OGDEN -- Entertainment, food, fireworks and bull-riding will be featured Friday night during Ogden's combined First Night and New Year's Eve celebrations.
The First Night component of the festivities will run from 7 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. at four venues: The David Eccles Conference Center, Ogden City Mall, Lindquist Field and on 24th Street.Revelers can obtain an admission button good for all events for $7 at the door or $5 in advance; Children under 10 are free.
Additional First Night information is available at 629-6634.
There are also a number of independent celebrations scheduled, including a Family New Year's Eve Party in the Treehouse Children's Museum at Ogden City Mall from 11:45 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Information on that activity is available at 394-9663.
Another New Year's tradition for the past several years has been the annual Bull Wars event in the Golden Spike Arena, 1000 N. 1200 West. Show time is 7:30 p.m. and tickets will be sold at the door.
Reserved admission will be $12, general admission $10, and children will be $5. Call 399-8798 for more information.
Also scheduled is a Wrangler New Year's Eve celebration featuring The Cowfolks. That event will run at 5:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. in The Mansion House, 2350 Adams Ave. There is a $25 per plate charge and interested persons can call 773-3629 for reservations.
First Night celebrations are a registered activity of First Night International, an umbrella organization that fosters alcohol-free community celebrations of the New Year through art, culture, ritual and festivity.
Ogden's celebration is one of 225 First Night activities being held this year in the United States, Canada, New Zealand and Australia.
Founded in Boston by civic-minded artists in 1976, the first-ever First Night culminated the city's bicentennial celebration with a landmark New Year's Eve activity that has since caught the imagination of communities throughout the nation.
In Utah, First Night celebrations have been adopted in Salt Lake City, Ogden, Provo and -- for the first time this year -- in St. George.
Here's a detailed breakdown of the various First Night activities in Ogden:
Hypnotist Mark Livingston will perform in the Egyptian Theater, 2440 Washington Blvd., at 7, 8:30 and 10 p.m.
Two concerts planned for the Eccles Conference Center Grand Ballroom at 2415 Washington Blvd. include Ryan Shupe and the Rubber Band at 7:30 p.m. and the reggae band Zions Tribe at 9:30 p.m.
Ken Culmone and His Kings of Swing will play from 8 p.m. to midnight at the Eccles Center Main Ballroom.
This year's version of the Acoustic Cafe will run from 7 p.m. to midnight in the Eccles Center Executive Room featuring Cat Van Natter, Steventri, Tara Shupe, Terri Taylor, Tanglewood and Anka Summerhill.
The Comedy Cafe will have acts to tickle your funnybone from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. in the Eccles Center downstairs meeting rooms. Shows will run every half hour.
The Karaoke Kafe will run from 7 to 11 p.m. on an outdoor stage at the intersection of 24th Street and Washington Boulevard. There will be prizes for anyone willing to pick up a microphone.
Members of the Ogden Curling Club will host a ham toss on 24th Street between Washington Boulevard and Kiesel Avenue from 7 p.m. to midnight.
Also on 24th Street, a large tent will be set up to accommodate a Big Screen Teen Video Stomp from 7 to 10:30 p.m.
A Kiddie Fireworks Show will take place at 9 p.m. on the top level of the Ogden Mall parking terrace.
The Country Cafe will offer line dancing and country swing dancing in the 24th Street entryway to the Ogden Mall from 7 p.m. to midnight.
Imagination Station and the Kids Kafe will provide activities for younger people from 7 to 10:30 p.m. in the Ogden Mall's Main 24th Street Entrance.
The grand finale will be Millennium Mania from 11 p.m. to midnight at Linquist Field, on 24th Street and Lincoln Avenue. In addition to a fireworks show, there will be skydivers and performances by The Wild Angels and Forever Plaid.
Additional information is available by contacting the Ogden City Events Hot Line at 629-8248.