ST. JOHNSBURY, Vt. (WCAX) – Upwards of 2,000 folks are expected to crowd the streets of St. Johnsbury for New Year’s Eve as part of the town’s 31st annual First Night celebrations
“Usually today I would be open for Lunch, but I am moving my hours later because there will be a lot of activities going on in town. I’m hoping people will stop in and hang out,” said Sarah Spence, the owner of the Wandering Vine, a new restaurant on St. Johnsbury’s Railroad Street. She spent her day preparing for First Night North. “I am excited for everything that is happening here. I am happy to have a lot of friends and family out and about in town walking around. All of the events pretty much are in walking distance of here– which is really, really nice.”
Catamount Arts, the nonprofit behind the event, is celebrating 31 years of dropping the New Year’s ball on Main Street.
The festival lasts until midnight and features over 150 performers in almost 70 shows throughout town. Several community partners, including the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, will host activities for families as well.
Community members like Matt Gans are excited to see what the night has to offer. “I honestly did not realize that we had the ball until today — my wife pointed it out to me — but I think it is very important for the community to come together and celebrate,” he said.
And first night officials say with all the hardships 2024 brought to town, the community needs this. “This year, with the local flooding and the flooding that has happened today even, it is important now more than ever to come together as a community to find ways to celebrate. We are so grateful that the community opens their arms for us to be able to do this,” said Catamount Arts’ Ashley Vanzandt.