A First Night Celebration!

Get ready for New Year’s New London, our region's first-ever First Night celebration!

On December 31st, New London comes alive with music, art, performances, and fun for all ages—a joyful way to welcome the New Year with friends and neighbors.

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Partnering with the New London Recreation Department, Tracy Memorial Library, and the Lake Sunapee Regional Chamber of Commerce, there will be free activities  for kids and families all day long.

And in the evening, the Center for the Arts brings you a wide variety of programs and events at three different venues to help you ring in the new year!

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Buttons may be purchased at any Venue

Whipple Hall - Seamans Rd

St Andrews Church - Gould St

     First Baptist Church - Main St   

 Gold Buttons are in limited supply 

As well as CFA (428 Main St) Tuesday 12/23  9-5 and Wednesday 12/31  1-5.

Buttons purchased online can also be picked up at the CFA Center during these hours.

December 31st: Buttons will be sold at all performance venues.

Blue Buttons purchased online may be picked up after 5 at all performance venues

 (Whipple Hall, First Baptist Church, St Andrews Church).

Gold Buttons may be pickup after 5 at Whipple Hall only.

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Free family events include:

10 AM Storytime at Tracy Memorial Library 

Join us at 10 AM for Story Time. Our theme will be new vs. old. We will read stories, sing songs and have a New Years Eve themed craft. 

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10:30 AM Magic Show featuring Andrew Silver at Whipple Hall

Andrew is a multi-talented professional variety entertainer who fuses magic, juggling, and physical comedy into his thought provoking shows. 

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11:30 AM Kids Countdown Party at Whipple Hall

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12:00 PM Kearsarge Community Band and the Kids Costume Parade at Whipple Hall

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1-5 PM Kids Drop-in Crafts at the CFA Center

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1-4 PM Free Skate with Music and Hot Chocolate++

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1:30 PM Movie at Tracy Memorial Library:

Join us  in the meeting room for a BLOCKBUSTER movie set on New Years Eve. Light refreshments will be provided.  

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2:00 PM Zumba for Kids and families with Kristin Lizotte at Whipple Hall

Kids! Move and groove your way into the new year with a Zumba class just for you. There will be a fun playlist of songs to get you dancing. Kids of all ages welcome

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4 PM Skating Competition* ++

3 Minute Skating Routine-1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes!

Honorary Judge: Miss Kim

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4:30 PM Drumming Circle with Kathy Lowe and Julie Corey at Whipple Hall

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6-9 PM 3x3 Hockey Tournament* ++

Get your team together!

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* Registration required at the NL Recreation Department (space is limited)​​

++Skating events are weather dependent 

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And with your

NEW YEARS NEW LONDON BUTTON**

enjoy these programs and events all night long! 

 ...plus a 10% off at Little Brother Burgers,

a complimentary coke with purchase at Pizza Chef,

and a complimentary glass of wine at The Elms!​

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5:30 PM St Andrews Youth Choir & the KRES NL Tone Chime Ringers

        at The First Baptist Church   

The St Andrews Youth Choir singing vibrant songs from around the world, and  the KRES NL Tone Chime Ringers bringing to life some of the most beautiful and timeless melodies through the joyful art of ringing . Both under the direction of Nicole Densmore.

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5:30 PM KCPA Art in Motion Performance Company at Whipple Hall

Featuring dancers from the Kearsarge Conservatory for the Performing Arts

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​6:30 PM Oliver Andrews and Friends at First Baptist Church

Featuring award winning violinist Oliver Andrews, flutist Nicole Densmore and violist Kathy Thomas.

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6:30 PM Singer/Songwriters Session I at St Andrews Church

Featuring multi talented songwriter and artist Kathy Lowe-Bloch, a singer-songwriter since 1968, creating music that is personal, universal, fun and profound; guitarist Tom Pirozzoli whose work forms the rich backdrop for his warm tenor that delivers melodies and lyrics exploring the full range of the human and global experience;  Carl Beverly, songwriter and performer at coffeehouses and open mics since 2008, and founder of the Brook House Songwriters' Circle; and award winning songwriter Doug Farrell, whose witty observations and poetic engaging lyrics will leave you wanting more.

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6:30 PM The Sugar River Band at Whipple Hall

Traditional fiddle music - jigs, reels, polkas, hambos, waltzes - from New England, Celtic, Scandinavian and French-Canadian folk music traditions.  Members of the band for New Year's Eve will be Sophie Orzechowski MacRae, Devon MacRae and Jane Orzechowski on fiddles, piano, guitar, hardanger d'Amores.

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7:30 PM The Kearsarge Chorale at First Baptist Church

The Kearsarge Chorale, creating  beautiful music that touches the hearts of their audiences and enrich the lives of community.

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7:30 PM Singer/Songwriters Session II at St Andrews Church

Featuring multi talented songwriter and artist Kathy Lowe-Bloch, a singer-songwriter since 1968, creating music that is personal, universal, fun and profound;  Carl Beverly, songwriter and performer at coffeehouses and open mics since 2008, and founder of the Brook House Songwriters' Circle; and award winning songwriter Doug Farrell, whose witty observations and poetic engaging lyrics will leave you wanting more.

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7:30 PM Amazing Stories with Simon Brooks at Whipple Hall 

British storyteller, humorist and author Simon Brooks has been telling to audiences from all over the world. Some of the greatest stories are no longer that well known, and some of our best loved stories have been changed and manipulated, and all but forgotten. Experience the great power in the old stories. 

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8:30-10:00 PM Square Dance with the Bradford Squares and Square Dance Caller Carolyn Horn at St Andrews Church Comm Center 

Come join the fun! Beginners welcome!

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8:30 PM The New London Brass Ensemble at First Baptist Church

A traditional brass quintet based in New London, Playing a unique blend of Classical brass music with jazz influences featuring Dan Wright on Trumpet & Flugelhorn, Doug Dean on Trumpet & Flugelhorn, Ako Shiffer on Horn,  Victoria "Vicki" Moore on Trombone, and Dan Brown playing Tuba.

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​***8:30 PM-12 AM DJ Party & Midnight Countdown with DJ Greg and Bluebird Mobile Bar at Whipple Hall Beverages and Food available by donation!

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​Venues, Times and Programs are subject to change. Check back for exact times and programs and updates.​

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​​​​🎨 Event Locations:
Center for the Arts • Tracy Memorial Library • Whipple Hall
New London Town Green • St. Andrew’s • First Baptist Church

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Brought to you by the Center for the Arts with our partners the Lake Sunapee Region Chamber of Commerce, New London Recreation Department, and Tracy Memorial Library.

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With special thanks to St Andrews Church, the First Baptist Church, the Town of New London, the New London Inn, and the Vernon Family Farm, and our dedicated Volunteers!

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🌟 Want to be part of the magic?

We’re looking for volunteers and sponsors to help make this first-ever celebration unforgettable.

Click Here to learn how you can Volunteer

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