PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — As the famous Times Square ball drops again in New York City on New Year’s Eve, so will the Star City’s star rise to usher in 2012 in northern Maine. The annual event, in the heart of downtown Presque Isle, includes daytime and evening festivities that will culminate with the rising of an illuminated 6-foot tall metal star, built by Northern Maine Community College students.
The fourth annual Star City First Night celebration is hosted by the Presque Isle Downtown Revitalization Committee and sponsored in part by WAGM-TV. The event will feature activities for the entire family, including storytelling, games and movie showings from noon-5 p.m. at the Mark and Emily Turner Memorial Library. Festivities include an adult dance and teen party beginning at 8 p.m. that leads to the star rising event in the immediate area encompassing the intersection of State and Main streets. Festivities will conclude after the midnight star rises in the center of downtown.
“We are excited for this year’s First Night Celebration,” said Amanda Pooler, PIDRC promotions committee chair. “The planning committee has worked hard this year to make this event bigger and better. We are working in conjunction with downtown businesses to expand the celebration to be a full day event from noon through midnight. There will be activities for people of all ages. Our goal is to make this a memorable event that community members will look forward to every year.”
Committee members have worked for the past few months in collaboration with a number of businesses and organizations to ensure the evening is packed full of fun and celebration for the entire family.
“New Year’s Eve is such a great celebration. My goal this year is to provide a fun, family-friendly time. This year is not to be missed. We have planned a little something for everyone. We hope many come on out and join us in ringing in the New Year,” said First Night event coordinator Jenni LaChance.
The Mark and Emily Turner Memorial Library will be the host site of many of the daytime family centered activities. They will offer “New Year’s at Noon” programming from noon-1 p.m. with story time for children up to age 5. Families can enjoy a countdown, story, and a chance to make noisemakers and party hats. This event will feature a visit from Max from the popular “Max & Ruby” book series.
A Wii tournament and board games will be offered from 1-3 p.m. and library events will conclude with a “Making Music” workshop for teens and tweens from 4-5 p.m.
Wintergreen Arts Center will offer a variety of family fun activities and crafts including New Year’s crafts, confetti balloon making and popping, face painting, a piñata pull, and early New Year’s countdown complete with refreshments before 8 p.m. The children’s activities will conclude with a dance party featuring a bubble wrap stomp and flash light limbo at the arts center between 8-9 p.m. All of the Wintergreen First Night events are being offered free of charge to participants. There will also be a musical performance by local duo Bosom Buddies from 9:30-11:30 p.m.
The nighttime fun kicks off at 8 p.m. with an adult dance at the Northeastland Hotel’s famed “Red Room” featuring the music stylings of disc jockey Jake Ball. A special “Teen” Party will be held at the Riverside Recreation Center that will feature a performance by local band, Crunk Witch.
The Presque Isle Police Department and the city’s Fire Department will be on hand at approximately 11:30 p.m. as spectators gather near the Northeastland Hotel to watch the star make its rise in the center of town. Volunteers with the Presque Isle Fire Department will use the city’s ladder truck to raise the star into the night sky, until it reaches its peak height at midnight. WAGM-TV’s Shawn Cunningham-Cloukey will serve as the mistress of ceremonies for the countdown.
The Star City New Year Star was constructed in December 2008 by a dozen NMCC welding and metal fabrication students and instructor Dennis Albert. It is not only imposing in how tall it stands, but in its three-dimensional appearance. The finished product, which was fabricated using 26 gauge galvanized steel and held together with steel rivets, has the appearance of two very large barn stars joined back-to-back. At its center, the star measures a foot and a half wide.
The star raising will be especially significant for the NMCC campus community this year as the downtown Presque Isle event will serve as part of the continuation of the college’s 50th anniversary that will run through the celebration of the 50th graduating class in 2015.
