High Noon: First Night Spokane
Merrymakers watch the early fireworks show finale obscure the clock tower in Riverfront Park Monday evening, Dec. 31, 2007 at First Night, the New Year's Eve celebration in downtown Spokane.
On Dec. 31, 2001, Spokane grappled for the first time with a concept called First Night.
It proved an instant hit. About 14,000 revelers jammed downtown streets.
And after that, it really got popular.
Attendance topped 20,000 in its second year and has stayed mostly above that range – with the occasional blizzard-caused dip – ever since.
This year, executive director Chris Martin expects somewhere on the order of 26,000 people for the 10th annual First Night Spokane on Friday. Jim Kershner/SR
The Mr. and are thinking about taking our youngest to the First Night festivities. We've never attended. What are your plans for New Years Eve?