Last Night For First Night?

Here's the good news: The First Night 2011 celebration for New Year's Eve in Montclair, New Jersey is back on. The bad news is, it will be severely truncated - two venues, five acts (including the Big Apple Circus - a touring version, not the full circus itself, it must be emphasized), mostly oriented toward families, and a wrap-up by 9 PM.

Private funding totaling $20,000 has already been raised, with another $10,000 to be raised. A campaign called "Friends of First Night" is underway, hoping to pull off this popular event without a hitch.

Oh, they'll pull it off without a hitch all right. With so few acts, and without much diversity in the few acts they do have, how can they possibly go wrong with the logistics? Wonder if they'll be able to pull off any ticket sales?

With only a circus show, a magician, and something called Wild 'n' Wacky (I know what it's like, now can someone tell me what it is?) in a school building and teenage jazz and rock performers in a Unitarian church nearby, it's better than nothing. But, seriously, how many teenage musicians or magic tricks can people take? Given the four-hour time frame, I doubt anyone will want to stick around that long if they're not going to watch the circus show. I myself haven't ruled out going, and I might go, if only to enjoy for one last time a tradition that's going in the direction of the giant light tree that J. M. Towne department store in nearby Caldwell used to put up. That is, it's going away. (And both the tree of lights and J.M. Towne are long since gone.)

Bet on it. The town of Montclair hopes to avoid using public funding to get First Night 2011 off the ground, but the municipal government has said that if public funds are needed, then they won't even consider the possibility of a First Night 2012. Sure, the economy could recover by this time next year, but local governments like Montclair's could still be strapped for cash, and long-term planning has to take that possibility into account.

Maybe it's time to admit that all of these amusements and entertainments are frills that a country that has lived beyond its means can no longer afford and no longer deserves. We're so busy amusing ourselves with New Year's Eve celebrations full of magicians, musicians, and circuses that we don't see America heading into a scary and destructive future. Given how 2011 is likely to turn out, why celebrate the new year with a party?

New Year's Eve celebrations will survive, as long as booze remains legal, but if you want a non-alcoholic, family-friendly New Year's experience, do what the Mormons do - drink carbonated cider and play board games with your kids.