Families First New Year’s Eve is celebrating its 25th anniversary in North Bay tonight.
The event, hosted by a group of community partners, continues to be promoted as a drug and alcohol-free event.
Wendy Prieur has been a committee member since its inception.
“North Bay Focus partnered with the city originally, to bring an event to the city that helped families celebrate New Year’s Eve without drugs and alcohol,” said Prieur.
The committee looked to other communities for ideas about how to host such an event.
“We had talked to other cities across the province that do a celebration, not necessarily without drugs or alcohol, but Ottawa had the First Night so we kind of adopted a little bit of their activities, but then wanted to really talk about how important it was for people to put their families first on New Year’s Eve. That’s kind of where the name Families First came from.”
It has now become a multi-generational, family tradition.
“Our numbers change from year to year. A lot of it is weather dependent. We’ve had beautiful weather where we’ve had 8,000 people. Last year we had around 3,000. Consistently, it has been between 3,000 and 5,000, year after year.”
This year’s list of events includes swimming at the YMCA from 1 p.m to 4 p.m. People will be asked to bring a photo ID. Activities at Memorial Gardens and Thomson Park get underway at 5 p.m. with a public skate, face painting, button making, and inflatable bouncy land.
“This year, because it is our 25th, we are giving out decorated cupcakes and some New Year’s Eve swag, like paper hats and blowers, things like that, that people use to celebrate the New Year. The cupcakes are decorated in the colours of our logo which are blue and red. So we’re really, really excited that this event has been well received by the community every single year,” said Prieur.
This event relies on sponsors and donors for its funding.
“We usually have to raise about $15,000 to put the event on every year. We have a lot of community businesses that donate year after year, because it is not an event that is funded by specific organizations, so every dollar that we need is a fundraised dollar.”
The evening wraps up with fireworks at 9 p.m.
“We’re really encouraging people if they’re not able to come down and participate throughout the entire event, to at least make sure they take in the spectacular fireworks because we’ve really put extra money into the fireworks this year because it is our 25th, “said Prieur.
“I think with the event ending at 9 o’clock with the fireworks, it really allows the true meaning of the holiday season which is so important, spending time with your family. And if they choose to do something afterward, it gives them time to do that as well. We’re very proud of the fact that we’ve run this event for 25 years as a drug and alcohol-free event, as well as a free no-charge event.”
People are asked, if they are able to do so, to bring a non-perishable food item for the food bank.
Bins will be set up at Memorial Gardens.
“I couldn’t imagine doing something different on New Years. I love it, the kids love it, families love it. There’s not too many things in life that are free for people to go to, especially right after Christmas.”
“We encourage all members of the community and their families to come down and join us in an evening of fun and entertainment,” said Brian Winkworth, Families First Committee.
