First Night Morris is the state’s most ambitious New Year’s Eve extravaganza, with more than 70 performances at various venues, plus fireworks, and free shuttle service between locations. It’s a family-friendly event, with many of the child-oriented programs starting at Morristown High School at 4:45 p.m., and entertainment for the entire family beginning at most other places at 7 or 7:15.
Attractions will range from the bluesy John Ginty Band (with guests Katie Henry and Jimmy Bennett) to jazz masters Rio Clemente and Frank Vignola, comedians Tom McTiernan and Erin Jackson, the Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey, the Harmonium Choral Society and Alborada Spanish Dance Theatre.
To purchase tickets or get more information, visit firstnightmorris.com.
Here is the schedule:
MORRISTOWN GREEN
9 p.m. and midnight: Fireworks
MAYO PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, 100 South St.
7 and 8:15 p.m.: David Darwin: One Man Sideshow
9:45 and 10:45 p.m.: The John Ginty Band, with guests Katie Henry and Jimmy Bennett: Rock and Blues
All evening: Exhibitions in the Arts Upstairs Gallery (works by artists from the Morris County Arts Association) and Starlight Gallery (works by Nina and Carly Nemeth)
ST. PETER’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, South Street and Miller Road
7:15 and 8:15 p.m.: Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey
9:45, 10:30 and 11:15 p.m.: Solid Brass Quartet
ST. PETER’S PARISH HOUSE, 70 Maple Ave.
7:15 and 8:15 p.m.: Irish fiddler Brian Conway (with John Walsh, guitar)
9:45 and 10:45 p.m.: Windborne Singers: Folk Band
MORRISTOWN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 50 Park Place
7:15 and 8:15 p.m.: Frank Vignola’s Hot Jazz Guitar Trio
9:45 and 10:45 p.m.: Rio Clemente “The Bishop of Jazz” and Friends
HYATT REGENCY, 3 Speedwell Ave.
7:15 and 8:15 p.m. in Regency Room: Comedian Erin Jackson
9:45 and 10:45 p.m. in Regency Room: Comedian Tom McTiernan
7:15 and 8:15 p.m. in Morris Ballroom: The Zydeco Revelators
9:45 and 10:45 p.m. in Morris Ballroom: Random Test Reggae
PRESBYTERIAN PARISH HOUSE, 65 South St.
7:15 and 8:15 p.m.: The Feinberg Brothers: Bluegrass
9:45 and 10:45 p.m.: The Cobra Brothers Band: Blues
CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER, 36 South St.
7 and 8:15 p.m.: Harmonium Choral Society
9:45 and 10:45 p.m.: Maria Sumareva, piano
CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER PARISH HOUSE, 36 South St.
7:15 and 8:15 p.m.: The Loose Canons: Manhattan Transfer meets Second City
9:45 and 10:45 p.m.: Mr. Fish: The Mystery & History of Magic
MARKET STREET MISSION, 9 Market St., 100 seats
7:15 and 8:15 p.m.: Carla Ulbrich: Comedic Folksinger
9:45 and 10:45 p.m.: Spook Handy: Remembering Pete Seeger
MASONIC LODGE, 39 Maple Ave.
All evening, downstairs: Warming Station
7 p.m., downstairs: Transformations Face Painting
7:15 and 8:15 p.m., upstairs: Tavche Gravche: Gypsy/Neo-Balkan Trio
9:45 and 10:45 p.m.: Afrika Meets India: Global Fusion Ensemble
MORRIS COUNTRY ADMINISTRATION AND RECORDS BUILDING, 10 Court St.
7:15 and 8:15 p.m. in Freeholders Room: Living Voices: Our Revolution
9:45 and 10:45 in Freeholders Room: Zentangle with Mimi Topping: Yoga for the Brain
7:15 and 8:15 p.m. in Room 526: Julie Pasqual: Storyteller
9:45 and 10:45 p.m. in Room 526: Matt Sullivan: Electric/Acoustic Oboe
All Evening in Atrium Gallery: “Fall/Winter 2018-2019 Invitational Exhibit” featuring 185 works by artists Bascove, Fred R. Fertik, Betsy Meyer-Donadio, Chris Kappmeier, Sue Ellen Leys, Ruth Bauer Neustadter, John Tetz and Dennis Joseph Yanoski.
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CHILDREN’S EVENTS AT MORRISTOWN HIGH SCHOOL, 50 Early St.
AUDITORIUM
4:45 and 5:45 p.m.: NJTAP2: Tap into the New Year
7 and 8:15 p.m.: Illusionist Benjamin Lipman
9:45 and 10:45 p.m.: Shubanjali: Indian Classical and Folk Dance
MAIN GYM
4:45 p.m.: Square Dancing with Caller, Mary Moody Dinoman
7:15 and 8:15 p.m.: Dinoman! Dinosaurs
9:45 and 10:45 p.m.: Mr. Hypno: Comedy hypnotist Stephen Christopher
AUXILIARY GYM
4:45 p.m.: Whirled Revolution: Hula Hoop Fun
7:15 and 8:15 p.m.: Alborada Spanish Dance Theatre
9:45 and 10:45 p.m.: Dana McCurdy’s Community in Rhythm Drum Circle
CAFETERIA, UPPER LEVEL
4:45 p.m.: Fun with LEGOs
CAFETERIA, LOWER LEVEL
4:45 p.m.: Art 4 Kids with “Sam” Matthews
7:15 and 8:15 p.m.: Rizzo’s Reptile Discovery
ATRIUM LOBBY
4:45 and 7 p.m.: Children’s Fun Festival: clown, face painting