‘DIGITAL MIDNIGHT’
Changes announced for First Night Saratoga 2020
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. >> First Night Saratoga organizers announced some changes ahead of the upcoming New Year’s Eve festival, to go with its 2020 theme of ‘A New Dimension.’
Saratoga Arts, which presents the annual citywide arts and music event, is inviting attendees to experience a “Digital Midnight” this year rather than the traditional outdoor fireworks display.
The new festival finale is “a collaboration of the community, visitors and businesses to create a digital experience at midnight to ring in the new year,” Saratoga Arts board president Susanne Simpson said during a press conference on Tuesday in Saratoga Springs.
Digital Midnight will be an audio visual presentation featuring pictures from visitors at past First Night Saratoga events along with a digital display of fireworks with an artistic flare to debut at the stroke of midnight.
The video will be displayed on the large screens at the Saratoga Springs City Center. Attendees will also receive a link to the same display, which can be viewed from anywhere on their digital devices.
Guests who are indoors at midnight on New Year’s Eve will no longer have to leave their warm environment to view the event’s finale.
“It now comes to you,” Simpson said, noting that the show is still being created and designers are now seeking photos submitted by the public to be included in the video. “We hope this will be shared with many family, friends and visitors - and we hope honestly that it goes throughout the nation back to people’s homes to say ‘Here’s what we experienced
here in Saratoga Springs, New York.’”
Saratoga Springs Mayor Meg Kelly supports and welcomes the new idea, Simpson said, as the event offers a new experience for the new decade through technology.
“‘A New Dimension’ is the theme. It’s also a new decade. So, we thought this would be the right opportunity to try a new idea,” Simpson said. “We’re so happy to bring this to you, and we’re really excited about what the future will hold with this first-of concept.”
“First Night Saratoga is going online in a big way,” said Saratoga Arts executive director Joel Reed, mentioning some other technological advancements.
Another change from previous years is the First Night Saratoga 2020 poster and button artwork. Formerly designed by local artist Sharon Bolton, this year’s poster design is made by creative director Meaghan Golden of Glens Falls along with Brooklyn-based illustrator Charlotte Noruzi.
“We really wanted to present First Night as festive, bright and celebratory,” Reed said, explaining the poster’s new direction.
“When Joel first told me the theme of ‘A New Dimension,’ I knew Saratoga Arts was ready for a change in creative direction,” Golden said. “We discussed how the poster needed to convey a celebratory, whimsical, fun family-oriented event.”
The 2020 poster is bright pink and yellow with illustrations of a carousel horse, a flapper, musicians and attendees, as well as the Spirit of Life sculpture. “We wanted to make it unique and completely identifiable to Saratoga Springs,” Golden said.
“The final result is a visual that we are extremely proud of and excited for,” she continued. “We hope this brings additional energy into the enthusiasm that’s long-existed for First
Night Saratoga.”
While the festival’s structure of hosting about 60 performances in many different venues throughout the city over a six-hour span will remain the same, almost half of the artists on this year’s lineup are new to First Night Saratoga.
Headlining acts are Grammy-nominated swing group the Joey Thomas Big Band and local blues-rock band Wild Adriatic, along with dozens of other music, dance and theater artists. Also performing at the Saratoga Springs City Center, a hub of activity during the festival, are rock band The Figgs, pop-rock favorites Sirsy and high-school heavy metal band Reprise.
Additional acts to play downtown venues including Caffè Lena, Empire State College, the Saratoga Springs Post Office and Temple Sinai are Blind Crow, Chinese Theater Works, Sime Gezus, Let’s Be Leonard, Tambourelli & Her SuperTrips, Desertion Trio, Drank the Gold, The McKrells, The North & South Dakotas, Robanic Reggae Band, Belle-Skinner and more.
“This year we really do have something for everyone,” said First Night coordinator Bobby Carlton, explaining the lineup’s diverse and interactive features such as country line dancing, martial arts and skateboarding demos. “There is an event for everyone and for all ages.”
Now in its 24th year, Saratoga Springs hosts the Capital Region’s only remaining First Night event, and it is considered one of the largest and longest-lasting in the Northeast. “It’s a fantastic event and there’s a lot of different pieces of it,” Reed said.
Thousands of festivalgoers are expected to attend First Night Saratoga 2020, which is an alcohol-free New Year’s Eve celebration.
As always, First Night Saratoga will kick off with a 5K road race beginning at 5:30 p.m. at Skidmore College. This year’s giveaway is a reversible running hat with a day glow orange fleece inside and moisture wicking poly outside.
A full lineup and schedule for First Night Saratoga 2020 is available online at www.saratoga-arts.org.
First Night Saratoga tickets, which are the buttons, are available now for $20 each, or $15 each online at Saratoga-arts.org or at Saratoga Arts through Dec. 25. They can be purchased at Saratoga Arts, located at 320 Broadway, and at other area businesses including select Price Chopper and Market 32 stores and Stewart’s
Shops.
First Night Saratoga is a kids-in-free event. One child age 12 or younger will be admitted free with each paid adult.
Saratoga Arts is seeking volunteers for First Night Saratoga. More information about this opportunity is available online at www.saratoga-arts.org/ first-night/volunteer-forfirst-night.