NEW YEAR'S EVE: 'Should cold acquaintance be forgot . . .'

New Year's Eve in Grand Forks promises to be cool - in both senses of the word.

The annual nonalcoholic First Night celebration gets under way at 5:30 tonight in downtown and adjacent areas of Grand Forks with ice sculptures, art, food, juggling, music, magic and cowboy performances. As always, a fireworks display will cap the event at midnight.

But it will be very cold and a bit snowy for revelers all over the area.

A low-pressure system will bring a 30 percent chance of light snow today and tonight, and a 20 percent chance on New Year's Day.

The snow will be blown around by winds as fast as 15 to 20 mph, creating wind chills of 18 below to 28 below zero.

Low air temperatures tonight will be from 5 below to 10 below, rebounding to only zero to 5 above New Year's Day. Low air temperatures Tuesday night will be from 10 below to 15 below.

The National Weather Service expected a half-inch of snow to fall Sunday and Sunday night in northwest Minnesota, and as much as 1 inch today and tonight across the area.

After the new year begins, no snow is in the extended forecast through Sunday, and temperatures will rebound to the teens Wednesday, the 20s Thursday and Friday and the 30s Saturday before cooling again.

If you plan to imbibe at a bar or party, you'll need to dress warmly and anticipate possibly hazardous travel conditions with the snow and wind.

And if you drink too much and drive, you could end up with a squad car for a chaser. Local and area law enforcement usually step up patrols to catch drunken drivers on New Year's Eve.

If you do overindulge, today's Page 3A offers a guide to preventing and treating hangovers.

First Night schedule

Here's the schedule for Greater Grand Forks First Night, an arts, cultural and entertainment festival from 5:30 p.m. to midnight tonight in Grand Forks. Admission is by button: Adults, $12; ages 6 to 17, $10; children 5 and younger free.

-- 5:30 to 10:30 p.m.: Food court and photo desk, Corporate Center.

-- 6 to 9 p.m.: ArtWise activities, Dakota Science displays and Jelly Belly face painting, Corporate Center.

-- 6 to 7 p.m.: Student Art Displays, 4Fourteen Teen Center.

-- 6 to 7 p.m.: Kenny Miller Super Stars Super Show, with tributes to Elvis, Marty Robbins and Roy Orbison, Central High School gym; Seth Mulder and the Goose River Boys, a Cummings, N.D., based bluegrass band, Central High School auditorium; Phil Baker, a Traveling Fun kids show, Empire Arts Center; John Horpedahl, magician, YMCA Lower Gym; Bill Cagley, musician, YMCA Upper Gym.

-- 7 to 8 p.m.: Sherwin Linton, country singer, whose act includes a tribute to Johnny Cash, CHS gym; Minnesota Dance Ensemble, founded by Grand Forks native Laura Dvorak-Berry, CHS auditorium; T. Texas Terry, cowboy performer, Empire; TC Hatter, juggling, magic and more, YMCA Lower Gym; Greenwood Tree, instrumental duo playing traditional instrumental music of the British Isles and more, YMCA Upper Gym.

-- 7 to 7:30 p.m.: Rudolph Lives, band, 4Fourteen Teen Center.

-- 7:30 to 8 p.m.: Isaac Halvorson, UND student/musician, 4Fourteen Teen Center.

-- 8 to 9 p.m.: Viva Capoeira, a Brazilian martial arts dance troupe, CHS gym; Seth Mulder and the Goose River Boys, CHS auditorium; The Diers, Grand Forks' father and daughters musical trio, Empire; John Horpedahl, YMCA Lower Gym; Bill Cagley, YMCA Upper Gym.

-- 8 to 8:30 p.m.: Alex Guy, Red River High School senior/musician, 4Fourteen Teen Center.

-- 8:30 to 9 p.m.: Static Line, Aberdeen, S.D., band, 4Fourteen Teen Center.

-- 9 to 10 p.m.: Kenny Miller Super Stars Super Show, CHS gym; Scott Novotny, comedian, CHS auditorium; Phil Baker, Empire; TC Hatter, YMCA Lower Gym; Greenwood Tree, YMCA Upper Gym.

-- 9 to 9:30 p.m.: Jamie Mulligan, acoustic musician, 4 Fourteen Teen Center.

-- 9:30 to 10 p.m.: Deborah Halstad, singer, 4Fourteen Teen Center.

-- 10 to 11 p.m.: Sherwin Linton, CHS gym; Minnesota Dance Ensemble, CHS auditorium; The Diers, Empire.

-- 10 to 10:30 p.m.: Button Gwinnet, (formerly known as Tones of Emotion), punk rock band, 4Fourteen Teen Center.

-- 10:30 p.m. to midnight, Student Art Displays, 4Fourteen Teen Center.

-- 11 p.m. to midnight: Viva Capoeira, CHS gym; Scott Novotny, CHS gym; Scott Davolt, magician, Empire.

-- Midnight: Fireworks over the Red River.