WESTFIELD – Plans for a city-wide event to ring in 2015 did not pan out but organizers are already working on a celebration for 2016.
Stephen Dondley spearheaded a group to host a First Night type of event at the new clock tower and parks surrounding the Great River Bridges. The event centered around an Elm Street road race that would end with a midnight countdown at what Dondley called the city’s “iconic clock tower.”
Time constraints and safety concerns halted that effort.
“We didn’t get together until August and got rolling with the race in September,” Dondley said. “[Westfield Police] Chief Camerota had concerns about safety and manpower, with it being New Year’s Eve. We just couldn’t pull it off.”
Mayor Daniel M. Knapik said all parties agreed it was a good idea to celebrate New Year’s Eve at that location.
“There just wasn’t enough time to work on it,” Knapik said, adding that he would like to see a full day of activities to ring in 2016, including family friendly events.
“I think next year it will be even better and WOW (Westfield On Weekends) will be part of the event,” he added. . WOW sponsors and promotes Dickens Days in Westfield each December.
Dondley said the organizing group has about 10 members and others are welcome to join the group, which can be reached via www.newyearswestfield.com.
“We are going to start meeting earlier this year and I think progress will come quickly,” Dondley said.
Dondley plans to offer Westfield residents and people from other communities a safe, fun way to celebrate 2016.
This year, people looking for local First Night activities can head to Northampton. Since 1985, First Night Northampton has filled the Paradise City with a 12-hour, family-friendly festival of the arts culminating in a traditional ball-raising from the roof of the Hotel Northampton.
Information on that event can be found at www.firstnightnorthampton.org.
Those looking to celebrate kid-style can opt to visit First Night Junior at Holyoke Heritage State Park. The event takes place from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Tickets are $8 per person and are available at the Holyoke Merry-Go-Round and Holyoke Children’s Museum, both located at the park.
