Final Celebrations for 2007
Southern US First Nights, New Year's Eve and Some Kwanzaa
December is a month of traditions encapsulating almost every walk of life on the globe. Christmas might get most of the attention, however the merriment goes on.
Kwanzaa on the Hampton Roads
"Matunda ya kwanzaa" in Swahili talks about first fruits, and many African Americans celebrate, for upwards of seven days, the principles behind this holiday.
Norfolk Virginia’s Imani Foundation invites all to the Hunton YMCA on December 27th. African dances and music will merge with cultural games and the lighting the black, red and green kinara candles.
Au revoir 2007 Cajun Style
Eunice calls itself “Louisiana Prairie’s Cajun Capital". On December 29th come and bid farewell to 2007 and hail the oncoming new year at the"Rendez-vous des Cajuns" Live Radio and TV Show. Starting with a 3:00PM jam session and a 4:00 PM cooking demonstation the show from 6:00 – 7:30PM is a long standing Saturday night tradition. Continutation of your seasonal joie de vivre is a guarantee!
New Year’s Magic Along the Mighty Mississippi
It is no surprise that musical Memphis is the place for heralding the New Year.
The late great blues artist W.C. Handy once wrote, “see Beale Street first.” Good advice. New Year’s Eve energy from this famed boulevard as it anticipates 2008’s arrival will be at high wattage. Blues clubs and restaurants offer high-level entertainment and dining while live music spills from Handy Park and fireworks explode in the sky.
Kids, aged six to twelve, can have their own roaring good times by attending the Memphis Zoo’s New Year’s Eve Zoo Snooze. From 6:30 PM – 10:00AM junior revelers will partake in behind the scene tours, a moonlight safari and a midnight party.
The Big Easy and jazz are synonymous but on the final night of the year – opera rules!
The New Orleans Opera’s last arias of 2007 begin with a concert led by Metropolitan Opera tenor Paul Groves. Afterwards a party of Wagnerian proportions and Lehar’s lightheartedness will occur at the Wyndham where a grand finale of fireworks over the Mississippi caps off the evening.
First Night Festivities
Now entrenched in many cities as an alcohol free family function for celebrating December 31st, and Ada, Oklahoma has its own Sooner First Night lineup.
Elvis, in the form of Kraig Parker, is due in all his Vegas flash along with magician Capstone, and the brassiness of the Moonlighters.
Macon, Georgia’s First Night has venues all over the historic downtown area, from Temple Beth Isreal to the First Baptist Church. In those venues music is the # 1 attraction. Garage bands, acoustic guitar even some ragtime will be joined with other family activities like dance and theater.
Go out and increase your quotient for festivity!
