HomeMy Public PortalAboutTOL PR 2012-12-13 First Night Cancelled
Town of Leesburg
News Release
For Immediate Release
First Night Leesburg Cancelled for 2012
Leesburg, VA (December 13, 2012) – In a joint release with the Town of Leesburg, the
Bluemont Concert Series announces with great regret the cancellation of the 2012 First Night
Leesburg celebration. Over the past 25 years, this popular New Year’s Eve event has brought
thousands of families, neighbors and visitors to downtown Leesburg to welcome in the New
Year with a truly special celebration of the cultural spirit in our community.
“We are certainly not happy about the decision to cancel First Night for the second year in a
row but we are convinced it is the right one under the circumstances,” said Bob Sevila, First
Night Leesburg Posse Chairman and member of the Bluemont Board of Directors. “An
unfortunate combination of factors has led to our decision to cancel, including persistent
financial uncertainties.”
“The Town is looking forward to exploring opportunities for a new edition of First Night in
Leesburg,” said Leesburg Town Manager John Wells. “We expect to talk to Downtown
stakeholders and businesses in the first few months of next year to gauge interest, gather ideas,
and discuss a strategy with the Mayor and Town Council.”
Since 1986, First Night Leesburg has presented a wonderful variety of performing groups and
activities at dozens of indoor sites within walking distance in downtown Leesburg between 6pm
and 12 midnight. In 2010, First Night Leesburg presented 45 artist groups in 92 performances at
17 indoor sites and was attended by approximately 3,500 – 4,000 Town residents and visitors.
A popular tradition here in Leesburg, First Night’s Midnight Grand Illumination finale brings
many hundreds of friends and families together to the center of our beautiful, colonial
downtown. Together we usher in the New Year with a candlelit sing-along and a dramatic
countdown as the Old Courthouse bell peals out twelve times for good fortune for us all in the
New Year.
“First Night Leesburg is a difficult project to pull off under the best of times,” concludes Milton
Herd, Bluemont Chairman of the Board and Posse member. “We definitely want to thank our
incredible partners, volunteers and sponsors who have helped Bluemont build the support for
First Night Leesburg project since 1986. Now seems like a good time to step back and assess
how to best continue this remarkable community project in the future.”
(more)
TOL PR 2012-12-13 First Night Cancelled
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Bluemont will be working over the next months on a transition plan to assure the future of
Bluemont’s programs in the community. If you’d like to help, please contact Lily Dunning
(lily@bluemont.org) or Milt Herd (mh@herdplanning.com).
Contact:
Nathan Borger
Bluemont Media Coordinator
nathan@bluemont.org
540-955-8186
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