Original text from an earlier festival edition. Dates, performers, prices, addresses and application instructions below are historical; they do not describe the returning 2027 edition. Old forms and transaction controls are disabled. Read current information ↗
Release Date: Friday, November 20th 2015
First Night button a Don Drumm encore
Reprinted: 11/19/2015 - West Side Leader
By Kathleen Folkerth
Click here for the story on Akron.com
First Night Akron is taking a look back at its 20-year history, starting with its admission button.
Akron artist Don Drumm, who created the art for the first-ever First Night Akron in 1996, also created this year’s design, which was revealed Nov. 13.
First Night Akron officials said they decided to forego the usual artist nomination process and invite Drumm, a Highland Square resident, to create the button for this milestone year. The button is worn by thousands of revelers for admission to 10 venues at the New Year’s Eve arts and cultural event in Downtown Akron.
Drumm’s design that first year featured a moon, but this year his rendering of a phoenix was selected for the button.
“When I first did it, because it was a family event, I think I wanted something to appeal to kids as much as adults, and I kept that in mind when I did this one,” he said. “It’s a folksy looking drawing of a bird I call ‘The Phoenix Arising.’”
He said he was inspired by changes in the city over the past 20 years.
“We’ve rebuilt a lot of downtown,” he said.
Drumm recalled that the inaugural First Night Akron was a lot different than what it has become.
“The whole thing was brand new,” he said. “They had no money to pay me, and I said fine, I don’t care. This is my city, too, and I’d like to do something.”
He said he attended the first couple of years and loved the event for its diversity of performances.
“It’s been quite a success,” he said. “It’s a family-oriented event with a lot of emphasis on things for kids.”
At age 80, and with a busy art gallery business, Drumm said he doesn’t get out to events like First Night Akron much. But he’s not yet ruling out attending this year.
Admission buttons allow access Dec. 31 from 6 p.m. to midnight to all 10 First Night venues, entertainment, activities and free METRO bus rides to each location. Buttons are $10, but children under 10 receive free admission with a button-wearing adult. Buttons will be on sale starting Nov. 27 at all Acme Fresh Markets; participating FirstMerit Bank branches; Angel Falls Coffee, 792 W. Market St. in Highland Square; and the following Downtown Akron locations: Akron Art Museum, 1 S. High St.; Akron Civic Theatre Box Office, located across the street from the Civic on the first floor of the Ohio Building, 175 S. Main St.; blue: A Goodwill boutique, 335 S. Main St.; The Library Shop at Main, 60 S. High St.; and Lock 3, 200 S. Main St. Buttons also may be purchased at Downtown Akron Partnership (DAP) — the entity that organizes First Night Akron — in Greystone Hall, 103 S. High St., on the fourth floor, and online at www.firstnightakron.org.
On Dec. 31, buttons will be available only at Acme Fresh Markets until 8 p.m. and at the Akron Civic Theatre, 182 S. Main St., and The Library Shop on Main.
First Night Akron buttons also are available in Discover Downtown Akron Passports, which allow the holder to explore 14 different events and sites in Akron. DAP has partnered with venues and attractions to offer a variety of arts, culture and entertainment events from December 2015 through December 2016 for $15. Individually, these outings would cost more than $219, DAP officials said. More information is available at www.downtownakron.com/passport.
First Night Akron also is seeking volunteers to assist with the Dec. 31 event. More than 400 people are needed to greet guests, check admission buttons, introduce performers, assist with hands-on activities, track attendance and serve as bus hosts.
Volunteers may work the entire evening or choose between two shifts: 5:30 to 9 p.m. or 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. Friends, families, couples and groups may volunteer together. Volunteers are admitted free to all performances and sites before or after their shifts.
First-time and returning volunteers are required to attend one training session to learn event updates and new information. Training sessions will be held Dec. 7-28 at the Akron-Summit County Main Library, 60 S. High St. in Downtown Akron, and the Ellet Branch Library, 2470 E. Market St. Morning, evening and weekend sessions are available, with each session lasting about 90 minutes.
Applications and complete details are available at www.firstnightakron.org/volunteers or by contacting volunteer coordinator Tiffany Schmidt at 330-535-3179, ext. 211, or [email protected].