First Night Casper

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The holidays are upon us! Looking for something to do New Year’s Eve? Check out First Night Casper!  This family-friendly event is organized by the 1224 Club, a Casper community resource built around recovery.  See the paragraph at the bottom of this post for more information on the 1224 Club!

Started in Boston in 1976, the First Night program is a drug- and alcohol-free, family-friendly arts & culture celebration. Today, the program is a licensed event, occurring internationally. The First Night program is held in communities throughout the United States — the closest locations to the Casper program are Fort Collins, CO and Missoula, MT.

The program is simple:  Purchase a button for admission to LOTS of events, entertainment, and fun city-wide!  Buttons cost $10 each for adults; children 5 and under are free with a paying adult.  In Casper, purchase buttons at the Nicolaysen Art Museum, Downtown Development Authority, Messy Moose, Mercer Family Resource Center, Chamber of Commerce and the 1224 Club.  The theme for the First Night program changes annually — this year, the theme is ‘Reflections’.  Buttons have become collector’s items, with new designs and new themes every year — in addition to buttons, First Night Casper will offer logo apparel and other souvenir items for sale.

Once you have your buttons, get ready to have some fun!  Click here to connect with the First Night Casper activity schedule — or visit www.1224club.org and click on the ‘First Night Casper’ link, then the schedule link.  Check out their awesome sponsors while you’re at it! Thanks to Ken Knight Photography who has graciously offered photography services for the evening as well.

The buttons are your admission into the whole series of events — the 10 locations for fun include:  MC Market, 2nd Street Community Area, First United Methodist Church, Yellowstone Garage, WY National Apartments Lobby, The Downtown Grille, Nicolaysen Art Museum, Children’s Theater, The Science Zone and the 1224 Club.  Attendees may visit the locations in any order they wish — allowing them to create their own map to fun for the evening. Each location contains its own form of entertainment — musicians, illusionists, comedians, art galleries, dance performances, theater, play and discovery space for the kids — there is a LOT to take in! Visit food vendors at the 2nd Street Community Area and take part in an inexpensive chili dinner at the First United Methodist Church.  Be sure to check out First Night Casper for a fun and substance-free, culturally-rich event for the entire family!

The 1224 Club was formed almost 20 years ago by a group of nine recovering alcoholics. They derived their unique name from the 12 step programs and the 24 hour a day work that it requires to overcome addiction.  An organization unique to Casper, the community resource is built around recovery from addiction.  While they serve occasionally as a facility for 12 step program meetings, the 1224 Club is not a 12 step program in itself.  The club does not employ counselors, but does provide free resources in a safe and anonymous environment open to all individuals seeking recovery from addiction.  The club also provides its facilities for a wide variety of other addiction groups as well.  The 1224 Club is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) entity, funded primarily by donations and grants through gracious corporations and foundations.  The proceeds from First Night Casper will go to benefit the 1224 Club.  For more information on the organization and the services they provide to the Casper area, visit www.1224club.org.       

Thank you to The 1224 Club for sharing what they do as well as providing such a valuable and welcoming service to the Casper area.  Visit their website to see how you can help, donate and support their service — and be sure to attend First Night Casper for a fun and unique event for the entire family!

‘Til next time…

Kati Hime, Editor

editor@wyolifestyle.com

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