Revelers in this town can once again skip the celebrations on New Year's Eve and ring in 2008 the next day without struggling to stay awake until midnight or dodging drunken drivers.
The fifth annual Real First Night takes place from 4 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 1, at Blackburn Hall and Stone Field. There is a $3 suggested donation at the door.
"I can't believe it's our fifth year," said event coordinator Aicha Kelley. "It's grown every year and has become a true town tradition."
This year's celebration will have many new additions joining the usual happenings that have become town favorites.
Stone Field will be ablaze with bonfires that burn even in the rain. The musical talent this year is local singer/songwriter Rick Clerici and friends, featuring David Amaral on bass, Mike Amaral on saxophone and Joe Donnelly Jr. on drums.
These local musicians started playing together in high school. Having enjoyed years of individual musical success, Tuesday's event marks a reunion of sorts.
While enjoying the bonfires and melodies, townspeople can drink Rich McCarthy's hot cocoa and munch on his popcorn. For football fans, bowl games will be shown on the movie screen and big-screen TVs in Blackburn Hall.
Plus, the chili cook-off is back.
There will also be crafts for the children to take part in while families visit one another.
This year is also special because it has a cause: The Walpole Community Food Pantry.
The Recreation Department and Potters Place, a nonprofit cooperative pottery studio, are collaborating to hold the "Empty Bowl Project." Potters Place members have created single-serving bowls in all styles of pottery for the public to purchase. The minimum donation per bowl is $10.
The bowls may be used to purchase a variety of soups such as black bean soup from Jalapeno's, Italian Wedding soup from Leo's Pizzeria, and turkey rice soup from A Little Something.
All proceeds from the sale of the soup and bowls will be donated to the food pantry. This project is supported in part by a grant from the Walpole Cultural Council, a local agency supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
Anyone wishing to volunteer at Real First Night, enter the chili cook-off, or seeking additional information can call Kelley at 508-668-0820.
