Families unite for First Night delight

The motto for this year's First Night Buffalo is "All Family, All Fun, All Under One Roof" - and the festivities will be sure to please area families and end the year on a high note.

The drug and alcohol free event will take place from 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 31, at the Buffalo Convention Center on Franklin Street in downtown Buffalo. Admission is $7.

First Night Buffalo features a wide array of activities for all ages, including:

For youngsters, "Possibilities with Puppets," with Janice Spagnolan; "Poetry and Percussion" with Susan Peters; "Healthy Me Self Portraits," with Kristen Crosson; "Interactive Dance Party," with Cindy Hanna; and "Germ City, Erie County Department of Health LeadSafe Erie County Program."

For animal lovers, things will get wild when The Buffalo Zoomobile drives by and shows what a Madagascar Hissing Cockroach looks like - no squishing allowed - and Nickel City Reptiles and Exotics features snakes, turtles, birds and a wallabee.

Just for laughs, improv comedy will be presented by Comedy Sportz, where comedy becomes a sport when comedians improvise their way to the finish line for laughs.

Enjoy music geared towards parents and kids when Glenn Colton performs his brand of family friendly songs, and The Dinner Dog plays fun, interactive songs for the kids.

Be hypnotized by master hypnotist Michael Blaine's show, where family and friends might change their personality under the influence of Blaine's mind-bending influence.

If trivia is your thing, check out the Dennis George Original Variety Show, where you can test your knowledge in this fun, family game show.

Families will pick their favorite NASCAR driver's car and burn some rubber at the Burning Asphalt Racetrack. Other performances include the Niagara Falls Housing Authority Youth Choir, the School 80, Highgate Select Choir, and Rince Na Tiarna Irish dance. Kids will love getting their picture taken with Curious George, Maisy and Little Critter.

For more information, visit www.firstnightbuffalo.org or call 635-4959.