First Night Akron is a family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebration of the arts. Enjoy non-stop entertainment from 6pm – midnight both indoors and outdoors for the whole family including music, dance, theater, visual, and interactive arts. Ring in the New Year with fabulous fireworks at both 9 (for families with young kids) and 11:45pm.
I received admission to facilitate this post.
First Night Akron Schedule
There is so much to do and see at First Night Akron, more than 80 different events! I suggest you map out your evening before attending and download the First Night Akron schedule app. We have tried to pack in as much as possible some years while other years, we were more selective and spent more time at each venue. Either way you do it, you and your family will have a memorable, entertained way to spend New Year’s Eve in Akron.
Akron Art Museum
6-10 pm –Akron Art Museum Activity
6-10 pm –Akron Art Museum Exhibitions
Akron Art Museum: Auditorium
6-8 pm –Akron Film + Pixel
8:15-9 pm –Magical Theatre Company
9:15-10 pm –Magical Theatre Company
Akron Art Museum: Lobby
6-6:45 pm –Pat Vaughan
7-7:45 pm –Pat Vaughan
8:15-9 pm –Clay East, The Voice
9:15-10 pm –Clay East, The Voice
Akron Civic Theater – Grand Staircase
9:10-9:25 pm –First Night Weddings
Akron Civic Theatre
6-7 pm –Akron Symphony Gospel Meets Symphony Choir
7:15-8 pm –Shivering Timbers
8:15-9 pm –Shivering Timbers
9:30-10:15 pm –Hard Day’s Night
10:30-11:15 pm –Hard Day’s Night
Akron-Summit County Public Library
6-9 pm –Children’s Library Make & Take
Akron-Summit County Public Library-Classroom
6-6:45 pm –University of Akron Steel Drum Band
7-7:45 pm –Topher Starzyk
8-8:45 pm –Topher Starzyk
9:15-10 pm –Silent Lion
10:15-11 pm –Silent Lion
Akron-Summit County Public Library-High St. Level
6-6:45 p.m. –Brian Henke
7-7:45 p.m. –Brian Henke
8-8:45 p.m. –Brian Henke
9-9:45 p.m. –Alex Bevan
10-10:45 p.m. –Alex Bevan
Akron-Summit County Public Library-Main St. Level
6-6:45 pm –Jim Gill
6-9 pm –ASPCL – This City Reads
7-7:45 pm –Jim Gill
8:00-8:45 pm –Paul Kovac
9:15-10:00 pm –Paul Kovac
10:15-11:00 pm –Paul Kovac
Akron-Summit County Public Library: Auditorium
6-6:45 pm –Olmsted Performing Arts
7-7:45 pm –O’Hare School of Irish Dance
8-8:45 pm –O’Hare School of Irish Dance
9:15-10 pm –University of Akron Steel Drum Band
10:15-11 pm –University of Akron Steel Drum Band
Around Town
6-9 p.m. –Marlowe the Magic Clown
8-midnight –Street Beat Drummers
9:15-11:30 pm –Ray Raymond Magician
9:15-11:30 pm –Point of No Return Improv
9:15-11:30 pm –Baby Grand
Greystone Hall, 4th Floor
6-6:30 pm–Simple Gifts
6:45-7:15 pm –Simple Gifts
7:30-8 pm –Simple Gifts
8:30-10 pm –Smokin’ Fez Monkeys
Greystone Hall-Theater, 6th Floor
6-9 pm –Actors’ Summit Presents Broadway Highlights
Greystone Hall: Ballroom, 2nd Floor
6-10 pm –Neos Dance Theatre
6-10 pm –Akron Big Band
John S. Knight Center
8-8:45 pm –Pick Up Stix
9:15-11:15 pm –joyUNSPEAKABLE Productions
John S. Knight Center-Exhibit Hall 1
6-9 pm –Buck and Buffy
6-9 pm –Point of No Return Improv
6-11 pm –Akron Children’s Museum
6:30-11:00 pm –Zeppelin Karaoke
7:30-8:30 pm –Auryn of Flowetry (Contact Juggler)
9:00-10:45 pm –Team Studio Akron Ice Carving Demonstrations
9:30-10:45 pm –Auyrn of Flowetry (Contact Juggler)
John S. Knight Center-Exhibit Hall 2
6-7 pm –Bongo Joe and Little Steve-O
7:15-8 pm –Big Daddy and the Hoodoo Men
8:15-9 pm –Big Daddy and the Hoodoo Men
9:30-10:15 pm –Colin Dussault’s Blues Project
10:30-11:15 pm –Colin Dussault’s Blues Project
John S. Knight Center-Goodyear Ballroom
6-6:45 pm –Yiddishe Cup
7-8 pm –Yiddishe Cup
8:30-9:15 pm –Wanda Hunt Band
9:30-10:15 pm –Wanda Hunt Band
10:30-11:15 pm –Wanda Hunt Band
John S. Knight Center-Main Floor 1
6-6:45 pm –Hypnotist Michael Oddo
7-7:45 pm –Hypnotist Michael Oddo
8-8:50 pm –Jason Alan Magic
9:15-10:05 pm –Jason Alan Magic
10:30-11:15 pm –Jason Alan Magic
John S. Knight Center-Main Floor 2
6-6:45 pm –Fergie & The Bog Dogs
7-7:45 pm –Fergie & The Bog Dogs
8:15-9 pm –Get Back Band
9:15-10 pm –Get Back Band
10:15-11:15 pm –Get Back Band
John S. Knight Center: Karder Terrace
8-11:15 pm –Drums to Make, Play and Take
John S. Knight Center: Maidenberg Concourse
6-11 pm –Hall of Resolution
Mainstage
6:30-11:30 pm –OhioMobileGaming
7-10 pm –Carriage Limousine Service LLC
8:15-9 pm –ZOBAPAGO
9:00 pm –Children’s Fireworks
11-11:30 pm –Team Studio Akron Ice Carving Club
11:15-midnight –Pick Up Stix
11:15-11:45 pm –Ohio Burn Unit
11:45-midnight –Akron Symphony Gospel Meets Symphony Choir
midnight –Midnight Fireworks
Robert K. Pfaff Transit Center (METRO)
6-9 pm –Metro Make & Take
6-9 pm –Metro Photo Booth & Goodie Bag Giveaway
6-9 pm –METRO DJ Dance Party
The Shoppes at Akron Centre
6-9 pm –YMCA – Band Together for Peace
6-9 pm –Pat Catan’s Mask Making
6-9 pm –Asian Services in Action Inc.
6-9 pm –Get Painted
6:00-6:15 pm –The Illusion Factory
6-9 pm –Step 2 & Box Creations
6-9 pm –Browser Newshound
6-9 pm –FirstEnergy All-American Soap Box Derby
6-9 pm –Akron Beacon Journal Paper Hats & Browser
6-9 pm –Braids & Beads
6-8 pm –joyUNSPEAKABLE Productions
6:30-7:30 pm –The Illusion Factory
7:45-8:00 pm –The Illusion Factory
8:15-9 pm –Rubber City Shakespeare Company
Summit Artspace: 2nd Floor
6-9 pm –Let’s Face it Caricatures
6-7:30 pm –Brian Lisik
7:30-9 pm –The Help
Summit Artspace: 3rd Floor
6-9 pm –The Terry Klausman Studio and Gallery
6-9 pm –The BOX: An Artist of Rubber City Gallery
6-9 pm –Cari Miller’s Sunthing Special
6-9 pm –Connie Bloom’s Quilting Arts Studio and Gallery
6-9 pm –The hArt Gallery
6-6:45 pm –Cleveland Chinese Music Ensemble
6-9 pm –The University of Akron Confucius Institute
7-7:45 pm –Cleveland Chinese Music Ensemble
8-8:45 pm –Cleveland Chinese Music Ensemble
Summit Artspace: Gallery
6-9 pm –Steve Free
Zion Lutheran Church – 3rd Floor
6-8 pm –First Night Face Painting
6:30-9 pm –Angry Birds Decorate & Take
7-7:25 pm –Angry Birds Live Action Show
8-8:25 pm –Angry Birds Live Action Show
Zion Lutheran Church – Gym/Food Court
5-5:45 pm –L.I.O.N. Players
6-6:45 pm –On That Day
7-7:45 pm –Johnny Cash & June Carter Cash Tribute Show
8-8:45 pm –Martha’s Mistakes
9-9:45 pm –Zion’s Praise Singers
Zion Lutheran Church – Sanctuary
6-6:45 pm –EKCO Ringers
7-7:45 pm –EKCO Ringers
8-8:45 pm –Akron Derbytown Chorus
9-9:45 pm –Akron Derbytown Chorus
The Metro buses are warm and available to take you from event to event for FREE with your First Night Akron admission button.
When is First Night Akron?
New Year’s Eve – Tuesday, December 31, 2013 from 6 p.m.-midnight
Join the fun no matter what the weather, First Night Akron primarily takes place at indoor venues throughout Downtown Akron with several activities outdoors including fireworks displays.
How much does First Night Akron Cost?
Buttons are just $10 for ages 10 – adults and Kids under 10 are FREE! Parking is also free!
Where do I buy First Night Akron Buttons?
Buy your First Night Akron 2014 Buttons online at www.firstnightakron.org or at the below locations.
First Night Akron office, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Angel Falls Coffee (Highland Square)
Akron Beacon Journal Customer Service Desk
Akron Civic Theatre box office (across the street from Civic, on 1st floor of Ohio Building)
Carolyn’s Cupboard (Wadsworth)
FirstMerit Bank (participating branches)
Gasoline Alley (Bath)
NOTO boutique
You can also buy First Night Akron Buttons on December 31 at Acme Fresh Markets until 8 p.m. and at Akron Civic Theatre and The Library Shop on Main in Downtown Akron.
This was not a paid post. My own opinions were used based on my perceptions and experience. Thank you to Downtown Akron Partnership who provided the tickets for review.
