12/29/2006

First Night Cadillac: Family-friendly fun

CADILLAC — Cadillac's eighth annual First Night celebration rings in the New Year downtown.

A nationwide franchised community event that focuses on family-friendly festivities, the First Night celebration kicks off with a community photo in front of the Wexford County Historical Museum at 1:30 p.m. That's followed by a scavenger hunt and many diverse musical acts throughout the afternoon and evening.

"We really try to bring as many people downtown as we can for that afternoon,” event coordinator Jack Purkiss said about the volunteer-powered mini-festival. "It's definitely a family-geared event.”

A store-to-store word puzzle scramble is this year's scavenger hunt, starting after Cadillac photographer John Nelson is hoisted by the Fire Department high in the sky to shoot the annual portrait. The pictures are printed by Cadillac Printing Company and are given away to participants who have purchased a button, which provides access to all the music and events.

Downtown children's activities include an Orville Wright impersonator telling the story of modern flight, and arts, crafts and mural painting.

For teens, there will be a padded joust at the Cadillac armory local bands and a rock-climbing wall at the YMCA.

The high school auditorium will be flush with music throughout the afternoon and into the night. From 4 to 6 p.m., local rock bands will perform, followed by an evening of danceable folk fiddle, bluegrass and zydeco. Scheduled to appear are the Saline Fiddlers, Duck Soup, K. Jones and the Benzie Playboyz, Detour, and Bo White & the Bluezers.

If last year was any indication, Purkiss said, these concerts will be packed.

There will also be a presentation of the "Messiah” at the First Congregational Church at 7 p.m.

For more information and a full schedule of events, visit www.firstnightcadillac.com.

— Garret Ellison