Ring in the new year with a family-friendly, alcohol-free event – Celebration Johnstown!

The citywide New Year’s Eve celebration, which will be held from 6 to 10 p.m. Dec. 31 in downtown Johnstown, will feature free musical entertainment and children’s activities.

Entertainment venues include downtown churches and the public library, creating a safe environment for participants.

One new venue has been added to this year’s lineup – First Lutheran Church, 415 Vine St.

Entertainment at First Lutheran will include Max Fedore from 6 to 7; singer-songwriter Jennifer Drummey, 7 to 8; Croatian Educational Singing Society, 8 to 9; and the Vivace Strings, 9 to 10.

“We had so many entertainers and not enough venues,” said Linda Orlosky of the Celebration Johnstown! committee.

“First Lutheran contacted us and wanted to be a venue.”

Orlosky added that the number of entertainers has grown with an increasing number of sponsors and a grant from the Community Foundation, which is in its second year.

Another new feature of this year’s event is free rides on the Inclined Plane all day until 1 a.m.

The lineup at First Presbyterian Church, 309 Lincoln St., will feature Jazz in Your Face from 6 to 8 and classic rock with South Side Strays from 8:30 to 10.

At the Cambria County Library, 248 Main St., there will be entertainment for children and adults on the first floor.

Kulani, a West African drumming and dance group, will perform from 6 to 7, and Rosie and the Jammers will be featured from 7:30 to 10.

The library staff will offer children’s crafts in the community room from 6 to 8, and the Classic Clowns will perform from 6 to 8 in the lobby.

Hard Rock, Coco & Joe will perform classic rock in the sanctuary at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 335 Locust St., from 6 to 8, and Bo Moore will perform easy-listening music from 8:30 to 10.

Magician Bob Beatty will perform in the church hall from 6 to 7, with polka from Jerry Intihar from 7:30 to 10.

There will be more magic at Franklin Street United Methodist Church, Franklin and Locust streets, where magician John Robertson will perform in the church hall from 6 to 7, followed by the Cash Review from 7:30 to 10.

Whiskey River Panhandlers will perform a mix of bluegrass, folk, Appalachian, Americana and alternative country in the sanctuary from 7:30 to 10.

All venues will offer food and refreshments for purchase, and entertainment is subject to change.

Cookies and hot chocolate will be available from 6 to 10 at the Main Street office of state Rep. Bryan Barbin.

Misty Haven Carriage Rides of Davidsville will provide rides throughout the downtown beginning at 6 for $5 a person, and Starfire Corp. of Northern Cambria will launch fireworks at 10.

While admission to Celebration Johnstown! is free, there will be donation jars at each venue for those who wish to contribute to the future of the event.

“Three years ago, when we started to revive this, we contacted community groups to get together and start up Celebration Johnstown! again,” said Orlosky, who is president of Roxbury Civic Group.

Other neighborhood groups helping to make the celebration a reality are Moxham Crime Watch, West End Improvement Group and Discover Downtown Johnstown Partnership.

Other New Year’s Eve celebrations in the region include First Night State College and First Night Pittsburgh.

First Night State College will be held Dec. 31 in downtown State College and on the adjacent Penn State campus.

The day features ice sculptures, art and music.

Buttons, which are $8, can be purchased online.

Information: www.firstnightstatecollege.com.

First Night Pittsburgh begins at 6 p.m. Dec. 31 with art, dance and music.

Buttons are $8 in advance or $10 the night of the event.

Children ages 5 and younger will be admitted free.

Buttons are available at Theater Square, 655 Penn Ave., at participating Giant Eagle locations or by calling (412) 456-6666.

Information: www.firstnightpgh.org.

If you go ...

What: Celebration Johnstown!

Where: Downtown Johnstown.

When: 6 to 10 p.m. Dec. 31.

Admission: Free.

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