First Night River Bend

First Night River Bend - Fun, Fantasy, and Fireworks - will be held on Dec. 31 on the campus of Lewis & Clark Community College. Hands-on activities in the Children’s Venue at the River Bend Arena will start with a show by the Pied Piper of Percussion at 6:30 p.m., followed by the hands-on activities from 7-9 p.m. Hat making and airbrush face painting will be featured in the Hatheway Gallery. This venue will open at 6:30 p.m. with a show by Chris Camp, The Whip Guy. There will be storytelling, sing-alongs, clowns, and several magicians (Casey the Entertainer in River Bend Arena, Chris Egelston in the Hatheway foyer, and newcomer Mark Toland in the Commons), a world-renowned whip cracker, belly dancers, caricaturists, and a singing, sword-swinging all-female stunt show. Music by the new Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute band, Bourbon Legend, and jazz music by the Alton Landing Jazz Quartet will also be featured. There will be ice sculptors working outdoors, creating two different sculptures for this year’s event. We will light up the skies with an “early-bird” fireworks display at 9 p.m. and culminate the evening’s festivities with the grand fireworks finale at midnight. Buttons are $10 in advance, $15 at the door, kids 5 and under are free. Seniors (65 and over) are $7.50 in advance, $10 at the door. For more information, go to FNRBLC.com or call (618) 468-5001.