana Slug String Band, Shanachie, Mad Pudding. Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church  Gourd Music Artists, Kathleen O'Connell. Santa Cruz Dance Gallery  Hayfever, Santa Cruz Ballet Theater, Erica Lann-Clark. Santa Cruz High School  Artists of the Year (ticketed/reserved seating only). South Stage (Pacific Avenue and Cathcart Streets)  Broken English, the Sub-Mersians, ESP. Street performers  Indoor Outdoor Science, Mayfield/Seabright Morris Dancers, San Lorenzo Valley Band, the Laylows, the Other Cheek, Arthur Hull Drum Circle, Wavehaven, Que Bookee Gaysha Mime, Santa Cruz Pipes & Drums, Crazy Heart, Mr. Miraculous Magic, Jingles the Clown, Mr. Twister, Randy Caruso's Wild Beasts, Clown Clubhouse Stilters, Georgia Brown Sketches, the Big Picture. Tapestry.Net  Mick Overman, the Super Pineapples. Vets Hall  Jim Gamble Puppets, Los Flamencos del Pueblo, Las Ramas. Espresso Royale  Darryl Ferrucci's photo mural. Locust Street  World of Wishes, William Sharar Muir. Cooper House  Slide and music exhibit, Cabrillo Music Festival. Art Center, Palace Arts, Paper Vision, Logos  Cabrillo College student photography exhibits. University Town Center   Reality Fusion. [ Santa Cruz | MetroActive Central | Archives ]