There was a lot to celebrate in Tacoma on the last day of 2007 and an estimated 10,000 celebrants filled the downtown streets to take part. The much-missed New Year’s Eve celebration First Night was back from a two-year absence and by all accounts the event was a major success. In fact, it looks like First Night will be back every Dec. 31 from now on, according to Bennett Thurmon, chair of the First Night board of directors, and First Night Event Coordinator Lori Crace.

“This year we stand better financially than First Night has ever stood since [planning] was turned over to the Theater District Association for [First Night’s] new year,” Thurmon said. “We have money in the bank that we’ve never had.”

First Night had been on hiatus for the past two years due to financial problems stemming from a sponsorship pledge that never materialized. However, getting the celebration back on track was really not as difficult as it might have been, Crace said, because the community stepped up to make it happen.

“It was the combination of a great team, great volunteers, great weather, great media coverage, great performers, great community support…It all just meshed together perfectly.”  

Thurmon  agreed. “Whenever you come back from being gone a couple of years, you have your doubts and concerns. I was very concerned until about the middle of November, then I started feeling good about things and they just got better and better.

“I can’t say anything other than that it was a huge success. That’s the only real statement I can make about it. I can tell you a hundred stories about good things that happened.”

Thurmon said that this year, he and Crace made the decision that they would “take extreme financial responsibility” to ensure the event does not get mired in funding issues anymore.

“Financially, we will be stable from now until forever,” Crace predicted.

Thurmon, who has been a First Night volunteer since 1995, five of those years as program director, said that ever since New Year’s Day he has been “really excited when usually I’m just tired. But since we were dark for two years and coming back after that absence and being in debt, coming to where we are now today of having a very successful event with a great turnout and financially successful, I’m just sort of floating around on cloud nine right now.

“The stars aligned on everything. It was just so amazing.”

Sound Transit reports that Tacoma Link passengers on First Night came in at more than double the number for its regular weekday ridership service, the second highest daily total since the light rail line opened in Tacoma in 2003 (the highest total was during Tall Ships in 2005).

Asia Pacific Cultural Center was open for celebrants to visit and make paper cranes, more than 500 of them. “That’s about

142 cranes per hour, or 2.38 cranes per minute. Not too shabby!” said Executive Director Phil Chang.

The Harmon Brewery had their busiest New Year’s ever and Galanga Thai Cuisine on Broadway was full with a line reaching to the door all night long.

Sales were brisk at downtown businesses outside of the First Night “footprint” like urbanXchange on Pacific Avenue. “We did gangbuster business on New Year’s Eve. In one hour we sold half of our daily goal,” said owner Julie Bennett.

Thurmon and Crace said that resources and sponsorship provided by Metro Parks was key to reestablishing First Night in Tacoma. Crace, event coordinator with Metro Parks, was “loaned” to First Night organizers to make the event a success, while Thurmon possessed knowledge of past First Nights which helped keep the ‘07 organizers from “reinventing the wheel” in planning. Also, in the past, Metro Parks contributed a “fun zone” for children at First Night, but this year programming for youth was incorporated into the overall event. This, and the alcohol-free environment, helped attract a noticeable number of families who stayed until midnight to see KING 5 television’s Rich Marriott lead the countdown to the New Year’s fireworks display.

“Metro Parks stepped in to assist with bringing First Night back to Tacoma in response to the strong desire we heard from the community for the event,” said Metro Parks Director of Recreation Shon Sylvia. “It was rewarding for us to help provide the opportunity for the crowd to celebrate the start of the New Year in a uniquely fun and safe way.  

“Special events add an important dimension to the quality of life in this community and we look forward to seeing crowds out having a great time during the Ethnic Fest, Play Tacoma, the Point Defiance Flower and Garden Show, Showcase Tacoma and all the other great events we’ll be bringing to the community in 2008.”

Thurmon and Crace also gave credit to the City of Tacoma, another major First Night sponsor. “The commitment the city brought was over the top,” Thurmon said. “They were one of the first to step up and ask how they could help.”

All totaled, the event attracted more than 100 volunteers and nearly a dozen major sponsors including MultiCare, Weyerhaeuser, Sound Transit, and Mixx 96 FM.

Organizers are actively searching for additional major corporate sponsors. Crace said that while these are important, funds received from the public are equally critical.

“We had a lot of people who donated $100. When you look at what their annual income probably is, that $100 may have represented a significant contribution for them. All of those are just as important and showed the passion people have for the event and that they want it back.”

Planning has already begun for First Night 2008. To get involved or for more information, visit www.firstnighttacoma.org or call Crace at Metro Parks, (253) 305-1076.