First Night Youngstown to ring in the new year

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

First Night Youngs-town, the family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebration of the arts, will begin at 4:30 p.m. Saturday with children’s activities.

The downtown event will include indoor entertainment at several venues, as well as two fireworks shows — one at 9 p.m. and one at midnight with a ball drop. New venues this year include OH WOW! Children’s Center for Science and Technology and the YMCA, where families can swim.

Free shuttle-bus transportation will make rounds between all venues throughout the night, and there will be free parking downtown.

Admission buttons are $10 ($5 for students 13 through college, senior citizens and members of the military). Children 12 and under will be admitted free.

Children do not need an admission button but must be accompanied by a paid adult.

Buttons are on sale now but also can be purchased the night of the event.

This year’s button package includes vouchers worth $43 good for two tickets to the women’s Youngstown State University basketball game at 2 p.m. Saturday; two tickets to any showing of the Greek tragedy “Medea” at YSU Theater, Feb. 23-26 and March 2-4; and one buy-one-get-one-free admission to the steel museum.

For more information or to purchase admission buttons, go to firstnightyoungstownoh.com, or call 330-744-9966.