Peninsula Daily News
PORT TOWNSEND — Admission passes are now available to First Night, the Jefferson Museum of Art and History’s all-ages,
alcohol-free celebration of New Year’s Eve.
All activities, which focus on arts and heritage, will be in and around Port Townsend’s historic City Hall at 540 Water St., between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. Thursday.
Passes are available at the Jefferson Museum of Art & History in historic city hall.
Admission is by donation, suggested as being $5 per person or $10 per family. Proceeds will benefit Historical Society programs.
“First Night is for everyone,” said Chris Prescott, Jefferson County Historical Society president.
“It has something for families, singles and couples of all ages.”
The celebration will focus on arts and heritage, will feature live music, dance, storytelling, theater and hands-on games and children’s activities plus the dropping of the anchor to ring in the new year.
New this year will be a live display of raptors — including a barred owl, a saw whet and a red tail hawk — from the Discovery Bay Wild Bird Rescue.
Also planned are film shorts presented by the Port Townsend Film Festival, children’s games conducted by the Port Townsend High School Interact Club, storytelling and theatrical presentations by the Key City Public Theatre, call dancing in the Pope Marine Building, a hands-on art project at the Jefferson Community School and music at Elevated Ice Cream and at the Boiler Room.
At 9 p.m. — midnight in New York City — Port Townsend will get a head start on the rest of the West Coast and usher in 2016 with the raising of an illuminated anchor created by sculptor Thaddeus Jurczynski.
That will be followed by an explosion of fireworks launched from Memorial Field and provided by David Chuljian.
The evening is sponsored by First Federal.
“We encourage people to get their passes in advance to avoid the rush when the event starts,” said Bill Tennent, historical society executive director.
For more information, phone Kris Lawson at 360-385-1003 or visit www.jchsmuseum.org.
Other North Olympic Peninsula venues plan celebrations and activites Thursday.
Here is a list:
Noon Year’s Eve
PORT ANGELES — The Feiro Marine Life Center will celebrate the eve of the new year with games, crafts and an ocean themed “ball drop” Thursday.
The Noon Year’s Eve at the center at 315 Lincoln St., will be from 10 a.m. to noon.
The cost for members will be $5 per child; for non-members, admission will be $10 per child.
Recommended for children ages 12 and younger, the center will give children exclusive access to its marine exhibits and offer games, crafts and cocoa.
The ball drop will be at noon.
For more information, phone Melissa Williams at 360-417-6254 or email melissaw@feiromarinelife
center.org or visit www.squareup.com/market/feiromarinelifecenter.
New York New Year’s Eve
PORT ANGELES — The Naval Elks Lodge No. 353, 131 E. First St., will host a New York New Year’s Eve dinner from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., when the ball drops in Times Square in New York.
The $40 cost of Thursday’s dinner will include cocktails and appetizers from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 7:30 p.m.
A champagne toast with party favors will be provided at 9 p.m.
Reservations were required by Dec. 21.
Eagles open to the public
PORT ANGELES — The Eagles Aerie No. 483, 2843 East Myrtle St., will hold a public New Year’s Eve dinner and dance from 7 p.m. Thursday to after midnight.
The buffet menu will include prime rib and salmon with music by the Jimmy Hoffman band.
Pre-purchase tickets are $25 per person or $45 per couple.
Groups can pre-purchase a table of eight for $180 or a table of 10 for $225.
The cost at the door will be $30 per person or $50 per couple.
For reservations or more information, phone Kellie at 360-486-4926.
Dinner dance
SEQUIM — The Sequim Elks Club members plan a dinner dance from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
The band Round Trip will play dance music at the club at 143 Port Williams Road.
The cost is $50 per couple, $30 individual or $10 for the dance only.
For information, phone the
lodge at 360-683-2763 or the office at 360-683-2763.
