By Robert Cameron Fowler
Photo courtesy of AlliesInteractive/Shutterstock.com.
As Christmas Day is bearing down upon us, you are probably feeling a queasy mixture of emotions. You’re excited to soon reap the joys of getting to spend time with family, delighting your children and to finally receive that new gadget you reminded your spouse a hundred times already to get for you. On the flipside, you are stressed to have to corral the family together, keep your children delighted and panicking that you haven’t yet bought that gadget that your spouse has reminded you a hundred times already to get them.
The truth is that, as we get older, Christmas Day is a wonderful time of the year, but it is no vacation. What we are really looking forward to New Year’s Eve. A time for cutting loose, setting hopes for self-improvement (let’s be flexible on resolutions here – those you have to keep), and toasting to the fact that wow, we’ve actually made it through the insanity that has been 2013!
We have already doled out suggestions for where to eat this upcoming New Year’s in Gut Check but here are the First Night Celebrations happening throughout NoVA to herald 2014 (may it be kind to us all).
First Night Alexandria
Dec. 31 from noon-midnight. Old Town Alexandria plans on doing the New Year’s right, hosting a full day of activities from noon until the balls drops. The kids’ will be kept entertained with The Fun Hunt, Cookie Decorating, face painting, moon bounce, model sail boats and carnival games held throughout the town. Did mention that there will be a Battle of the Bands? Because that it totally happening. Everything will culminate in a spectacular fireworks show once the clock ticks to 2014. 221 King St, Alexandria. $20 admission, kids younger than 12 and military service members get in for free. Alcohol-free.
Fredericksburg’s First Night
Dec. 31 from 7 p.m.-midnight. Head to Downtown Fredericksburg for a jam-packed evening of merriment that will have the entire family welcoming 2014. Kids can enjoy face painting, petal track cars, moon bounce, inflatable slides, and a ride in the Hillbilly Mayhem Monster Truck. You will be equally entertained by the numerous musicians playing, including country star Sara Beth. To round things off, the will be the undeniably-awesome-sounding Monkey Man Variety Show. 706 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg. Admission Buttons are $5 in advance, $8 the night of the event. Children ages 2-and-under admitted for free. Alcohol-free.
First Night Warrenton
Dec. 31 from 7 p.m.-11:45 a.m. If you’re looking for New Year’s Eve festivities with a charming twist, head to Historic Old Town Warrenton for a night filled with foot-stomping-good-music. You will have music genres like bluegrass, folk and jazz to give the evening a lively tempo, complimented by puppet shows, juggling and hay rides for the kids. The night is capped off with a Grand Illumination, where you will join in on candles and singing. Main Street, Warrenton. Admission Buttons are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, $5 for children 12 and younger and free for children under 3-years-old. Alcohol-free.