New Year’s Eve 2007—

Festive Fun For Families In The Park City

BRIDGEPORT — On Monday, December 31, from 4 to 8 pm, downtown Bridgeport will be bustling during “Best Night 2007,” with festive fun for families at three different locations, all within walking distance of each other. The Bridgeport Downtown Special Services District is organizing a New Year’s Eve celebration in the Park City.

Parking will be available in the People’s United Bank garage.

The event will begin at 4 pm at the Burroughs and Saden Memorial Public Library on Broad Street with storytellers Michele Jacobson followed by Dr Raouf Mama at 4:45. Their unique tall tales and audience participating stories will set the mood for the evening.  There will also be fun craft making activities for children of all ages until 5:30 pm.

City Lights Gallery on Markle Court will have activities from 5 to 6:30. One highlight will be a spellbinding puppet show of “Jack and the Beanstalk” by Michael Graham’s Spring Valley Puppet Theater. This original retelling of the story in which Jack makes his wishes come true will be followed by a demonstration of some of the puppets. Children of all ages will also be able to make their own sock puppets following the puppet show.

The show is recommended for ages five and older. Children four and younger must be seated with an adult.

Mr Graham, the director of Spring Valley Puppet Theater, has been performing since 1966 throughout New England primarily for schools and libraries.

Best Night events at the Barnum Museum, at 820 Main Street, run from 4 until 8.

Staff members from The Discovery Museum will be at The Barnum help children and adults create fun helicopter hats to don for the rest of the evening.  Furry and slimy visitors will also be on hand from Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo, Jack Lardis of Oil Drum Art will lead visitors in creating art by painting on a 55-gallon oil drum, and costumed characters from Connecticut’s Free Shakespeare theater will also be meeting museum visitors. Popular Bridgeport characters including BB the Bluefish and Storm the Sound Tiger will roam the gallery from 4 to 6:30.

Also at the Barnum from 5 to 8 pm, Jammie the Gentle Clown will be doing face painting and Mighty Michael will create unbelievable balloon animals. The Coastal Chordsmen, the official singing ambassadors of the City of Bridgeport, will provide holiday music in the barbershop style using harmony, fellowship and commitment to community service to educate the listeners.

Peter Konsterlie, who recently completed a mural on a wall in the museum, will guide visitors in an exciting adventure in sandcasting, “Sandblast!”  

All visitors to the museum will be invited to register to win a family four pack of tickets to the hot phenomenon, Disney’s High School Musical: The Ice Tour, which opens January 3 at Arena at Harbor Yard.  Nisan the Magic Genie will perform at 7, and the audience will help make the magic happen by becoming involved with the wizardry.

The evening will conclude at the Barnum Museum with a magical “family countdown and balloon drop” at exactly 8 pm.  Confetti cannons will flare and the New Year will begin ceremoniously.

The Bridgeport Downtown Special Services District is producing Best Night with support from The Barnum Museum, The Barnum Festival, Bridgeport Bluefish, Bridgeport Public Library, City Lights Gallery, Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo, Connecticut Free Shakespeare, Discovery Museum, Oil Drum Art, People’s United Bank and the Sound Tigers.

There is a $4 admission for adults for Best Night Downtown Bridgeport, which includes admission into all three locations. Children ages 4 to 17 will be $2, and those ages 3 and under will be free of charge.

For additional information call 203-331-1104 extension 106 or visit Barnum-Museum.org.