Herald Dawn of New Year Downtown at Middletown's Own First Night

This year there's no reason to step outside the city to welcome in the New Year, as Middletown's second annual Middnight on Main has something for everyone.

It's an alcohol-free family-friendly celebration that rivals that of Hartford's First Night — offering a cornucopia of entertainment, including live musical acts for all tastes. You may even discover a few favorites in the mix.                       

The best way to enjoy Middnight on Main is either with a smartphone or by picking up the comprehensive brochure once you arrive. With more than 100 performances and activities, like dancing, films, games, circus and magic acts, so much will be vying for attention — and you don't want to miss a thing.

Download the free Middnight on Main at the iPhone App store, Android Market and online at Middnight.org. See a full list of activities here, the schedule here and artists here. Download the map here.

Music includes: Jesse Lége, cajun dance music; Jose Conde, Afro-Cuban; Timbila, a group playing afro pop that was put together by Banning Eyre; Amy Black, country singer; Zikrayat, Arabic music; Love Note Sentiment, men's a capella.

Also, there's Johnny Fox, sword-swallower; Jim Spinnato, comedy hypnosis; The Ear Cave with WNPR's Catie Talarski; films curated by Wesleyan's Marc Longenecker, and film lectures (silent slapstick teams and Hollywood serials).

Hands-on and interactive activities include: speed-chess tournament by the New Britain Chess Club and board games and demonstrations by ConnectiCon; Magic the Gathering card tournament; decorating your own top hat to celebrate 2013; ping-pong; poetry slam; roller skating; physics play and simple machines with Kidcity's exhibit builder, Matt Niland, and robotics with the Mercy Tech Tigers.

If you are on Twitter, start using the #Middnight hashtag now. On Dec. 31, Middletown Patch will be running a live blog and all your Tweets and photos will be pulled into the stream!      

There will be a dozen food trucks at the Green Street parking lot:

• High Tide, gourmet seafood, Madison
• Lucky Taco, Tex-Mex, Hartford
• Munchies, Burgers & Fries, New London
• Big Green Pizza Truck, wood-fired pizza ovens on the truck, New Haven
• Kettle Corn, made on-site, Durham
• The Rocket, specializes in local foods, Providence, R.I. 
• Zen Roasters, coffee, tea and hot chocolate
• NoRA Cupcake
• Marilyn's Dancing Dogs (hot dogs)
• Whey Station, gourmet grilled cheese and soups
• Ron’s Kitchen, gourmet street food

If you sign up to volunteer at the event for the 9 p.m. to midnight shift, you'll receive a free adult admission button and volunteer T-shirt. Contact (860) 301-6634 or info@middnight.org today to sign up.

At 6 p.m. a rooftop fireworks display will be set off at the corner of Washington and Main streets. Beginning at 11:30 a.m., the front lawn of the Church of the Holy Trinity will feature a stunning Taiko drumming show and midnight ringing of the bells for New Year’s 2013.

Admission is $20 for adults, $10 for children, and free for under age 2. Buttons  may be purchased online or at downtown businesses.

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• Middnight on Main Promises Festival-goers a Night to Remember
• Middnight on Main: Two Headliners Return for Second Year
• Get Your Tickets Now: Middnight on Main 2013

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