What’s going on around Upton on New Years Eve? First Night Upton!

Have you heard about First Night Upton? There are going to be a ton of events going on around town on Tuesday January 31st and Upton Daily has the scoop.

The festivities will be happening at several locations and businesses around town from 5:00 to midnight and the event is even offering  a shuttle service.

Here is how it works. To participate at any of the venues/events you will need to purchase a First Nigh Button. Buttons are no longer available online but according to the First Night website can be purchased in advance $10 for adults, $5  for kids 5th grade, and children under 2 are free. Buttons can be purchased at the following locations: A Little Common Sense, Shear Excitement, United Parish, V Organic Cafe, Nipmuc High School, and BVT. Purchase of the button gets you in to all the venues but food, souvenirs, and artist’s merchandise are extra. There is a different “at the door price” listed on the website. Upton Daily was told 12/30 late in the evening button prices remain the same on New Years Eve.

For each button purchased you will receive a passport map. If you visit 5 participating businesses and have each stamp your passport you then become eligible to be entered in a drawing to win a 2 night/2 day summer, fall, or winter vacation at Smuggler Notch. Make sure to drop off your stamped passport by 11:15 at Memorial School.

The events run from 5 p.m. until midnight. Be sure to check out the official website for any additional information here.

Parking

Parking is available at United Parish 1 Church Street Upton, Nipmuc Regional High School 90 Pleasant Street, Blackstone Valley Tech 65 Pleasant Street, and the Upton VFW (after 6 p.m.) 15 Milford Street.

Shuttle

There is a free shuttle service available at most of the venues which will run between 8 p.m. and 11:15 p.m .and then again from 12:00 a.m. to 12:30 a.m..  The shuttle will be running between United Parish, Upton VFW, Nipmuc High School, Memorial Elementary School and the Upton Plaza. Most of the venues are within walking distance of the shuttle stops. The website states although shuttle stops are listed you can ask the shuttle to stop anywhere along the way.

Here is an outline of what’s UP at FIRST NIGHT UPTON

5:00 to 6:30 p.m. – Touch a Truck Activity Upton VFW

5:00 to 8 :00 p.m.  Drop in Craft and Face Painting Upton Town Library

5:00 to 7:00 p.m. – Make a Luminary Craft and play games  A Little Common Sense

5:00 to 5:30 p.m. – Baby New Year Crowning at United Parish

5:00 to 10:30 p.m. – Soups On! Cafe & Dinner Theater at United Parish – Enjoy the show and warm up with a bowl of soup or coffee .. there will be yummy treats too. Performers outlined below.

• 5:30-6:30 – Jesse Fontaine Duo – Music of Sinatra, Bennet, & others
• 6:45-7:05 – Kuchipudi Indian Classical Dance 
• 7:15-7:45 – Mendon Dance Company – Excerpts from The Nutty Nutcracker – Clara’s Twisted Dream
• 8:00-8:45 – Bostonality – An A Capella group you can check out some of their work on their facebook page here.
• 9:00 – 10:30 – Boston Sprockettes – Vaudeville – The Boston Sprockettes are a traveling troupe of performers dedicated to bringing old vaudeville to the masses. They perform a time-traveling variety show, mixing old and new with the look of the retro-futuristic movement.  Check out their facebook page here.

 5:00 p.m. to 10 p.m. – Santa’s Work Shop at Shear Excitement  – Serving free hot cocoa and also offering gifts for the first 100 guests.  Entertainment by various artists outlined below.

• 5:45-6:45 Amanda McCarthy – Pop Singer – recently named Limelight Magazine’s “Singer/Songwriter of the Year”, will perform a family friendly show of everyone’s favorite songs as well as her own original music.
• 7:00-7:30 – Bostonality – An A Capella group you can check out some of their work on their facebook page here.
• 7:45-8:45 – Rachel MacKenzie – Soloist
• 9:00-10:00 – Average Joel – Singer/Songwriter – Joel appears solo as “Average Joel” with his acoustic set, and has just completed his new album “Plan B”. He has played in rock bands and most recently was the front man for the Boston-based rock band, Breathing the Void.

5:00 – 10:00 p.m. Craft Fair/Vendor/Bake Sale and Live Music at Memorial School – schedule of entertainment listed below.

• 5:15-5:45 – Freedon 4UR Soul  – Electric Pop
• 6:15-7:00 p.m. – Average Joel – Singer/Songwriter – Joel appears solo as “Average Joel” with his acoustic set, and has just completed his new album “Plan B”. He has played in rock bands and most recently was the front man for the Boston-based rock band, Breathing the Void.
• 7:00-7:30 p.m. – FREEZE DANCE – Sing, Dance, Act.. Freeze Dance for All
• 7:45-8:45 – Faith Fellowship Puppet/Drama Show
• 9:00-10:00 – Kenny Selcer – Americana, Folk, Rock Music
• 11:00 p.m.-12:05 – Rachel MacKenzie – Soloist

5:00 – 10:00 p.m. Live Music throughout the night and a Live Clay Sculpture Demo by Thea D. Cinnamon-Macker at V Organic Cafe entertainment schedule outlined below.  Serving special first night mini bite plates, first night smoothies, and more! Complimentary Red Barn Coffee.

• 6:00-7:00 p.m. – Gary Blanchard/Carol Mays: Music & Poetry – check out some of their work here.
• 7:15-7:45 p.m. – Boston Sprockettes –  Vaudeville – The Boston Sprockettes are a traveling troupe of performers dedicated to bringing old vaudeville to the masses. They perform a time-traveling variety show, mixing old and new with the look of the retro-futuristic movement.  Check out their facebook page here.
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• 8:00-10:00 p.m. – Amanda McCarthy – Pop Singer – recently named Limelight Magazine’s “Singer/Songwriter of the Year”, will perform a family friendly show of everyone’s favorite songs as well as her own original music.

6:00 to 9:30 p.m. Rockin’ New Year’s Eve Dance and Live Music at Nipmuc Regional High School – Live Music and dancing.

• 6:00-6:45 p.m. – Playing with Fire – Rock band featuring Carrick McCullough, Angela Morano, Ben Gardner, Abbey Basile, and Taeo Johnston. This may be a youth band but you would never know if you heard them play… they are amazing!
• 7:00-7:30 – Freedom 4UR Soul – Electronic Pop
• 7:30-7:45 – Row Jones – Hip Hop R&B
• 8:00-9:30 – Messages of Ennui – Rock Band – you can check them out here

9:00 to 11:00 p.m. – LIVE Music at the Rose Garden – they are also offering 1/2 off appetizers

• 9:00-9:30 – – Freedom 4UR Soul – Electronic Pop
• 9:45-11:00  – Kate Russo- Singer Song Writer – check her out here and her music website here.

9:30 to 10:30 Champagne Tasting at Colonial Liquors

9:30 to 11:00 Russ Clark Comedy Hypnotist Show at Nipmuc Regional High School Family friendly zany fun find out more here

11:15 to MIDNIGHT – Raffle Drawings and NEW YEAR’S COUNT DOWN AT MEMORIAL SCHOOL