First Night Youngstown rings in 2016
By Sarah Lehr
YOUNGSTOWN
Haley Caruso, 13, of Austintown resolves to be less sarcastic in 2016.
But, the teenager also is realistic.
“It’s probably not gonna happen,” she said.
Haley joined her family Thursday for First Night Youngstown, an annual partnership between local organizers, businesses and artists to ring in the new year.
First Night included activities in more than a dozen city venues, but the Caruso siblings came especially to see their aunt sing and play guitar downtown for the band Purple Cat.
Samantha Turner, a board member for First Night Youngstown, moved back to her home city after living in London. She says First Night showcases the best of what Youngstown has to offer.
“Years ago, I remember Youngstown being completely dead. Now it’s vibrant, especially in terms of the arts and music scene. You can see the growth. You can see the change. It’s on the upswing,” she said.
First Night Youngstown took place from 4 p.m. to midnight.
Headliner Geo C and Tha Storm wrapped up a series of live performances at 10 p.m. and fireworks drew “oohs” and “aahs” at 9 p.m. and midnight.
The event was alcohol-free and family friendly, which Sarah Russell of Boardman appreciates.
During First Night, Russell and her 7-year-old son Aidan visited the Youngstown State University Planetarium and sampled treats from One Hot Cookie.
Teegan Graff, 12, of Poland, joined a crowd to watch a sculptor carve a snowflake from a block of ice on Federal Street. Teegan, who resolves to eat less chocolate this year, said it was her first time at First Night Youngstown. A highlight of the night was ice skating with the Youngstown Phantoms at the Covelli Centre, she said.
The average temperature on New Year’s Eve hovered near a kindly 30 degrees, which may have encouraged attendance at First Night.
Last year, about 5,000 people attended First Night, board President Jennifer Jones said, despite a low of 15 degrees.
Admission was free for children under 12, $5 for students, seniors and military personnel and $10 for all other adults.
Graphic designer Leeane Lee won a contest to design the admissions buttons. She based her creation off a photograph of Youngstown’s skyline and chose to feature the clock on the Home Savings and Loan Building prominently to symbolize “counting down to the new year.”
She also included fireworks in the image, she said, to capture the excitement and glitz of the night.
Lee is passionate about the spirit of New Year’s Eve, but she’s ambivalent about New Year’s resolutions.
“I always break them,” she said.