Gearing up for 'First Night'

GAINESVILLE - Downtown Gainesville is expected to be crowded Wednesday night for the fifth annual First Night celebration - marking the arrival of the New Year.

The evening begins at 5:30 with the Children's Festival at INK, Incoporated, the interactive kids' museum on Green Street. This will be followed at 7:00 by the Procession of Light from INK and a fire breather on the square to formally start the festivities.

They continue at a number of downtown venues - including the Georgia Mountains Center, Main Street Market, Ralph Waldo's Books, and the Collegiate Grill - until the fireworks at midnight.

Tickets are $10 each and are available at INK, Inc.; Frames-You-Nique; A Window on Main Street; Colonial Lakeshore Mall (customer service booth); Georgia Mountains Center box office; and online at www.downtowngainesville.com. Tickets can also be bought Wednesday night at the Georgia Mountains Center.


Following is an outline of the plans for the evening:

Children's Festival at INK Children's Museum