First Night St. Pete New Year’s Eve Celebration Canceled This Year

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — The New Year’s Eve celebration First Night St. Petersburg has been canceled because of a lack of funding and the unpredictability of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The annual event features music, street performers, theater, art, children’s activities and a fireworks display.

“After 29 years, First Night St. Petersburg is forced to fold up our tents, banners, and buttons, along with our Fireworks…for a hiatus,” the nonprofit organization told I Love the Burg. “COVID slowed us down and picking up momentum again with presenting sponsors has proven difficult. COVID is also making the success of this year’s event unpredictable. Will people come out? Can we get enough volunteers? Will talent stay healthy?”

Sponsors aren’t clamoring to support the event as they have in years past. Aside from sponsorships, First Night’s only other revenue source is from button sales, which grant access to the different art events.

Hal Freedman, the organization’s president, told WFLA that First Night costs up to $180,000 to produce each year.

Despite canceling the event this year, he hoping it returns to celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2023.

“We hope with some sponsor support, and an end to Covid uncertainty, to bring it back next year for our 30th,” Freedman told St. Pete Catalyst.

The organization will begin seeking sponsors early next year.

“If we can get some large sponsors by the early spring, March, I’d say, we could do it next year, if all we get is crickets, then it’s probably gone, it’s probably over,” he said.