First Night Monterey 2012
Fast Facts

A community celebration of the arts on New Year's Eve
First Night is Monterey's most exciting, imaginative and uplifting cultural event
Our theme for 2012 is "A FantaSea"
Explore the website for overview of program, tickets information and sales. Download the complete program guide in December. Plan your night ahead by reviewing program and performers - it's a big night!  

Saturday, December 31, 2011 from 3 PM through Midnight.

Historic Downtown Monterey - Over 25 performance sites, most venues are indoors. First Night Monterey goes on "Rain or Shine"! 85% SITES INDOORS! Buy your button today!

Advance purchase Admission Buttons are:
ADULT BUTTON (16 and older)
$15 through December 10, 2010
$20 starting December 11, 2010 through December 30th
$22 December 31, 2010 (Day of Celebration), available at Event.
YOUTH BUTTON (6-15 years old)
$10 through December 10, 2010
$12 starting December 11, 2010 through December 30th
$15 December 31, 2010 (Day of Celebration), available at Event
Children five and under are admitted free!
Buttons on sale at many local stores in Monterey County: Safeway Stores- all Monterey County Stores, Nob Hill Stores in Monterey & Salinas, Walgreens in Monterey & Seaside, The Works in Pacific Grove, The Welcome Center Salinas, Museum Of Monterey, Monterey Museum of Art, Monterey Sports Center.
Online button sales with Family Pack Specials are available now here.

Pick up buttons purchased on-line Dec 30-31st at our FNM Conference Center Will-Call Site.

A community celebration of the arts, FNM is an affordable, alcohol-free family celebration. A creation of activities, colors, lights, musical entertainment and performances unfolds on New Year's Eve in Historic Downtown Monterey for First Night Monterey as we dance, play, act, perform, create and sing our way into 2012!

“A FantaSea" of the arts transforms Historic downtown Monterey streets and stages for this year's First Night Monterey 2012 celebration. The mysterious, playful and art-filled beauty of underwater life is the backdrop for the more than 200 artists that will come together to perform and engage the Monterey Coast audiences on New Year's Eve. The Monterey Conference Center will be transformed into a magical celebration of the arts through lights, characters, performances and activities that are sure to provide memorable experiences. Alvarado Street will be illuminated and animated in a colorful display of blue and green "aquarium" lights and projections.

We invite you to a very special party as we transform the streetscapes, buildings, theaters, churches and concert halls throughout Historic Downtown Monterey into a fun, informative and unique way for the community to experience multiple forms of art on an evening where we celebrate our uniqueness, our commonality and the coming of the New Year!

Activities begin at 3:00PM with the Opening Ceremony staged on Colton Lawn stage on Pacific Street. Kids Night Out! begins at 3:30PM with interactive art activities: face painting, henna tattoo artists, puppet art theater, folk music and magic show will entertain children of all ages. Join us for the Twilight Procession at 5:30 as we process down Alvarado Street. Commit your New Year's resolution at the interactive Resolution Sculpture. Performances range from Classical to Hip Hop, Jazz to Reggae, Dance Venues to the Written Word and a whole lot of art!

Grand Finale starts at 11:15.  Check program and website for complete details.

There are many hotels to choose from right in Historic Monterey! Go to firstnightmonterey.org to find out more. First Night Monterey has a large and varied selection of food and beverage booths for your enjoyment. The Monterey Peninsula has excellent restaurants of every conceivable type; far too many to be listed here. For listings and reviews, go to www.monterey.com. We are located in historic downtown Monterey.