New Year’s Family Fun In Ocean County

New Year's Eve celebrations kick off early in Ocean County with family-friendly events. First Night Ocean County takes place this Saturday in the five arcades on the Seaside Heights Boardwalk from noon until 5 p.m. finishing with a fireworks display at 5 (weather permitting).

Danielle Gries, Administrative Director of the Seaside Business Improvement District (BID), says a $5 dollar bracelet gets you "we'll have various entertainment going on in the arcades on the boardwalk, including jugglers, magic shows, face painting, balloonist and caricature artist." She says free parking will also be available and folks who purchase bracelets get a chance to win and adult or kid's gift basket worth $250 dollars.

Gries says First Night bracelets can be purchased at the 'County Connection' in the Ocean County Mall or at any one of the participating boardwalk arcades.

She says the event is sponsored by the Lakewood Blue Claws, Coca Cola, Investors Savings Bank and Jenkinsen's Aquarium. Get more information at www.exit82.com

First Night events are billed as alcohol free events and are held through out the state and country. However, budgeting and staffing concerns have forced many towns to cancel their events.

Also on New Year's Eve, the New Ocean Professional Theatre Company is is putting on a special Buddy Holly Tribute musical called the "Night The Music Lived". The Performance is being held at the Ocean County College Arts and Community Center from 7 to 9:30. Get ticket information from their web page at www.oceantheatre.org

List your New Year's event in the comments section of this news story.