First Night Chatham Gears Up For New Year’s Eve

CHATHAM – Following 11 months of planning, organizers of Chatham’s family-friendly New Year’s Eve party are putting the finishing touches on the 2024-2025 edition of First Night Chatham.

 Under the theme “Celebrate Together,” the event will offer around 100 different activities and performances in more than 18 venues around town between 1 p.m. and 10 p.m. People will gather for the town photo at the lighthouse at noon, and registration begins at 2 p.m. for the Carnival Caper road race, which steps off in front of the Squire at 3 p.m. Expect traffic delays related to both events.

 First Night buttons are available for $30 for adults and $5 for children ages 3 to 11 and can be purchased online at www.FirstNightChatham.com or at Fist Night Headquarters at 583 Main St. starting the day after Christmas. Buttons are needed for most indoor events, which happen at churches, schools and public spaces around the downtown area; the full, updated schedule of events is online.

There are plenty of fun things for families to do even without a First Night button, most notably the Noise Parade. A feature of all First Night celebrations, the Noise Parade invites people to march together playing musical instruments, blowing foghorns, banging pots and pans, or finding other ways to create a ruckus. Chatham’s parade begins at the corner of Cross Street and Main Street at 6 p.m. and marches its way to Veterans Field for the fireworks display around 6:30 p.m.

Parking will be scarce downtown, so organizers encourage First Night revelers to use the free shuttle bus that runs from noon to 10:30 p.m. between the Monomoy Middle School on Crowell Road and the rotary, with stops in between. Traditionally, except in cases of dangerous weather, First Night is held rain or shine, and visitors are encouraged to dress in layers and to bring flashlights.

First Night organizers say they can always use additional help on the day of the event. “We are in particular need of folks to help out at the community center, the elementary school and town hall,” volunteer Peter Gruol said. Workers help usher guests in and out of performance venues for one or two shifts between 1 and 6 p.m. People who are interested in volunteering are asked to email Sally Stratman at volunteers@firstnightchatham.com.