The goal of First Night Austin is to celebrate the arts – both visual and performing – and give residents and visitors a safe way to welcome the new year. Austin was the first Texas city to implement a First Night program and has been holding it annually since 1976. Recent years have regularly seen over 100,000 people make their way through the two dozen venues which participate in First Night Austin.
This year's event is set to begin at 4 p.m. with the HEB Family Festival, followed by the Grand Procession at 6 p.m. Illumination of Auditorium Shores will take place from 8-8:30 p.m. The ARC Waterlight Parade on Lady Bird Lake is set for 9 p.m. and will be followed by the First Night Run at 10 p.m. The Premiere Evening programming begins at 11 p.m., while the Vespa Raffle at Town Hall will take place at 11:30 p.m. Finally, First Night Austin culminates with Downtown Alliance Austin Alliance Grand Finale & Fireworks at midnight.
