Celebrate the Night, an alcohol-free and family-friendly New Year's Eve party with music, games, magic, dance and food, will be Saturday from 6 p.m. to midnight at the Grand Forks Alerus Center.
Celebrate the Night will have entertainment for all ages, from rock bands to board games to face painting and art projects for the little ones. Wristbands will be $5 per person through Friday at Hugo's and Valley Dairy stores, and $8 on New Year's Eve. Children five and younger will be admitted free. You can get in free and acquire a free T-shirt if you volunteer to work a shift. For more information, email celebratethenight@gmail.com or call Mark at (701) 739-2362.
The Alerus Center concession stands will have sandwiches, snacks and nonalcoholic drinks available for purchase.
Here's a schedule and a bit about the entertainment at Celebrate the Night:
Ballroom 4
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- 6 to 7 p.m.: Tucker'd Out. Three guys who love music and who play their own collection of favorites.
- 7 to 8 p.m.: Nick Bretz, magic and humor for all ages, with lots of audience involvement.
- 8 to 9 p.m.: Tucker'd Out.
- 9 to 10 p.m.: Nick Bretz.
- 10 p.m. to midnight: The Diers, the musical trio of dad Mark Diers and daughters Hannah Diers and Katy Diers, who perform everything from bluegrass to country, rock to classic standards.
Ballroom 5
- 6 to 7 p.m.: PeatMoss and the Spreaders, a three-piece band out of Grand Forks that plays original and cover versions of the blues.
- 8 to 9 p.m.: 12 Houses Bellydancers, students of the art of Middle Eastern dance who meet at 12 Houses in Grand Forks. They perform Egyptian, Turkish, Lebanese and Persian styles of dance, and also folk, hip-hop and tribal fusion.
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- 9 p.m. to midnight: The Fat Daddys: A four-man group with music from Van Morrison to Green Day, AC/DC to Trace Adkins. Ring in the New Year with Fat Daddys performing "Auld Lang Syne."
Ballrooms 1, 2 and 3
- 6 to 10 p.m.: Laser Tag. Two teams of up to four players can compete at one time.
Meeting Room 2
- 6 to 7 p.m.: Kids' music activity with Natasha Thomas, a UND graduate and board certified music therapist.
- 7 to 9 p.m.: The Top Secret Jazz Project. Jenny Morris, Jeff Anvinson, Spencer Black and Brandon Hettwer perform jazz classics by Duke Ellington, Cole Porter and Henry Mancini.
Meeting Room 3
- 6 to 10 p.m.: Dakota Science Center. Science projects for children.
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Meeting Room 5
- 6 to 7 p.m.: Don Croeker. A Grand Forks singer-songwriter who will performs his own music and cover tunes.
- 7 to 8 p.m.: Ron Franz. A folk singer and guitar player who writes and performs many of his own songs.
- 8 to 9 p.m.: Don Croeker
- 9 to 10 p.m.: Ron Franz
Meeting Rooms 6 and 7
6 to 10 p.m.: Artwise. In "Artifacts," children will use their names or something else about themselves in their art project.
Meeting Rooms 8 and 9
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- 6 to 7 p.m.: Fallcreek. An a cappella quartet featuring Kevin Dean, Mark Magness, Rich Derrick and Mark Diers who sing timeless songs from the '50s and '60s.
- 7 to 8 p.m.: O'Neil Family Band, East Grand Forks musicians who play reels, jigs, waltzes and other string music.
- 8 to 9 p.m.: Fallcreek
- 9 to 10 p.m.: O'Neil Family Band
Meeting Room 10
- 6 to 10 p.m.: The Teen Room, a place for teenagers to hang out and have fun while the rest of the family enjoys other parts of Celebrate the Night. Co-sponsored by Northern Lights Students Against Drunk Driviing.
Arena
- 6 to 10 p.m.: Open skating for all ages sponsored by Rollin' on the River. Bring your own equipment. Safe Kids Grand Forks will have some helmets and pads available.
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- 6 to 10 p.m.: Inflatable games by Games Galore, with bounce houses for young kids, an obstacle course, joust and more.
- 6 to 10 p.m.: Face painting by Piles of Smiles
- 8 to 10 p.m.: Roller Derby scrimmage. The Forx Roller Derby team will break into two squads and compete in a full scrimmage.
More info: www.celebratethenight.com/ .
